Prof Anil Kumar Questions and Answers in Dallasa 0n May 10th 2009

[Guest guest]

Prof. Anil Kumar Question and Answer Session

with Youth in Dallas

May 10, 2009

 

OM…OM…OM…

Sai Ram

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Moderator: My name is Madhavan, and I am a young adult from Dallas, Texas. I will be presenting and posing questions from the youth across various regions of the United States of America to our esteemed, respected, revered and most reverent Prof. Anil Kumar.

 

HOW TO PRACTICE DISCRIMINATION AND HAVE A CEILING ON DESIRES?

When the mind is obsessed with a particular desire, it almost convinces a person that the need is reasonable and absolutely necessary. How is one to practice discrimination and have a ceiling on desires in such an obsessed state of mind?

It is rather unfortunate if the mind is obsessed with a particular desire. How did you get convinced about the desire? That is my question. How do you know that your desire is genuine? How do you know that you deserve the desire and its subsequent fulfilment? How do you know that the desire serves your long-term interests? Therefore without knowing its implications or ramifications, its utility and the impending danger, plus the challenges that would follow, how do you say that you are convinced of your desires?

Desire, as such, we have not understood. Desire as it is, we have not analysed critically and in an unbiased fashion. Once we understand what desire is, it may well take you anywhere. So, let desire fulfilment be left in the hands of God. He will certainly do what is good for you, making sure you are in a safe zone.

It becomes obsession when you want the desire to be fulfilled in your favour. This point of obsession comes when you have got a preference or a choice. But desire, as it is, has neither preference nor choice. So leave it.

God fulfils well; but if you have a preference and choice, you will get obsessed with this desire, and this obsession will upset your relationships. It will affect your performance. It will affect your mind/thought process. It will make you passive and dull, because your desire is not fulfilled.

But later on, when your desire is not fulfilled in your interest and you come to understand why, “Oh God, now I understand why You have not fulfilled my desire. You love me, and You know me much better than I know for myself!â€

So, desire and obsession for that desire is something emotional and preferential, an exercising of choice. If you just give up these things, desire is neutral, whether fulfilled or unfulfilled, whatever may be. Then there will never be an obsession.

 

ARE THE YOUTH READY TO TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY IN THE ORGANISATION?

One thing we keep hearing is that the youth are not ready to take on responsibility and the adults are not ready to give it up. Could you give us your opinion on what you think of the youth today? In what areas do young adults need improvement?

There are two aspects mentioned in this question: the youth are not ready, and the adults are not willing to give up their responsibilities. This state of affairs is not in any way positive or good for the development and expansion of the organisation. We should get into some kind of a situation where adults would gladly give up their responsibilities, and youth will enthusiastically take up these responsibilities.

What is the problem now? The problem is that the adults, in some instances, consider the youth as an immediate threat to their positions. Youth give adults an impression that they are ready to occupy their positions. So adults are not willing to give them up.

Why are youth not ready? It is because they have varied interests, professional obligations, career advancements, family responsibilities, and so forth. So they find it difficult to devote the time demanded of them, depending upon the projects the organisation undertakes. Therefore, it is justifiable on both sides—adults having a sense of insecurity and youth feeling completely unprepared.

So what is to be done now? I suggest that the youth who are ready to undertake these responsibilities should do so, thus winning the confidence of the community . . . I mean, the members of the organisation. Let all the members of the organisation repose confidence in these youth who come forward, as they are capable of discharging these duties far better than the adults. In fact, my observation is that they can do and are ready to do, but they are not ready to jump at it.

Somebody should motivate them. Provided with enough motivation, youngsters are ready to take up lots of responsibilities. Therefore, in so doing, let them win the confidence of all the members of the organisation. Let them show that they are capable of doing it. They are quite eligible and responsible, having all the skills and talents required.

Secondly, they should demonstrate in action by taking up one project, in order to prove their leadership qualities. Naturally, after seeing their good qualities, adults themselves will invite these youth to take up responsibilities and occupy the cadre positions in the organisation.

 

WHAT CAN THE YOUTH DO TO OVERCOME THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SLUMP?

In light of the global economic slump, what can the youth do to overcome this, both for themselves or for others who might be affected?

The present project “Ceiling on Desires†is the best solution. They should think about what is absolutely necessary at this moment. Those desires that can afford to wait should be postponed until a future date.

Let us not run after luxurious lives. Let us not be carried away by all the pomp and show. Let us not compete with others. Let us not compare ourselves with others in respect to extravaganza, publicity, and lavish expenditure. Let us not go in that direction at any point of time. Let us clearly judge what is absolutely necessary at this moment.

Certain things can afford to be postponed, and certain things are not necessary at all. Certain things we want to have as a question of prestige, while certain things we want to acquire for the simple reason the neighbour has it. This type of imitation, this kind of meaningless competition, and this sort of unnecessary comparison are all responsible for our extra expenditures. All these things can be cut off. If you still want to have something like this, yes, you certainly can; but at a later date, a future date—not right now with this economic slump.

The first and foremost thing that the youth will have to do is not to make use of credit cards. You have got some balance to your credit; make use of it. Otherwise, don’t spend. Don’t go for loans. Just think of Swami Vivekananda who, in the earlier period of his visit to England, spent his life living in the pipelines, as he could not afford accommodation at that time. He had to depend upon food which was left over. Only later he became the Swami we remember.

Therefore, we should learn from the people who are illustrious in their career. They should be our role model for how to lead a simple life, a life which is exemplary. The quality of life is more important than the quantity of things. The standard of life is more important than the standard of living. This will solve all problems.

 

What is your favourite quote from Swami that applies to youth?

What is your favourite quote from Swami that applies to our lives as youth?

My favourite quote from Sai literature, which is certainly applicable to youth, is this:

 

(Sharing With Sai Love)

 

Ram ChuganiKobe, Japan