Talk to the 5th Batch of Yuva Veers, Kolwan

Talk Two - 16 September 2010

Some more points on greatness...

Once when Guruji had gone to Chinmaya Gardens in Coimbatore he enquired about the usual driver whom he did not see.  He was told that the driver had left his job and had started his own mess just outside the Ashram as there was an Institute right there.  He had a thriving business.  The food was mainly south Indian fast food like dosas etc.  Then Guruji asked about the barber only to be told that he too had left.  The barber had called his three brothers from Nepal and together they started a north Indian snack shop!  They too were doing well.

Now earlier, both were only employees.  They had increased their status to having their own businesses.  So in life one progresses from being an employee to a business man to an industrialist.  Some enter politics and become MPs.  A rare few go on to become the PM.  The PM has his / her advisors too.

A businessman provides employment to others and becomes a creator of wealth.  CEOs become leaders and guide organisations.  The PM guides the entire nation.  However, the highest is the advisor to the PM who guides the PM too.  Eg of an advisor is Chanakya.

This only is the Varna Vyavastha of the earlier days.  A sudra is an employee.  Vaishya is one who does business.  The one in politics is the Kshatriya and finally the ones with vision who alone can truly guide are the Brahmanas.  Interestingly, nowadays a majority of people only want jobs.  They are happy to remain as employees.

We can start from anywhere but must not remain at the same place.  We must move ahead.

For example, Swami Ranganathanandaji went on to become the President of the Ramakrishna Mission.  Prior to that he was only working in the kitchen.

A person with vision only can become great.

Hence, it is really important for us not just to have a vision but to have a clear and correct vision.  We must have an all inclusive vision and not a divisive vision.  This is a very simple tip and it can be practised by us anywhere even in our homes.  We must learn to start thinking beyond ourselves and our family.

Now another interesting sign of greatness.  In Hindi we say, 'Ramji mahaan the', ie Ramji was great.  We also say, 'Ravana bhi mahaan tha' ie Ravana also was great.  Both were great in their own respects.  But what is the difference in the greatness?  We never add the 'ji' for Ravana!

Ravana made everyone small.  He supressed everyone.  However, Ramji raised every small person to a height of greatness and divinity.  Tulsidasji says, 'Ramji sits on the foot of trees but the monkeys sit on the tops of trees.'  The monkeys were raised by Ramji to the status of divinity just like Ramji himself.

There is cut throat competition in the world.  It is either kill or get killed.  A rise in this sort of a world is bad and the fall can be fatal.

Guruji aptly says, 'Think big, act wisely and show results'.  There is no need to limit one's imagination.

A great person dissolves his / her individuality and helps and serves others to grow.

Of course it is great to hear about greatness.  But we need some recent relevant examples.  Is it possible in this day and age to be allowed to become great?  Isn't it that the world nowadays only teaches us to be more and more selfish and self centred.  Guruji comes up with the perfect example to get his point across to all of us...

Notes on talks of Day 2 will continue...  Till then think who was the perfect example used by Guruji to elucidate everything about greatness....

Hope that some were able to guess who Guruji spoke about...  None other than Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayanandaji...  Guruji spoke on the first two verses of Kritagyata (written by Guruji himself).

Pujya Gurudev is the pinnacle of spiritual greatness.  He was the best among the knowers of Brahman.  This knowledge when flavoured with karuna or compassion becomes most beautiful.  This was the amazing aspect of Pujya Gurudev - his most compassionate nature.

George Bernard Shaw says, 'Hatred has not destroyed others as much as lack of consideration for others'.

This compassion made Gurudev work tirelessly and kept him forever engaged in the welfare of all people irrespective of caste, colour, creed etc.

Gurudev saw all around him the decline of culture and the pitiable condition of the nation.  His heart melted because of that and inspired him to serve the people.

This is the difference between an ordinary person and a great person.  We all feel but majority of the time do nothing!  Pujya Gurudev knew that just passive compassion will not help anyone.  It was time for action.  Therefore, day and night he engaged himself in Karma.  Thus it is important to be actively compassionate.

Often people are very good in delegating work to others and they themselves do nothing.  But Gurudev was not like that.  In his doing and acting he inspired and motivated others to do and act.  However, he himself always remained detached.

Thus to sum up, a great person is actively compassionate working for the good of all.  He himself acts and while doing so inspires others to do the same.  In and through all this he remains detached.

But what did Pujya Gurudev do?  Actually the list is endless but Guruji did make an attempt to list out a few...

• Balvihar classes for children to inculcate them with sanskara.  
• Classes for the youth to teach them to do vichaara.  
• An ocean of literature which will provide inspiration and guidance to all for years to come.  
• Jnana Yajnas for people to attend and gain inspiration.  
• Vedanta training programmes to impart the immortal Vedantic knowledge to one and all and thus keep the Guru shishya parampara alive.  
• Loka Seva in many fields - spiritual, social, educational, medical and so on and so forth. 

The Mission is vast and gives everyone a platform to select their area of expertise and aptitude and serve the society.

Now time for my comments...  Truly this Mission is vast.  We all have gained so much.  Atleast I know I have and many around me feel the same.  Let us learn now to actively express our gratitude.  What is the point in just saying I have learnt such a lot.  Our Indian Culture is so good and should be told to all...  etc...  Its high time that we stop this coffee table talk and as Pujya Gurudev would say, 'roll up your sleeves and get to work'.  How many of us contribute a few hours weekly for this amazing work?  Actually we should do it daily.  People will say how?  How can we go to our centres daily?  We don't have to go anywhere to serve.  Even by studying daily and applying what we learn consciously in our lives we are doing a great service.  This will make us change.  Once we change people around us will automatically change.  We don't need to tell our children do this and don't do this.  They will learn from our actions only how one should act.  So first we should be good students and apply what we learn.  Its not just theory.

Those of us who have the spare time should make use of it and serve the organisation.  Pujya Guruji says, 'We must remember that the organisation doesn't need us.  It is we who need the organisation!  It is our privilege to serve such a Master.  We alone will benefit.'  So actually by doing this so called service we are being totally selfish.  Thus it is not really service.  We are doing what we really should.  It appears so simple but still so many of us hesitate to take the plunge and serve the Mission worried about what the world will say, etc.

In Feb next year Pujya Guruji is conducting Pujya Gurudev's Sevaks's Training Camp for 15 days in Mumbai (for details please go to www.chinmayamission.com).  This Camp is meant for those who wish to serve the Mission on a full-time basis.  I take this opportunity to implore to the youth to seriously consider making this life time committment.  Trust me your life will be made!  Its worth a committment.  Yes it is not easy to do so.  It requires a lot of courage, daring and vision.  Our country needs our services.  Why should we worry about how we will manage with so little.  Actually there is true joy and peace only in having little.  I have been working full time for over 10 years now and so far it has been the best time of my life.  Materially I have always wanted much more than what I need.  Mentally, intellectually and spiritually I have gained tremendously, immeasurably.  I have learnt what is real faith, patience, courage and slowly from Pujya Guruji I am learning about Pujya Gurudev's vision.  Come.  Let go of your fears and do something different because you should, it is your bounden duty.

mk