Thought of the Day

Colours influence us a lot. Travel becomes tiring. Panthsama natthijara is a sukta born out of experience, though every word is relative. Good roads and greenery on both sides and the mind fills with happiness. Every colour gives light to the eyes and energy too. It refreshes the mind and heart too. On this basis a new sukta can be developed: pant-hasamam naitthi sukham: there is no pleasure like travelling.

Thought of the Day

A problem is after all a problem. All problems are not similar. Some problems are solved with the use of one's intellect, while to solve some others one can even consult with people. Internal problems are very complex and so they can not even be told to anyone. No one's advice can be taken. One has to suffer it oneself and find a solution too on one's own. How difficult that is! Only the one who suffers knows.

Thought of the Day

Emotions are good, but sometimes they can become problems too. Only today I experienced that. One man would not indulge in any quarrel or interfere in anybody's affairs and yet people would fling some accusations at him. Emotions got awakened. The eyes got filled with water. This is not repentance for one's mistake. These tears are purely emotional. Can any remedy be found for this?

Thought of the Day

The principle of relativity is very good. Not only is its theoretical aspect significant, its practical aspect is significant too. A person experiencing the principles of relativity can not be egoistic. I do not require anybody, I do not care for anybody - such kind of language sprouts on the soil of ego. One who understands the principles of relativity would never use such language. His behaviour would endear him to all.

Thought of the Day

The manifest and the unmanifest are two very meaningful words. The unmanifest is of great importance. In the practical world those with a gross perspective are many. They do not give much importance to that which is not manifest. They attach importance to that which is manifest. They value only that which they can see. However determined a person may be, in the practical world he has to heed that which is practical.

Thought of the Day

Man's body is a rare occurrence because it is very valuable :-
1. Nobody has got as developed a nervous system as he has.
2. Nobody has as developed a glandular system as he has.
3. He has got a spinal cord which no other creature possesses.
4. He has got clarity in speech and a vocal cord, the like of which nobody else has.
5. The kind of futuristic and three dimensional (in the present, past and future) thinking he can do, nobody else can do.
6. How wonderful the brain is! How wonderful the neo cortex and the reasoning mind is!

Thought of the Day

Since aeons a lot of thinking has been done on rare things. What is rarest of all? Many thinkers have answered this from different perspectives. A long list of rare things is available. In my view, the rarest thing is fearlessness. Bhartrihari wrote after serious deliberation that -'every activity undertaken with attachment is linked with fear. Only detachment is free of fear." As rare is detachment, so rare is fearlessness.

Thought of the Day

Do not do any work impulsively. The first step is taken, but before taking the second, think. A well thought out job is well executed. This has been extensively discussed in literature. Do not do any work in anger - this aspect has, however, been rarely dealt with. Actually there is not much difference between anger and impulse. Just as anger creates a certain frenzy, so does impulse. A man free from any frenzy will always work mindfully. This can be said with certainty.

Thought of the Day

Today is Gurudev's 85th birthday. The most powerful medium through which it can be celebrated is Anuvrat. The heights to which Gurudev has taken the Terapanth sect and given it self esteem is wonderful. The service he has done towards the Terapanth sect; that debt can never be repaid. That is the reason why there is happiness and bliss in everybody's heart. The Anuvrat day has become a reason to remember Acharya Tulsi. I attach a permanence with his birthday and the day of his pattotsav (enthronement), not only because of my feeling of oneness and devotion towards him, but also because of the feeling of gratitude on behalf of the organisation; a feeling that is mandatory in any sys-tematised order.

Thought of the Day

That we can not change the nature of a person by giving advice, is an age-old truth. And yet, is it true? If we look at it from the perspective of Ekanthvaad, then it is not true. But if we look at in terms of relativity, then it is true. Every word is relative. It should not be looked at in isolation or as the absolute. That advice can not change a person is eloquent of the fact that changing one's nature is not a simple job and advice alone is not sufficient.

Thought of the Day

If we write, we fill the paper. If we do not write, the paper remains blank. Is it good to fill it or leave it blank? The thinker would say it is good to fill the pages. The yogi will however say it is better to leave it blank. I do not know how useful it is to fill the blank spaces, but to keep it blank is beyond concepts of usefulness or uselessness. As a matter of fact only by remaining blank or thoughtless can we find the truth.

Thought of the Day

Desire is the defining feature of all living beings. When it links up with any sense organ, it becomes excitable and passionate. It is essential for a social being to exercise control over such excitement. It is even more important for a spiritual practitioner. A very helpful suggestion on how to control passions is given in the "Dasavekalik":
"Na me chiram dukhaminam bhavissayi
Asasya bhogapivasa jantunon
na che sarirena imena vessay
avissayi jiviyapajjven me"
When passions are aroused, the spiritual practitioner should remember it will not last till eternity. Desire rises like a wave but falls too. So, I will not succumb to the passions of desire.

Thought of the Day

It is not that people have less enthusiasm towards religion, yet the development of moral values is not taking place. The reason for this is that the spiritual leaders are not alert to the changing directions. If they could lay the same emphasis on the development of moral values as they lay on devotion, rituals, chantings and devotional hymns, then religion could be made useful to society. The question mark that is placed against religion would be answered.

Thought of the Day

There is turmoil both within and on the outside. When the day of travel nears, there is turmoil outside. What then can we say of inner turmoil when the mind is always travelling?
To be free from inner turmoil requires a lot of meditation. It is not under anybody's control to make quiet the inner turmoil. If however, one finds a guru, it is possible to minimise it.

Thought of the Day

We believe in the doctrine of karmavada and therefore do not reject the concept of destiny. Every action has many causes. When it comes to the question of success and failure, destiny plays a major role. There can be no disagreement with this. So, it is not reasonable to base your decisions only on that which is seen and not take into consideration the unseen.