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PHRASES IN THE GITA - 103
यान्ति देवव्रता देवान् पितॄन यान्ति पितृव्रता: । भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम् ।। (अध्याय ९ - श्लोक २५)
யாந்தி தேவவ்ரதா தேவான் , பித்ரூன் யாந்தி பித்ருவ்ரதாஹ ... பூதாநி யாந்தி பூதேஜ்யா மத்யாஜினோsபி மாம் ... (அத்யாயம் 9 - ஶ்லோகம் 25)
Yaanti DevaVrataa Devaan Pitroon Yanti PitruVrataah .. Bhootaani Yanti Bhootejyaa Yanti Madyaajino(a)pi Maam ... (Chapter 9 - Shloka 25)
Meaning : Those who worship the Gods attain Godhood . Those who worship ancestors reach ancestral homes . Those who worship the Devil attain devilish psyche . Those who worship Me attain Me .
What we seek is definitely attained by us . We get only that we aspire to get . If we seek petty things or status , we get those . If what we seek is higher and nobler , we are bound to get those .
What is the factor responsible for what we seek to gain or achieve ? The primary factor is our "Inherent Nature" . An IAS Officer used to beg with me to arrange for his introduction with a powerful central minister . The desperation shown by him made me wonder if he was an IAS or a watchman . I do not say this to demean the watchman . I know many ordinary men who do not cherish any petty desire . I say this because , we do not usually expect an IAS officer to aspire and beg for an introduction with a minister . This expectation is wrong . Most of us carry such wrong notions .
There was a Tamil film titled , "One with fair skin will do no wrong" . That is an absurd notion . "A rich person will not have petty desires" ; (Scenes of travelers grabbing fistful of sugar candies or begging for a second drink in flights are common . Similarly , scenes in banquets of the wealthiest persons chasing stalls serving numerous sweets and savouries , are also common .) "The higher educated ones are bolder and fearless" ; (Again , this is a wrong notion . I observe many highly educated persons from close quarters and find them to be weak kneed . They do not even dare to express their opinion , even if they feel it is wrong or unjust . There have been many high educated ones who opposed the British rule and participated in freedom struggle . But , in post independence history of almost 70 years , not many have dared to come out openly in support of a social cause , seen to be against the Government's thinking .) "Those in powerful positions do not resort to sycophancy" . (This also is false . We see so many high level officers who serving the Government and many politicians holding powerful ministerial berths stooping before the 'Boss' in the ruling party . Their backs remain permanently hunched due stooping down for long , in their efforts to please their political masters ) "The old aged are not childish" . There are so many 60 , 70 , even 80 years olds around us who wear bermudas or half trousers , dye hair to hide grey ones , apply scents and body sprays and indulge in childish petty acts and talks .
May be these notions were true in the past . But , now as the result of English designed education system and prominence of pleasure seeking and priority attached to comforts and sensual happiness , these are almost impossible prepositions . Whether one is young or old , whether one is highly educated or uneducated , whether one holds a powerful post or an ordinary post , whether one is wealthy or not do not matter at all . The basic inherent Nature is most important . The level of one's desires and dreams depend on the Nature . The intensity of the desires is a crucial factor . Anything one seeks intensely will definitely reach him or her .
Can level of seekings and desires be raised ? Can Inherent Nature (Swabhava) be fine-tuned ? From my own observation , I would say No . It is next to impossible . Acharya Shri Rajaneesh used to say , "One who enters the world sucking his thumb , is carried to the cemetery also with his thumb in his mouth" . That is because , most of us do not realize the need to change . Desire to change is absent . And there is no honest effort to change .
Is it impossible to change basic Nature (Swabhava) ? Can the level of things sought in life never be raised ? Yes . It is possible , possible in rare cases . It is possible as the result of sustained and strenuous efforts . Introspection , vigilant watch over words , speech and thoughts of self , assessment of self , companionship of noble souls (SatSanga) etc . should make transformation of Swabhava possible . Seekings and desires in life may be fine tuned . If not in present life , it should definitely be possible in future life .
What is the factor responsible for what we seek to gain or achieve ? The primary factor is our "Inherent Nature" . An IAS Officer used to beg with me to arrange for his introduction with a powerful central minister . The desperation shown by him made me wonder if he was an IAS or a watchman . I do not say this to demean the watchman . I know many ordinary men who do not cherish any petty desire . I say this because , we do not usually expect an IAS officer to aspire and beg for an introduction with a minister . This expectation is wrong . Most of us carry such wrong notions .
There was a Tamil film titled , "One with fair skin will do no wrong" . That is an absurd notion . "A rich person will not have petty desires" ; (Scenes of travelers grabbing fistful of sugar candies or begging for a second drink in flights are common . Similarly , scenes in banquets of the wealthiest persons chasing stalls serving numerous sweets and savouries , are also common .) "The higher educated ones are bolder and fearless" ; (Again , this is a wrong notion . I observe many highly educated persons from close quarters and find them to be weak kneed . They do not even dare to express their opinion , even if they feel it is wrong or unjust . There have been many high educated ones who opposed the British rule and participated in freedom struggle . But , in post independence history of almost 70 years , not many have dared to come out openly in support of a social cause , seen to be against the Government's thinking .) "Those in powerful positions do not resort to sycophancy" . (This also is false . We see so many high level officers who serving the Government and many politicians holding powerful ministerial berths stooping before the 'Boss' in the ruling party . Their backs remain permanently hunched due stooping down for long , in their efforts to please their political masters ) "The old aged are not childish" . There are so many 60 , 70 , even 80 years olds around us who wear bermudas or half trousers , dye hair to hide grey ones , apply scents and body sprays and indulge in childish petty acts and talks .
May be these notions were true in the past . But , now as the result of English designed education system and prominence of pleasure seeking and priority attached to comforts and sensual happiness , these are almost impossible prepositions . Whether one is young or old , whether one is highly educated or uneducated , whether one holds a powerful post or an ordinary post , whether one is wealthy or not do not matter at all . The basic inherent Nature is most important . The level of one's desires and dreams depend on the Nature . The intensity of the desires is a crucial factor . Anything one seeks intensely will definitely reach him or her .
Can level of seekings and desires be raised ? Can Inherent Nature (Swabhava) be fine-tuned ? From my own observation , I would say No . It is next to impossible . Acharya Shri Rajaneesh used to say , "One who enters the world sucking his thumb , is carried to the cemetery also with his thumb in his mouth" . That is because , most of us do not realize the need to change . Desire to change is absent . And there is no honest effort to change .
Is it impossible to change basic Nature (Swabhava) ? Can the level of things sought in life never be raised ? Yes . It is possible , possible in rare cases . It is possible as the result of sustained and strenuous efforts . Introspection , vigilant watch over words , speech and thoughts of self , assessment of self , companionship of noble souls (SatSanga) etc . should make transformation of Swabhava possible . Seekings and desires in life may be fine tuned . If not in present life , it should definitely be possible in future life .
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