Born to Love
DADA J.P. VASWANI
Look Within for a messiah - Dada J.P. VASWANI
In a World of chaos ,corruption, hatred, vile passions, one yearns and searches for the Learned. The country is in search of a Messiah. Will he come?
Will there be deliverance? is the world passing through the Worst Crisis ofcharacter? Are we enduring ? Will we overcome?
In the assembly of cardboard cutouts, in the midst of a sea of corruption this country still offers a few sane moments, a few saints, a few lives rich in texture, wise in word, though and action.
Dada J.P Vaswani stands out as one such. Born an August 2,1918,at Hyderabad sind, he was a brilliant student. For his Master's Degree his thesis was examined by Prof C.V. Raman. He gave up a promising academic career andfollowed the mystic philosopher, humanitarian, educationalist, Sadhu T.L Vaswani Words flow so effortlessly and with such sincerity that they touch the core of your being. Dada Vaswani is soft but stern spoken, he has a delightful way with words. They are not tailored to meet a situation. They are designed to overcome, to match, and to convince. The petite personality has a pleasant smile permanently registered on his face. It is an much a part of his persona as his shawl. The words flow with the ease that manifesto to divine gift. Yet his is modesty personified . In an exclusive dialogue on matters-Metaphysical, Dadaji spell out his semantics Read on:
Q: "Develop the will to be happy". Is it not easier said than done ?
Ans: Yes it is. It is not an easy thing, It is a process. But we must start immediately .We must start where we are and gradually we will develop the will to be happy. Again and again circumstances will pull us down. We would fell depressed, downcast ,but gradually as we develop the will to be happy nothing will stop us, The will to be happy is an essential feature of healthy living. It is imperative to acquire it.
Q: Are we getting into platitudes, given the kind of Indian situation can we really be happy?
Ans: Why not? You and I are fortunate that we live in this country. In this country people are more content that elsewhere in the world. God has taken me to a number of countries but I find in India, especially in the village people are comparatively content because they believe in the theory of KARMA. Mostly we believe that it is our karma to be in the situation we find ourselves to be in. We do not resist it. Elsewhere there is so much resistance. Resistance is growing even in our cities, yes. That was not the case 50 years ago. We then believed that we have got what we deserved. Bathed in the philosophy of karma we can inculcate the desire to be happy.
Q: Does the Karma theory not make a defeatist out of individuals?
Ans: It enables us to live the life that is truly victorious, a life that is truly triumphant. Event one of us has to triumph over circumstances. As it is so many of us have become creatures of circumstances. We have to become masters - creators of circumstances. The theory of Karma goes a long way in help us become masters of circumstances. The law of Karma tells us that originally each one of was a fee being. Our freedom in not less than the freedom that God has kept for himself but we are erred in the use of the freedom given to us by Him. Resultantly we have created this situation for ourselves. We can come out of it. The power is within us. No one outside of us can do us any harm. It is I who can be my own friend or my own enemy.
Q: Einstein said: Almighty plays dice with the world. Your comment.
Ans: (Laughs)-How can I comment on the saying of such a great man. I am only a student of Physics, He a Master.
Q: You spoke of cutting down desire as it is root cause of suffering. Then why live at all?
Ans: Life has a significance only if we live for certain values - not for the satisfaction of desires. For desires can never be satisfied. There is the story of the king who sought eternal youth and bartered for it from his own son only to realize that they can never by permanently fulfilled. Desire can never be satiated.
Q: Is it not desire that keeps the law of inertia going?
Ans: Desire will never keep the law of inertia going. What will keep the law of inertia going in the spirit of dedication. When you live for a certain ideal you may grow old in years, yet that fire will remain in you.
Q: What is the fire that keeps you going?
Ans: (Laughs) - The fire to be true to my master. My Beloved Gurudeva.
Q: You said , "being positive in your approach to life is more important" Is it not contradiction with tapering off of desire?
Ans: There is no conflict between the two, because to be positive you must have the attitude of master , not the attitude of slave. To be negative is to have attitude of slave . You cannot be positive until you have mastered your desire. If you were slave to desire you will not be able to have that attitude.
Q: Religious leaders are often talking of theoretical situation. How does one lead life practically when religious they are only talking of theory ?
Ans: I do not think that truly religious leaders are only talking theory. The situations in which we find ourselves are theoretical. It is not your words that determine what you are. It is your life that determines what you are. you may be reading all the slokas of the Bhagwad Gita everyday, but if your life does not bear witness to the teaching of the Great One. you are no better than the tape recorder. You may even write a modern commentary on the Bhagwad Gita, Upanishads, Brahmasutras ,but if your life does not bear witness to that Great Teacher you are not better than a printing machine.
Q: How does one alter the grammar of life?
Ans: There are three ways in which one can alter the grammar of life, The first is through fellowship , association with these Great One's. If only you can come into contact with the truly Great One. I think you have done your job. That is what I found, because then it happens automatically, spontaneously, naturally, you are not even conscious of the change that is taking place in your life. If I am conscious about the changes that is talking place in my life , It is more likely that I become egoistic. You are saved of that , Create a contact with God or Godman. The second is by prayers. Every good thing I believe comes as a gift from God. It will come only if you ask and continue to ask for it. "Ask and it shall be given" are the words of Jesus Christ. The third thing is by the road of selfless service, when you come out serve the people without expecting anything not even a simple word of thanks, if you serve a person and he abuses you, you show happiness that is the time when your service has been accepted. At the lotus feet of the Lord. If you follow any one of these three principles you can alter the grammar of life.
Q: Does one live life by the book? Is there written manual to be followed?
Ans: There can be no perfect manual because each one's life is different from the other. Each life is a new message of God. A new blessing Your life is different from my life, My life is different from his life, There cannot be perfect manual. Each one has to move on a separate path. It is a trackless track that we have to move on. It was something too special to each person because every one of us unique I am not a carbon copy of you, You are not a carbon copy of any one else. We will necessarily have to tread different paths, endure new challenges find new ways.
Q: Why has God not created perfect carbon copies?
Ans: That is what you now want to do. Clones are being talked of God does not believe in carbon copies.
Q: Why?
Ans: God believes in complete freedom , He has given each one of us complete freedom. Now it is the choice that we make that will determines our lives in the near or remote future.
Q: Do you believe that cloning is anti-God or anti-Nature?
Ans: I cannot say anything about because I have not studied the subject yet, But I think It is a just feeling I cannot substantiate it, that if we start cloning then some evil spirits would enter the game and humanity will be destroyed. It would be the beginning of the end.
Q: Is not the story of mankind determined to have some kind of an end?
Ans: I believe more in the cyclic theory of history than in the beginning and end of history. I believe it is the spiral, There are periods when humanity is at the top, Then gain it goes down and again it goes up. But there is always a movement forward.
Q: Functional religion has come long way from abstract religion. Your comment ,How far do you think contemporary religion has moved from the tenets of religion?
Ans: Very very far. That is why India is in a state of chaos ,India has all the religious wisdom of the world but it is probably one of the weakest nations because our life does not bear witness to the religious truths that are our heritage .We talk of truth but there is much of corruption in and around us . We talk of high deals but our lives are so poor.
Q: Where do you think what we went wrong?
Ans: We went wrong the day we started talking and stopped bearing witness.
My Beloved Sadhu Vaswani often told us talk less of religion, practice it more , Let your life show religion, not your words, When the emphasis not your words .When the emphasis turned on the words we went wrong.
Q: Do you see Vaswani Mission taking a major corrective role in the scheme of things?
Ans: I cannot say that yet, But we are doing our little bit. It is for the Lord to bless our work , There is darkness all around us. We can only light a candle .What light can a single candle do to a large area of dark. You cannot claim that you have done something.
Q: From the individualist standpoint , in a system as normally eroded as ours how does one look for light?
Ans: You must not look for light outside of your self. You must look for it within. You are the light that enlightens the world . You have to turn within . We are unfortunately moving very much on the surface at a superficial level and so we are not able to achieve anything in life. We are more concerned with words than with life. If I look for the light outside I can never get.
Q, : How does one get centripetal from being centrifugal?
Ans: I think things go away when you grow with the spirit of attachment It is attachment that makes one centrifugal, because of our attachments certain norms, certain ideas , certain persons , certain things we are centrifugal . There is a beautiful statement in the Upanishads "God made the body of man and pierced it with holes. The holes are looking outward. All that men need to do is to within, "It refers to Nawadwari Nagar. We necessarily have to evolve a detachment to things persons, and norms .We need to replace attachment with dispassionate interest.
Q, : Hermann Hess believes that God is complete phenomenon including both good and evil. Do you believe that God is part good, part evil?
Ans: I believe that God is beyond both good and evil. God transcends both good and evil.
Q, : Do you look at God as a manifestation of both good and evil or are there any limited manifestations of God?
Ans: I would not attribute either good or evil to God. He is beyond both.
Q, : Why does he play favorites with poor men?
Ans: He does not play favorites .It seems as he is playing favorites. But does not play favorites. If you are ultimately you come to realization, you realize that there is no difference between you and God. But even on the plain we are moving he does not play favorites because all that he has done is he has created human beings and he gave them complete freedom .It is for the human being to make right choice at every stop which he failed to do right, at this movement there is a choice before you there is a choice before me. My future depends on what I chose . I am maker of my own future I am the builder of my own fate, There is no kismat , It is what I make for myself.
Q, : Like a careful parent, Who equips the child before it makes choices should god not do the same? Is God comparatively a bad parent?
Ans: God is not a parent. He is apparent.
Q, : This gift given to me without the wherewithal to use it. Is it cosmic irresponsibility?
Ans: That is the Leela of the Lord. That is the specialty he is enjoying.
Q, : A sadistic play.
Ans: you won't say that when you come up to the level .When you evolve spiritually , then you will not think it is sadistic play.
Q,: Does one need to evolve to realize ?
Ans: Without evolution how can you realize? It is not evolution in the literary sense of word. It is akin to an inebriated man returning to sanity. When I return to sanity from my present inebriated condition the complete picture changes.
Q, : Do you see major changes in the value system of society coming about?
Ans: I believe in the time spirit can bring about changes in no time.
Q, : Do you see a change coming ? Is it Kalki Avtar, or Armageddon? How do you crystal ball the future?
Ans: I believe that the New Age is knocking on the doors of mankind. It only needs to open the door.
Q, : How does one carry the message 'That well being and welfare are not one and the same?
Ans: The best way to carry the message is by example. If the study that reveals Bangladesh as the happiest country is true than we must learn from observation and seek them the concept of being happy.
Q, : Another facet of Karma theory is that life itself is a punishment?
Ans: Karma is not punitive. Karma is reformatory. Karma is only one aspect of love. The spirit of love will never punish and love would always like to change. It always seeks reformation . To give simple example take instance of mother of a child who has received a report that her child has not done his homework .The mother tells the child 'I will not let you go to play until you finish your homework. I will lock up in a room. you must first finish your homework', to the child this is a punishment. From the point view of mother it is not. The mother wishes a child to grow better, she is looking for reformation. Likewise Karma not punitive. It is reformative. There is not the least thought of punishment in the philosophy of Karma.
Q, : Do you subscribe to the theory that reality is relative?
Ans: Reality cannot be relative. Attitudes may be relative. Reality is not. Reality will not change. The reality is Love. It is out attitude that changes. Reality will never change. If it changes it is not reality at all.
Q, : Reality is inertia?
Ans: In one sense it could be. In another sense it is the most active thing in the world. I never use the word inertia. Inertia has many connotations Lord Krishna says in Bhagwad Gita. I do not need to work, but I still act.
