Sage Agastya: Where are we headed? This is a burning
question and a most practical one. Humanity is in floods; it is in turmoil.
Everything seems upside down now. There is no stability, no spiritual guidance.
The flooding water flows over and under, bumps against
rocks, squeezes out of holes, scratches the surface, pulls out roots, invites
rubbish. It is full of force, and it stinks. This is how I visualize modern
society. Devoid of direction but provided with a lot of energy, it knows not in
which direction it should flow.
At this stage, it is not possible to stop the flow and
create a beautiful lake out of it. It requires significant effort from various
sources.
Neighboring mountains have to be blasted; and stones have to
be piled one above the other to curtail its speed. Once the speed is slowed
down, the banks have to be strengthened, and further inflow should be diverted.
In short, this is an analogy to show what is required to change this dangerous
course humanity has taken.
Man has lost all knowledge of the great scriptures. These
scriptures in the form of Vedas, Shastras and Puranas have no value for him. Enormous knowledge rising out of scientific investigations
and technology have created a mirage which is being perceived as the reality. People
are searching for a fuller life in a mirage!
Modern man’s entire life is in this direction. He is going
deeper and deeper into the process of investigation. It is literally also true
that man is digging deeper into the earth, exploiting every bit of useful
material available in the womb of mother earth. He has cut her stomach, is
stabbing at her heart, and tearing at her lungs. What does all this indicate?
It indicates self-made destruction. We feel pained to
witness all this wanton destruction and exploitation of nature and natural
resources. Man is a symbol of unlimited greed.
What is the result of all this? The very natural resources
that sustain life have been destroyed. That is why man is now buying clean
water and clean air!
In the future, he will not be able to buy land. As things
indicate, the powdered earth or soil itself will become dearer. This is the
present condition of the relationship between man and his environment.
What about the relationship between man and society? Today, man is like a dust particle without stability of
its own. A dust particle gets carried around by the wind, bumps against other
particles, and finally settles down in a place it was not intended to settle.
In the same way, man usually does not get the job he was intended to have.
Instead, he settles down in other jobs by sheer force of circumstances.
There is no direction even in marriage. The proper selection
process is not undertaken. Selection is based on outer appearance and material
acquisition. That is why there are so many failures on the job front and
marriages.
So also, his neighborhood. In big cities, people do not want
to know their neighbors. This is the result of sheer indifference and lack of
confidence in themselves. They do not want their neighbors to know the ills and
sins committed by their families. They are afraid of losing their name, fame,
and valuables.
I have touched upon three aspects of relationships, between
man, his habitat, society, and his immediate neighbors.
What is the result? He has no love for others and others
have none for him. In the absence of love, what is it that grows? It is hatred.
Lack of love breeds hatred, jealousy, lack of confidence in himself and others.
So, what does he do? He seeks all those materials, living and non-living that
give him temporary relief.
What are the things that purportedly give him pleasure? In
the modern world, it is going to parties, clubs, restaurants, movies, and
picnics. These are all connected with the physical pleasures of eating and
drinking. There is no end. There is no complete satisfaction. People get
attached and addicted to these pleasures.
Addiction leads to submission.
Submission leads to surrender and surrender leads to slavery. In short, the life
of modern humans is slavery to time and emotions. Though he pretends and
expresses that he is happy, this expression is born of his mind, not of his
heart. It is superficial and empty. That is why man is neither happy nor content.
Each one of you can analyze your own friends, relatives, or acquaintances,
keeping the above factors in mind. Are they happy?
How do you gauge happiness? It is
seen in the health, in the glow in the eyes, purity of words, actions, and
deeds. You should analyze these things to find out if a person is indeed happy.
Now the question is, how can we make a person really happy?
Judge for yourself who is really happy in society? A poor man who can meet his
physical needs for the day, appears to be happy. A child who does not know the
full details of society is happy. A rich man who spends part of his money and
wealth for those in need is happy. Then there are those who serve in old age
homes, destitute homes, and so on. They are happy.
What does this show? It shows that those who lead a simple
life are happy. Happy are those who share their love and profit with those who
have them not. To sum up, it is in giving that you
receive. It is in loving others that we get love. It is in pardoning others
that we are pardoned. All this amounts to sacrificing and sharing. The
moment you feel other souls as your own, you will be happy. So where does this
lead us?
This leads to the ultimate point that every one of you must
consider the others as your own soul. You are all part of one Absolute. Love
every child as your own.
I understand that it is difficult in the modern world. You
extend your hand to shake, and the other person does not react. Do not take it
to heart. Just regard it as that person’s karma. He will also wake up at an
appropriate time because the strength of the body and
wealth and power of intelligence are never the same. They dissipate as time
goes on. But remember, love multiplies as time passes.
Finally, the significance of this lecture. You[1] have a significant
role in putting a dam across this mad stream. You have the ability to change humanity’s
direction. One person cannot accomplish this.
So, in the beginning you will start changing the direction
of individuals who come to you. When your purpose is pure and your preaching is
effective, people who come in contact with you will change their direction.
From them, few others will feel the change. When people who have changed their
direction enjoy peace, contentment, and inner joy, they will know the purpose
of their life. Small springs with pure water are then available for others who
need it.
‘Vazhipaadu’ is meant to serve this purpose. It is a spring
that is easily available, and easily tested. Give it to all those that need
them.
Then addressing Gajaraj Swamigal, Sage Agastya said: People
have already started coming to you one after another. A time will come when you
address groups of them. When they change, that change will increase in
geometric proportions. Once the lamp is lit, the flame can light an indefinite
number of other lamps.
The initial flame belongs to the Supreme Knowledge of the
Para Brahman. It flows through the Gurus, seen and unseen. You are all part of
this wonderful cosmic intention!
[1] Even though the
discourse was given to Gajaraj Swamigal, his wife Vijayalakshmi and daughter
Anuradha, as in all scriptures, these words are meant for everyone who reads
these sacred words.
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