Thought Power Creates Environments

November 17, 2009

It is often said that man is the result of his environmental forces. This is not

true. We cannot believe this, because the facts always prove the contrary. Many

of the world's greatest men have been born in poverty and in adverse

circumstances.

Many who have been born in the slums and filthy surroundings have risen to the

highest status in the world. They have won laurels of fame and distinguished

themselves in politics, literature and poetry. They have become brilliant

geniuses and beacon-lights of the world. How do you account for this?

Sri T. Mutthuswamy Aiyar, the first Indian High Court Judge in Madras was born

in absolute poverty. He had to study at night under municipal lanterns. He had

not sufficient food. He was clad in rags. He struggled hard and achieved

greatness. He rose above the environmental forces by his strong will-power and

iron-determination.

In the West, sons of cobblers and fishermen have risen to very high position.

Boys who did polishing of boots in the streets and who were selling beer in bars

and were cooking in hotels have become famous poets and able journalists.

Johnson was placed in quite adverse environments. Goldsmith was " passing rich

with 40 pounds a year. " Sir Walter Scott was very poor. He had no place to live

in. The life of James Ramsay Macdonald is worth mentioning. He was a man of

great Purushartha. He rose from poverty to power- from the field of labour to

the status of Prime Minister of Britain. His first job was addressing envelopes

for 10 Shillings a week.

He was too poor to buy tea; so he drank water instead. His main meal every day

for months was a three-penny beef-steak pudding. He was a pupil-teacher. He took

great interest in Politics and Science. He was a journalist. He gradually

through right exertion (Purushartha) rose to the position of a Prime Minister.

Sri Sankaracharya, the exponent of Advaita philosophy, a spiritual giant and a

brilliant genius was born in poor, unfavourable environments and circumstances.

There are thousand and one instances like these. It is quite obvious, therefore,

that unfavourable environments cannot annihilate the potential greatness and

excellence of the future geniuses and that one can outgrow environments by

diligent application, patience, perseverance, truthfulness, honesty, integrity,

sincerity of purpose, iron-will and strong determination.

Every man is born with his Samskaras. The mind is not a tabula rasa or a blank

sheet of paper. It contains the impressions of thoughts and actions of the

previous births. Samskaras are the latent potentialities. These good Samskaras

are valuable assets for man. Even though he is placed in unfavourable

environments, these Samskaras give him protection from extraneous, undesirable,

hostile influences. They help his growth and evolution.

Miss not any opportunity. Avail yourself of all opportunities. Every opportunity

is meant for your uplift and development. If you see a sick man lying down on

the roadside in a helpless condition, take him on your shoulders or vehicle to

the nearest hospital. Nurse him. Give him hot milk or tea or coffee. Shampoo his

legs with Divine Bhava.

Feel the all-pervading, all-permeating, interpenetrating indwelling God in him.

See divinity in the glow in his eyes, in his cry, in his breath, in his

pulsation and motion of his lungs.

God has given this opportunity for you to develop mercy and love, to purify your

heart and to remove Ghrina, hatred and jealousy. Sometimes if you are very

timid, God will place you in such circumstances wherein you will be forced to

exhibit courage and presence of mind by risking your life. These world figures

who have risen to eminence have utilized all opportunities to the best

advantage. God shapes the minds of human beings by giving them opportunities.

Remember that in your weakness lies the strength, because you will be always on

your alert to safeguard yourself. Poverty has got its own virtues. Poverty

infuses humility, strength, power of endurance and luxury begets laziness,

pride, weakness, inertia and all sorts of evil habits.

Do not grumble, therefore, of bad environments. Create your own mental world and

environments. That man who tries to evolve or grow in adverse environments will

be a very strong man indeed. Nothing can shake him. He will be of a sterner

stuff. He will have strong nerves.

Man is certainly not a creature of environments or circumstances. He can control

and modify them by his capacities, character, thoughts, good actions and right

exertion (Purushartha). Tivra (intense) Purushartha can change the destiny. That

is the reason why Vasishtha and Bhishma have placed Purushartha above destiny.

Therefore, dear brothers! Exert. Conquer nature and rejoice in the eternal

Satchidananda Atman.

November 18, 2009

Dear Mr Kumar,

Why are you refering to politicians as great or succesfull men?

For me Yogis who find satchidananda are great men, and they can be anything,

from poor man to householder or politician.

Greatings,

Chris

Shambhavi

cpkumar

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:26:55 +0000