Pearls of Wise

03/01/2019 Educating yourself fundamentally means to broaden your horizons. From being in limitedness, you want to enlarge yourself. Increasingly, in large cities worldwide — in India as well — even two people are unable to live together. They have separate homes and meet during weekends. We are becoming so exclusive that loneliness has become abig problem. Gypsies live a completely different kind of life. They have a different attitude that is considered romantic and, in some ways, very beautiful. Once a gypsy was scolding his son, “You good-for-nothing fellow, if you don’t learn some magic and jugglery to make a living, I will put you in school and make you an educated man and then you will suffer from endless want.” This is what education has done to people: endless want. The more educated societies are becoming, their wants are becoming unbelievable. Soon, an individual will want a separate planet for himself to dig up resources. All of us cannot live on one planet. It is n...

03/01/2019 What we get in the present is our destiny, and what we do with what we get is our self-effort, says SWAMI TEJOMAYANAnDA Vasanas or our tendencies drive us to karma, action, which in turn leads to phala, results. These results are called our destiny. However, free will is not a product of vasanas. It is a human right, a special quality exclusive to human beings. How we use free will may be influenced by our vasanas. So we can use our free will well or otherwise. At the end of the Bhagwad Gita, Krishna says to Arjuna, “Yatheccasi tatha kuru — Do as you think fit.” If we feel we cannot be sure that we may use our free will well, surrender it to God, as Arjuna did. He said, “Karisye vacanam tava — I shall do as you say.” Since God has said, “Tesham aham samuddharta — I redeem those who surrender,” tell God, “Please guide my life.” However, we must also keep in mind the fact that this kind of total surrender is the greatest use of our purushartha, self-effort, and it ...

02/01/2019 Two types of personalities are predominant in us: the good or daivi and the bad or asuri The recognition and development of good qualities will lead one to moksha and freedom from bondage and pain Negative qualities on the other hand lead one into bondage, resulting in sorrow and dependency The positive and the negative are present everywhere and in all time periods Even in the worst possible scenario, one could find something good If a tragedy like an earthquake happens, it reveals how there.are those who help total strangers even at personal risk. We also come across those who take advantage by looting and robbing Since both the good and bad tendencies exist in us, we are both potentially divine as well as devilish Environment, association and circumstances might exercise a major influence For spiritual progress, satsang is a good option This means not only the company of the wise but also the company of good people, good books, good literature, good food and good ...

02/01/2019 Humans are always led by their mind,  which in turn,  needs guidance from intelligence. Intelligence is the only agency to act on the mind,  eliminating undesirable traits and imbuing emotional strength,  stability and poise. A close integration of mind and intelligence is what makes a good leader,  who should excel in leading the mind and intelligence of his team.  In public administration,  corporate management,  manufacturing,  defence, education, sports, household or any other field, sterling leadership qualities are indispensable. Dedication,  competence and welfare of people, which determine the enrichment and growth of a nation, verily rest upon enlightened leadership.  Using intelligence as the tool, but fostering no special fondness or dislike for any in particular,  the leader should embrace all alike.  He should display sufficient equalness and inclusiveness, evoking participatory response fro...