You may have attended many philosophical lectures but how much of what you heard have you been able to apply in your day-to-day life? There is a fact with which you must be well acquainted: if an object just lies about your home without being put to use, after some time it ends up becoming totally unusable. This same state applies to lectures as well. Dissemination of knowledge is of no avail if it is not applied and used in the most appropriate manner.
Knowledge that does not benefit others is meaningless. That is why if we are not able to put into practice what we hear in lectures, they have no value or meaning. Nor is such knowledge retained by us beyond a few days. We may pay lip service to ‘Spirituality, Truth, Virtue’, but unless we express these qualities by living a good and pure life, they remain merely empty words. We may observe humane behaviour in animals and there are vestiges of animal instincts in humans as well. We cannot deny the fact that there are traces of animalistic instinctual behaviour in us and it is our duty to clean them out.
We have to develop more and more humane qualities in our life and make the effort to eradicate animal instincts. What are these animal instincts and behaviour? If we study the life of animals, we will discover that an animal eats, sleeps and is fearful of others. Their lives revolve around seeking security and comfort. Take the example of a dog. It will eat wherever it finds food. If a human being also does the same, it will not be considered as anything laudable. Human beings are the highest of life forms. When humanity develops in any creature, then it takes on the form of a human being. Similarly, when divine qualities find expression in a human being, the birth of a saint manifests. When a saint surmounts the peaks of spirituality, it opens the doors to liberation.
People may say that spiritual lectures and discourses make our lives auspicious and pure, however that is not enough. The life of a householder is a test. Those who pass this test with flying colours attain liberation; others are like a bull tethered to an oil mill who goes round and round in the cycle of life. Our daily life is full of challenges at every moment. We have many friends and many enemies. Don’t we look at them with distaste, dislike, jealousy, envy, hatred? Never mind just that, we even plot and scheme to bring about their destruction.
Human society is reflected in the state of the world. If the homes and society are fraught with discord and fights, how can we have a peaceful world? Humankind must become aware of and fulfil its responsibility by adopting mental peace. Mental peace is only attainable when we are entirely successful in defeating anger within ourselves. Merely abandoning thoughts of strife does not imply that we will find peace. In order to attain peace, it is absolutely essential to connect with spirituality. Ridding one’s mind of sloth, carelessness, negligence and so on through spirituality allows a new consciousness to dawn.
Nothing is a greater folly than believing that one can attain peace through an indifferent attitude to society. This is an untenable and impossible fantasy. Rather those who work towards establishing new directions that society can follow and who conduct research into ways and means to establish a healthy, balanced society truly attain peace in their life. Those who can bring happiness and peace to others and who make every effort to bring joy to people find true peace within themselves.
What is the real definition of ‘spirituality’? Peace. Not to cause the least trouble to anyone. If we hurt people through so called spiritual, political or social ideas and behaviour, we will never find peace. If the intention behind any of your actions is positive and the goal is to bring peace to others, your inner peace will be irrefutably complete. It does not matter if it is the most insignificant of actions. Always remember that we will never be able to please anyone with bad or wrongful acts. The true definition of dharma, spirituality, is the happiness of each and every person. Society is always happy with those who do not cause any trouble for others and with those who do not harm anyone.
In all of his teachings, Swami Sivanandaji always spoke about making others happy. He did not talk about this in the jungles or while sitting alone in isolation, rather these were the teachings he imparted while living in the midst of people. If one’s principles cause harm to anyone’s happiness, one must be definitely prepared to consign those principles to the fire and abandon them. Swamiji believed that sadhus and sannyasins have no need for flowers. Of what use is it to them if their feet are offered flowers and worshipped?
However, along with this idea he also realized the truth of life and it is important for us to understand that – and that truth is bhavana, feeling. He recognized the true value of love. When devotees, overcome with their deep faith, lit the lamps of love and wished to offer worship at his lotus feet, should Swamiji refuse and hurt their soft, tender feelings? If only one person wished to worship Swamiji’s feet, perhaps we can say that the person is being silly but not everyone can be silly, right? On such occasions, spiritual principles need to be put aside. It does not harm anyone by doing so, instead it is only beneficial. That benefit is bringing joy and happiness to others. This is the practical and applicable form of spirituality.
One day when a beggar came to me and asked for a blanket, someone said that only last year he was given a blanket. Why is he again asking for another one today? Sri Swamiji said, “Look here, my friend. If you do not want to give a blanket, that’s okay but do not disrespect and insult the beggar. It is your duty to bring peace to him. Behave with him in utmost peace and courtesy.” One encounters innumerable opportunities to express peace and happiness in life; however, on how many occasions do we pass those tests? The world is a school in which we can learn a lot from our personal experiences and studying the behaviour of others as well.
Countless saints have attained many experiences while living in the midst of people. In general, most people believe that sadhus and saints are not bothered by mundane problems. It is people who are ensnared in problems of all sorts and only they know whether the world is real or not. What do sadhus have to worry about? Sri Swamiji established his ashram right in the middle of such a place where he could provide answers to the questions people had about practical, day-to-day life. The ashram is situated in an area where all kinds of people come and all manner of worldly problems have to be grappled with and resolved.
Drawn to Sri Swamiji’s exemplary life and ideal conduct, people throng for his darshan from all corners of the country. People from far and wide come and live in the ashram. We may appear in the garb of sannyasins to you, yet when we came we were all strangers to each other, we were not acquainted with anyone. We had never even seen each other before. Do you know how far my hometown is? But today we are all connected with each other by the bonds of love. Swamiji accepted us all as his very own children. He loves us all so much, even a father might not express such love for his own son. When householders come to the ashram for Swamiji’s darshan, they offer some gifts or the other, but when we came here, we brought nothing with us.
Swamiji has taught us that while being sannyasins, always engage in work. Swamiji himself wakes up at four o’clock in the morning and is engaged in his work till late at night. In fact, due to their busy schedules and many duties, most ashram residents hardly ever get the opportunity to take time out for their personal practice of japa, meditation, kirtan etc. Swamiji maintains that do not give a moment’s rest to the mind or the body. Do not let the mind wander about freely. Always keep body and mind engaged in work which will make them both tired and yet maintain the unbroken connection with the feeling of spirituality. There should be no separation at all. This is such a beautiful answer to the challenges faced by householders!
Despite being engaged with duties from morning to night, sannyasins are never unaware of their spiritual flow for even a moment. A sannyasin neither desires material objects not does he chase after them. Turning away from all temptations, a sannyasin simply forges ahead. Of what use is any activity to householders which does not have a spiritual component? While living in the world of practical reality, Sri Swamiji has offered a unique perspective and understanding to the world. Those who pursue the path of life shown by Swamiji never face spiritual dilemmas or conflicts.
When the train of our life runs along the twin tracks of dharma, and spirituality, it will certainly reach its designated destination. If either of these tracks are not totally accepted, the train of life will definitely have to face obstacles and accidents. The fruit of this is disturbance and chaos. This is why the balance and coordination between pravritti, engaging with worldly life, and nivritti, a spirit of renunciation, is called yoga. The union of altruism and practicality is called dharma.
In a life of this kind, there are no differentiations of friend and foe nor is there any disparity between high and low. One should not feel repulsion towards any person from society. What we feel for one person should be extended towards everyone. If life and dharma, altruism and practicality do not go hand in hand, then we must change such a life and such behaviour; otherwise they will end up in conflict with each other leading to discord and unrest.
Summary of a satsang given by Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Sri Swami Satyanandaji at a public program on 27 January 1956 during his tour of Gujarat and Saurashtra