Directives on How to Live

by Smt. Susmita Devi

Sadguru Sri Sri Babathakur has repeatedly asked us to perform our duties and work ‘normally’, yet to be conscious of the directives given by Him while doing so.  Below is a list of areas where Consciousness is playing an important role:

1.     The Lord has energized our body (through Consciousness) and brought us to this world (we are temporary subjects).

2.     The Lord has created all the objects, human beings and animals around us.

3.     The Lord has created the roles for us to play, based on our performance in the previous birth (Karma Yoga)

4.     Our current actions will dictate the roles we play in future births (Karma Yoga).

5.     Our only relationship is to the Lord. He owns the subjects of the world, objects of the world, the results and the actions – we are simply enacting the role that has been assigned to us in this drama.

The above mentioned points gave me a lot to think about, and my musings led to the following:

• Most people do not remember (or may not accept) that it is only due to the Grace of the Lord that we exist as humans - with far superior cognizant power than other beings. We actually have very few living years to recognize the inherent Divinity in Mankind compared to some other living entities (animals and plants).  Often, in the middle or old age, some awareness is awakened - either due to the fear of death as the ultimate end of a human being (loss of the perceptible ego), or in the case of of a few individuals, owing to their knowledge of the period between death and rebirth.

• Until reaching a ripe old age and then realizing that physical life, as perceived by the mind and organs, is but temporary, people are merely occupied with learning how to function in society and to fulfil worldly needs (yielding to the incessant demands of the ego and reputation).  Once the middle age sets in, the awareness often changes from the outward to the inward (from worldly to spiritual) and the urge to end life with a spiritual purpose only, comes to mind.  One may then become a ‘seeker of Truth’... that is, however, a bit late to become aware, for till that time, one may have done lots of mischievous/thoughtless actions, which has to be counteracted. The above reason is why one can meet more devotees of a ripe age than youngsters at gatherings around a Guru, in churches or in mosques.

• Individuals hypothetically are a product of the Divine Will, but even the Will of Divine can be mischievous. An ordinary human mind can’t fathom what the Divine Will might be and do, and can thus only attempt to function according to the prescripts of the sages coming before her/him.  One may be aware or not, but I think it is undeniable that, humans are above other creatures in intellect, dexterity and other subtle capacities like laughter and constructive thought-patterns such as logic. We can therefore perceive more on the subtle levels even in a normal state of mind, whereas in meditation and dreams, there occasionally can be manifestation of subtler aspect called premonition dreams.  If adequately guided by a Sadguru and having received His/Her blessings, such dreams/premonitions can become useful in one’s progress on the spiritual path.  I, personally, had come to India and found ‘my’ Guru, Sri Sri Babathakur, in that way.

• That the world is a Divine Creation, none can logically contest, I think.  Evolutionary speed may be a subject for discussion in academic circles, but in daily life, the origin and evolution of mankind matters but little, because each and every one is dominated by the sense of ego – which commonly until late in life, is insatiable. Taking into consideration the vast number of humans in this world, it is but a select few who mentally truly assert their minds to seek the background reasons for the innumerable happenings in their lives (expressions of Karma).  Most people, even devotees, are concerned with the present and don’t bother to seek out the reasons for the current happenings (not to speak of eventually correcting their behavior accordingly).

•  People live from day to day, from year to year, and most often commiserate the less agreeable happenings like sickness, deformities, death and poverty. All this happens because only a select few develop sufficient spiritual discipline to perceive (during deep meditation or premonition) the reasons behind the happenings in the present life. The alternative available is just to accept that we are a subject and not the master of our present life.  If the happenings are pleasant, we thank God, and if disagreeable we curse our fate; however it is mostly unproductive to seek the exact background reasons for the actual happenings.  Live through them and gather whatever wisdom possible, so as not to repeat too many blunders over and again.

• It is generally accepted and known that, every action is bound to have a reaction (for example, if a glass falls, it more often than not, breaks).  Only in the Sanatana Dharma, punishment is not an inbuilt factor, but merely an episode to teach an individual what to steer clear of, so that in the next birth such pitfalls can be avoided. Most people needlessly fear ‘punishment’ in either this or the subtler world when passing on. One can never be ‘punished’ – she/he only reaps the fruit of her/his actions during a lifetime.  If severe mistakes have taken place, the results may follow us through the next or several births if not revised.  Santana Dharma does not acknowledge the concept of ‘sin’ and the ensuing punishment.  I merely project that the consequences of actions and thoughts might be experienced. The effect is that, whatever we do or think in life has an outcome. It is very human to wish to avoid consequences of negative actions and thoughts (on the lower level like going to jail subsequent to a crime committed). All and sundry experience the results of their actions (which also include thoughts, and not just physical acts).  It is therefore necessary to remember, that every action is bound to have a reaction... which may appear in the form of an adversity in the present life, or else take place in a coming life.  It is only the Self-realized souls in a body who do not create Karma (i.e. action and reaction on various levels).

• One single genuine relationship has to emanate from within, and that is our relationship to the Lord (hiding behind various names of a Deva or a Devi). Recognizing (or believing) this relationship is the Alpha and Omega for conducting one’s life in the best possible way to avoid or diminish creating ever more adversity for future lives. The Lord is the very Essence of the world and its multifarious manifestations - be they gross, subtle, subtler or subtle-most - along with the multitude of results manifested by its inhabitants.  The Lord, who is commonly referred to as ‘He”, is ever-present, all-potent and all-knowing.  There, simply, is no way to hide one’s mischievous mind work or less savory deeds as He is amalgamated in our beings. Our functioning in this world is simply to enact the role assigned to each and everyone in the Drama of life.  It is worth noticing that the more one relies on and behaves according to the Divine motivation, the lesser will be the Karma-phal (results of actions and thoughts) which accumulates. Most people however let the ego reign unbridled and must therefore experience the karmic results.

The above musings can only describe a tiny part of what Dharma means, but it is sufficient, I think, to give the reader some ideas of what it means to live a ‘sober’ life by living without the usual negative thoughts and actions and not to want what is not one’s own.