A gem from ‘Looking from Within’

We should never tell ourselves, openly or indirectly, “I want to be great, what vocation can I find for myself in order to become great?”
On the contrary, we should tell ourselves, “There must certainly be something I can do better than anyone else, since each one of us is a special mode of the manifestation of the divine power which, in its essence, is one in all. However humble and modest it may be, this is precisely the thing to which I should devote myself, and in order to find it, I shall observe and analyse my tastes, tendencies and preferences, and I shall do it without pride or excessive humility, whatever others may think I shall do it just as I breathe, just as the flower smells sweet, quite simply, quite naturally, because I cannot do it otherwise”
            – THE MOTHER, in ‘Looking from Within’

From ‘Bhaja Govindam’

MOODHA JAHEEHI DHANAAGAMATRISHNAAM
KURU SADBUDHIM MANASI VITRISHNAAM
YALLABHASE NIJAKARMOPAATHAM
VITHAM TENA VINODAYA CHITHAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM……….)

Oh, Fool! give up your insatiable desire for earthly possessions;
be sensible and develop serenity and contentment. Be satisfied
and happy with whatever you may earn by the sweat of your brow
and whatever has destiny marked for your lot.

SATSANGATWE NISSANGATWAM
NISSANGATWE NIRMOHATWAM
NIRMOHATWE NISCHALATATWAM
NISCHALATATWE JEEVANMUKTHIH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM……….)

The company of the good weans one away from false atttachments;
when attachment is lost, delusion ends; when delusion ends, the mind
becomes unwavering and steady. An unwavering and steady mind is merited
for Jeevan Mukti ( liberation even in this life).

BAALASTAAVAT KREEDAA SAKTHAH
THARUNASTAAVAT THARUNEESAKTHAH
VRIDDHASTAAVAT CHINTHAASAKTHAH
PARASE BRAHMANI KOPI NA SAKTHAH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM……….)

Childhood skips off on sport and play. Youth flies off in
pursuits of love-making. As one grows older he is drowned
in worry about the security and future of his wife and
children. One’s whole life gets spent in some kind of
worry or other. And at no stage does man find time to
lift his thoughts to God.

JATILO MUNDI LUNCHITAKESHAH
KAASHAAYAAMBARA BAHUKRITAVESHAH
PASYANNAPI CHA NA PASYATI MOODHO
HIUDARANIMITAM BAHUKRITAVESHAH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM……..)

The ascetic with matted locks, the man with the shaven head or
one with hair pulled out, or the man parading in the ochre robes
— they all have eyes but yet do not see. All these are but deceptions
for cheating the world, for filling their bellies. ( Renunciation
does not lie in external appearance, but in inward thought, attitude
and feeling).

BHAGAVADGEETA KINCHIDADHEETAA
GANGAAJALALAVAKANIKAA PEETAA
SAKRIDAPI YENA MURARISAMARCHAA
KRIYATE TASYA YAMENA NA CHARCHA
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM……..)

Even a little study and understanding of the Bhagawad Gita, or
sipping of even a tiny drop of the waters of the holy Ganges or
even a little worship of Murari — these will surely save one
from confrontation with death !

PUNARAPI JANANAM PUNARAPI MARANAM
PUNARAPI JANANEE JATARE SAYANAM
IHA SAMSAARE BAHUDUSTAARE
KRIPAYAA(A)PAARE PAAHI MURARE
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM……..)

Undergoing the pangs of birth again and again, passing through the
throes of death again and again, lying in the mother’s womb over
and over again, this process of samsara is hard to cross over.
Save me from it, Oh merciful Lord !

KASTWAM KOHAM KUTA AAYAATAH
KAA ME JANANEE KO ME TAATAH
ITI PARIBHAVAYA SARVAMASAARAM
VISWAM TYAKTWAA SWAPNAVICHAARAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM……..)

Who are you ? Who am I ? From Where did I come ? Who is my mother, who is
my father ? — enquire thus and you will, then realise that the entire
world of experience, all the worries and problems are but a dream, a
mere hallucination, born of imagination and delusion. With such a
realisation, you will be freed from the delusions of the world.

SATROU MITRE PUTRE BANDHOU
MAA KURU YATNAM VIGRAHASANDHOU
SARVASMINNAPI PASYAATMAANAM
SARVATROTSRIJA BHEDAAJNYANAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM……..)

Do not look at anybody in terms of friend or foe, brother or cousin; do
not fritter away your mental energies in thoughts of friendship or
enemity. Seeking the Self everywhere, be amiable and equal-minded
towards all, treating all alike.