SWAMI CHIDANAND SARASWATI of Parmarth Niketan fields questions from seekers at his ashram in Rishikesh. MONA MEHTA reports
Most of us love to shop and enjoy beautiful things. Is that wrong? Similarly, we are attracted to good-looking people…
Attraction is not wrong, but destruction which happens through that attraction is wrong. You can look at beautiful flowers, appreciate their beauty, smell them, it’s alright; but if you also pluck the flowers, that’s wrong. ‘Na surat buri hai, na sirat buri hai, bura hai woh jis ki niyat buri hai — neither is the appearance nor are qualities bad; what is bad is the one whose intentions are bad.’ It is all about your intention, the rest doesn’t matter.
If the presentation is good, nothing else matters. All is well, no matter how bad things are underneath; it is appearance that makes the first impression. What is more important is the intention behind the presentation. If the intention is good, things will work. For success, both presentation and intention have to be good.
Once a sage was walking with his disciples and he saw a beautiful woman across the road. He stopped to look at her. The woman noticed his gaze and thought, ‘Swamiji seems to be attracted to me.’ His disciples too caught him looking at the woman. After they reached their ashram, his disciples asked, ‘Swamiji, you too?’ They said nothing more. Swamiji recited a couplet: ‘Na tujh se garz hey na teri surat se garz/ Hum tou Banane Wale ke qalam dekhte hain — I have no desire for you or your looks, I am only admiring the beauty of the Maker’s pen.’ That is, through you I am looking at God who created you...how beautiful He must be who created a beauty like you. This is also one way of looking. ‘Dekhat dekhat aisa dekha. Mitt jaye dokha rahe jaye aek — Look, look in such a way that all illusions are dropped and you become one.’
So, continue shopping by all means, and do appreciate all that is beautiful, but what matters is how it impacts you. When you start realising His presence within, then you can understand that the shopping went well. No matter what you do, your thoughts should be centred on God. So, it is intention that matters most.
But sometimes, even with the best of intentions, the results are not good.
Yes, that’s true. Firstly, know that if your intention is right, you have sown the right seed. It is bound to sprout one day. Others may not understand you today, but your good intention, sooner than later will reap good rewards, for sure. Don’t be bothered about the results; with good intentions you will be able to live in peace.
Sometimes, it is difficult not to be bothered about these things.
That is why you need to meditate, so that you stay grounded and are able to weather the storm. Whenever there is a problem, it is important that we don’t lose our balance. In the sea, during a storm, immediately the captain of the ship drops the anchor, because he knows that the storm will pass eventually. The anchoring does not stop the ship from rocking, but it does prevent it from losing its bearings. When problems arise, we are thrown off track. This is because our anchoring is weak. Sometimes, God sends us challenges, rocks our boat to see how strongly we are anchored. Like a Sufi poet said: “Mere mashuk ki ada hai nirali, giraata bahut hai, uthane se pehle — My lover’s attitude is unique, he lets me fall several times, before picking me up.” He checks, whether you want Him or from Him. If you want something from Him, he will give it to you and send you away, but if you want Him, then it is different. Neither should you tremble, nor should you allow yourself to be thrown. Instead, every moment just smile and stay centred. Since, it is difficult to do this all by yourself, you need Him to be with you. That is why meditation is important. When your world starts to fall apart, you need someone to be with you, to support you. By meditating, you ensure that during such times, He is with you.
What is the best way to meditate?
You don’t have to do anything. When you love someone, do you meditate on him? No, you are just loving towards him. No matter what you are doing, you cannot take your dhyana off him. Every time a phone rings, you think it is him. Similarly, in meditation, just be in His dhyana. Sit straight, be quiet, close your eyes, if you can learn a mantra, chant it. You need to do all of this only in the beginning to discipline your mind. Bhagvan does not need any mantras, rosary or posture. He only needs you to be there. That’s enough.
As a child, I was asked by my guru to do an anushthana — meditate for 11 hours a day, five hours at a stretch, for a fortnight and eat frugal meals. Day one, it all started well, but soon I began to slouch, and straightened my legs. But every time I heard someone approaching, I would quickly fold my legs and sit straight with eyes shut, pretending to be in deep meditation. This went on for two days, and then on the third day, I heard a voice coming from the idol I was meditating on, in front of me. It said, “I am here and you are not concerned about me. What you are more bothered about is how you appear to the fellow who is bringing you food. You have to sit straight for me, and not to impress others.”
You don’t have to do anything. Just sit quietly with your eyes closed. Let Him take you forward. You can certainly learn the techniques to meditate, but these are only meant to tame the mind. The moment you dedicate your mind to the Divine, you are done.
Long-time meditators seem to have a glow on their face. Is it unnatural to be drawn to them?
Glow ke saath grow karna hai — you have to grow with that glow. That glow should not work as glue. When you grow, you too will glow. The glowing and growing should go together, that is the relationship between the Master and the disciple.
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