Conversations with Swami Premeshananda (1884-1967) a disciple of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi.
6.9.60
Maharaj: In my pre-monastic days I saw people drinking alcohol and engaging in revelry in the name of practising spiritual disciplines. Seeing such practices, I have become a cynic. Consuming betel leaves, bidis, tobacco, tea, and taking interest in football matches – all these appear to be types of bondage. It is better not to pick up these habits. Why even consider them at all? Are our minds so empty? Don’t they have anything else to hold on to? I very much like that Bhagavad Gita verse `Vmo `Vmo ‘Through whatever reason, the restless and unsteady mind wanders away …’ (6:26) That is why I say that nothing is achieved if you wait for an environment conducive to sadhana. A person who cribs about the difficulties on his path, is actually deliberately blocking the path to success.
Question: Is it okay to tell some little lies in order to make work go more smoothly?
Maharaj: We are sannyasins. Why should we resort to telling lies? Take up some small work, regard it as your sadhana, and with a worshipful attitude execute it like a beautiful piece of art. ‘Even a little of this dharma saves one from great danger.’ – (Gita 2:40). Take care not to harm anyone even in the least. And try your utmost to come out from that lie as soon as possible.
You see, people will say many things, but they have no value. Accept only those which tally with the scriptures and are rational. Keep the rest filed in your mind, and at your convenience check to see if they are true.
The misdeeds we hear about happened because of the inability to identify subtle desires lurking within the mind. Not harmonising knowledge, work, devotion, and yoga is the reason for this unfortunate situation.
This story is from the January 2019 edition of The Vedanta Kesari.
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This story is from the January 2019 edition of The Vedanta Kesari.
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