Look Within – Talks on the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Venkatesananda

[Guest guest]

I will give you a slightly different interpretation of the realisation

of the truth. The orthodox interpretation of this expression

`realisation of the truth' is that you must come face to face

with the infinite, the immortal, the eternal etc..

 

But here I think there is a much simpler realisation of truth.

 

This body has come into being and has become this. It has a date of

birth, and what has been created must come to an end; what was born must

die.

 

To face this truth of inevitability of death is realisation of truth.

 

You don't have to worry yourself what is truth.

 

It may not be true that there is an omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient,

eternal and immortal atman – but the inevitability of death is true

and it is possible for me to face this truth without wincing, without

avoiding it.

 

There is a beautiful saying in tamil, " If you are prepared to die,

you can walk through the Indian ocean, and I guarantee that it would not

reach to more than your knees! "

 

If you are prepared to die! You are so bold, so courageous, you could

walk into the sea – nothing in the world daunts you.

 

I remember what Swami Sivananada said once:

 

A retired school master had come from south India to live in the ashram.

South India is fairly warm and tropical, so he was not used to the

Himalayan winter, which is fairly cold.

 

In those days there were no facilities for hot water – we created

our own hot water for bathing by lying in the sun on the hot sand at

about 11 am, warming ourselves up and jumping into the cold water!

 

This old man of about 55 was really frightened, and even right in the

beginning of the winter season he came up to Swami Sivananda, folded his

palms and said " I think I will go back home " .

 

Swami Sivananda asked him " why? "

 

He said " I think this cold weather doesn't suit me, I may fall

ill. It may take a long time to acclimatize myself to the winter

here " .

 

Swami Sivananda said " Huh! Be prepared to die, you will be

acclimatised immediately " .

 

I remember it even now.

 

Be prepared to die – you will be acclimatised immediately.

 

That is it! When people say " realise the truth and the truth shall

make you free " – this is it.

 

It is not some hazy, funny, woolly, misty truth that you and I discover

by looking between the eyebrows for about six years. No.

 

See the truth and the truth immediately frees you.

 

What am I afraid of?

 

Death.

 

It is inevitable. When there is the realisation of truth, there and then

I am freed.

 

That truth makes me free.

To be continued..