Live Wisely

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Minus skin, minus dress, minus ornaments, physical beauty is nothing.

Just imagine for a moment that the outer skin is removed. You will

have to stand with a long stick to drive away crows and vultures.

Physical beauty is superficial, illusory and fading. It is skin-deep

only. Do not be deluded by external appearances. It is the jugglery

of Maya. Go to the source-Atman, the Beauty of beauties, the

Everlasting beauty.

 

If your hairs become grey, that is the first warrant from Lord Yama,

the God of Death. You must get yourself ready to meet him. The

wrinkles on the face and the bending of the body will remind you of

the warrant. When the teeth fall and the eyesight becomes dim, you

must be fully prepared to greet him. You will get three hiccups or

final passing of breaths lying on the bed. When the last hiccup

comes, all your possession will be taken away by your sons and

partners. One will run after the savings bank pass-book, another will

take hold of the cash chest, the third, of your provident fund papers

and insurance claims, the fourth, of the ornaments that lie on your

person and so on. Such is life on this earth-plane. Why can't you see

that the money is well spent for your spiritual progress and the

service of the poor and the Mahatmas? Friends! Try to attain

immortality through devotion, meditation, purity, service, Japa,

prayer and enquiry. All troubles and miseries will come to an end.

 

O Nectar's sons! Enough of this mundane life. Enough of this life of

passion in this earth-plane. You have spent your whole life, energy

and time in obtaining material wealth, power, name and fame. All your

efforts have gone in vain. All your wealth is only a broken shell

when compared with the inexhaustible or supreme wealth of Atman.

Obtain this spiritual wealth. Give up this vain selfish struggle. You

have walked too long with passionate eyes in this universe. Give up

this lustful look. Meditate. Look within now and behold the

marvellous Self and be free.

 

Atman or Brahman or Supreme Self is the hidden treasure. It is the

pearl of incalculable value. It is the jewel of jewels. It is the gem

of gems. It is the imperishable, inexhaustible, supreme wealth which

no dacoit can rob. It is Chintamani of Chintamanis that will give man

whatever he wishes.

 

Brahman is beyond speech, time and causation. It is limitless. It is

tranquil and It shines with equal effulgence in all bodies. It cannot

be a particular thing. It is Chaitanya or pure consciousness. It is

Vastu. It is Sat-Chit-Ananda.

 

Knowing the nature of Brahman or Atman as such, attain freedom or

perfection. Think yourself bodiless. Identify yourself with the

Supreme. Achieve peace and eternal bliss of your all-pervading soul.

 

May you all lead the divine life sharing what you have with others,

singing the Lord's name, rejoicing in Him alone and melting the mind

in the Supreme Self!

 

(Source: Essence of Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda)