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I submit with God's grace the
following nectar to the genuine devotees of the Supreme Being.
Some variant
denominators like time, place, name, size and shape change due to maya, mamata,
ego and vanity, but the principles presented here will survive as Truth and
therefore Eternal. Nothing discussed here is either new or my own creation.
It's as old as Creation itself. Nonetheless, nothing has been said here that
has not already been observed, experienced and backed by the Gita or Truth.
If an opinion contradicts the Truth,
it doesn't serve any purpose in the long run. It may as well be abandoned right
now. If it echoes Truth, it does not matter even if it is a lone ranger. As
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "In a matter of conscience, the majority has no
voice. Truth or Love is self-existent; It does not require any voting,
agreement, like/dislike, approval/disapproval. It prevails ‘As Is.'"
Look at the sun! It continues to
exist and shine day and night. The phenomenon does not rely on our likes,
dislikes, needs or whims. Nothing matters whatsoever to its existence. It
performs its function without a flaw and so does Truth, God or Love.
- If you notice any so called guru or priest promoting his own
self-importance, avoid him right away.
- If anyone blackmails you for your mistakes with threats of punishment
from God and instills a fear of reprisal (like going to hell), just ignore him.
There is no "hell" after life. It exists on this very earth in the form of a
suffering due to our own karmas. Therefore, one must abide by the Laws of
Nature (i.e. Truth) or face the consequences.
- Truth shines by Itself. It needs no polishing or
endorsement from anyone. Anyone who is articulate, impressive, convincing and
claims to be an authority on Scriptures, he is nothing but a salesman looking to enhance his own
interests. Simplicity and Love promote by Themselves. They do not need the services
of a salesman.
- If
anyone believes that God exists only through a certain form, name or function,
his understanding of Spirituality is in the reverse gear. Avoid these types of
people, cults, beliefs and their "gods" altogether.
- Any
practice that promotes inequality among mankind and causes disharmony with
nature should be cremated before it is too late.
- Any
play on emotion or arousal of a transient fervor should be distanced from at
all costs. True Love requires real work, i.e. an unselfish and strenuous
process of purification. And that's a life-long commitment.
- Any
religion or culture that treats females as an inferior species should be
subject to deep scrutiny. The practice is unacceptable even if accepted,
endorsed or promoted by women. Atman, an extension of Higher Consciousness, is
sexless and must be treated as such if one wants to make any real progress.
- Any
solicitation or expectation of material goods or services for "noble" goals
requires thorough scrutiny. The practice can be either direct or subtle. The
objectives are carefully carved to appeal to 'good Samaritans' and play on
their "guilt" feelings. Any social or charitable work to
feed the hungry, treat the sick, help the
unprivileged, etc. is noble and should be carried out by the responsible people
in the society. And spiritual leaders should inspire the common folks to commit
their fair share. No doubt, this will help to narrow the bridge among the
"haves" and "have-nots" and make this world a better place for all. But do
not encourage dharma gurus and priests by showering material gifts and
unnecessary services directly to them. They should definitely refrain from
taking charge of such activities. If any "guru" deviates from this, no matter
how well-intentioned his initial goals are, there's a good chance for his
downfall and subsequent abuse.
- If anyone discourages you from participating or following their rival
factions, think about it. Be critical and open minded about your own goals. Spirituality is universal. It
can't be confined to a certain belief or group. Our understanding of it should
be ever-expanding and ever-progressive. It may be OK to make some adjustments
in our day to day behavior to suit circumstances, time and place, but never at
the expense of Truth.
- There is nothing wrong for a Real Saint to inspire noble activities but
he will neither benefit from it or claim any credit for its success. Their only
goal will be to reduce the social injustice and promote purification of those
who endure. Naturally, they surrender all their actions and results to the
Higher Consciousness.
- Any offering of milk, butter, fruits, flowers or money to a deity is
totally useless. It is not going to bring you any luck or favor in this life or
next. It is an organized scam to milk the naive, greedy and stupid. If you
really want to do something, feed the living deities like underprivileged poor,
children, women and sick. Worship life itself and shun those self-created gods.
- Occasionally, you may come across some strange practices under the cover
of nonviolence. For some, any act which does not shed blood is non-violent.
Nothing can be further from the Truth. Nonviolence is a true virtue which
leads in our process of purification; it exists both in gross and subtle forms. Anyone who advocates physical
non-violence but promotes social injustice and hatred towards those who
disagree is actually a wolf in sheep's clothing. He is very violent. Keep a
healthy distance from him.
- Should an
instruction or a talk flatter you, especially when you're impure, there is
something wrong with the teachings. Truth is always unpleasant but good in long
run. And as a rule of thumb, no one in this world can be totally perfect or
pure. There will always be some room for improvement. So be alarmed when
something is not critical of your actions all the time. Be a good sport and
look out for pit falls. Once you make some progress along the Spiritual
Highway, you are more vulnerable for a nasty fall. The balancing act becomes
more and more challenging and crucial as you advance, but do not worry. Be
humble and leave everything to Him. And, that's your ticket to Freedom.
- Any public gesture of hugging or blessing does not
necessarily constitute True Love. Real Love expands from heart to heart without
any need for public display. Shove aside such gimmickry.
- Even though we are marching towards the same goal of
Spirituality, there are many possibilities for a fumble. The attraction towards
the opposite sex is one such temptation that no one can afford to overlook.
Avoid any physical touch or personal services from a "guru" of the opposite
sex. Do not lower your safeguard even in the company of the same sex. Avoid
physical touch and private encounters.
--Swami Radhanandaji
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