Q, : Contemporary India is looking for examples. The lives of great men teach us that we too can make it. Would you be willing to give A contemporary example of great men, great lives?
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi, Ramana Maharshi ,Arbindo Ghosh ,so many patriots they are laid down lives for their country. They are of good role models.
Q, : Very interestingly all roll models that you have named are not on the scene today.
Ans: Perhaps because I am not in touch with contemporary Indians, because I do not read papers, I do not hear news, and I rarely watch television.
Q, : Is it a process of human isolation?
Ans: It is not a process of human isolation. On the other hand I believe mass media isolates you, It is only security against isolation.
Q, : Do you see Messiah coming to India?
Ans: Yes I believe that every one of us can be Messiah. You can be Messiah She can be a Messiah. Potentiality is there waiting to unfold. A Messiah is not something foreign to you or to anyone else.
Q, : Is mankind's defined destiny heading towards a Messiah?
Ans: The destiny of mankind is to blossom fold to what I would love to call a Superman.
Q, : Nitezeschean Superman?
Ans: No, not a Nitzeschean Superman , My Superman is a man compassion, on humility and service and sympathy.
Q, : We are living at a time when our leaders range from warmongers to sex maniacs to the corrupt. Is it time to change gears?
Ans: The world is definitely going to change. This is only a "transition period". History is full of examples of such periods of transition.
Q, : Any special message to readers of Hindu?
Ans: I do not know if I am not entitled to give a message. But I would say what I keep saying to my friends. There are three things that each one of us must do. The first is each devotion to duty. To be true to your duty. Do your duty faithfully ,honestly ,sincerely, If each one of us were true to our duty the world would be a wonderful place. The second thing is "do a little more". Go out of your way to help the others. I find that people are becoming more and more indifferent to the needs of those around us. They say it is none of our business. I should come out of my way to help every one. Thirdly we live Noise Age. We need to practice silence every day. I often call this as my daily appointment with God. Thomas Markin, Great Chritian Mystic wrote the book titled "Water of silence" . Dip into the river of silence. Even as particulars of noise that cling on to our minds. our hearts, our souls need to cleansed. Cleanse them in waters of silence. These three things if we had I believe we would be working towards a radiant future.
THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION
The most amazing fact of love is that the more you love, The more you grow in the power of love. Time belongs to God. He ahs loaned it to us for use. Let us use every minute-every moment -in the best way we can. Both rain and sunshine are needed to make rainbow. Both joy and sorrows are needed to make a life truly beautiful and colorful. Friends can forsake and relatives can refuse. But there is one who always love: He is God! Build your life in love of God!
If I have made one human being happier, One creature more comfortable ,one heart more hopeful my day has not been wasted.
If there is language which the deaf can hear and blind can see It is language of love.
Every week bring to us 10,080 minutes. That is our capital. How shall we use it to get the utmost benefit?
The senses are awake: The mind is alter Alas! The heart is asleep! Awaken the heart . O Lord! It is through the door of the heart that I can draw nigh unto thee.
When you have nothing to do, do not let the mind wander after useless things. But close your eyes shut out the world ,bring your yourself in God's presence and offer to Him brief prayers. That is growing beautiful within!
The mind can hold only one thought at a time. Let is be a God thought. And you will grow God - like!
Life has so many hidden woes that you never know when you are touching a tender spot. Therefore let me be gentle, sweet, kind to all.
When a man passes away. his life is usually summed up in one sentence -that he was a great man, a good man or a sarcastic person or one difficult to deal with. What will that sentence to about me.
You cannot eat the cake and still have it. But there is something that you can keep even when you have given it away. It is a smile. Why not be a smile-millionaire?
How does a river get crooked ? by following the path of least resistance. So does the nature of man!
The man who is eager to reform himself has no time or inclination to criticize others.
Lord, thou alone knowest what is good for me. So many things which appear to be good run out otherwise. And vice versa. So let the decision rest with Thee.
Let us never forget that the secret of the care-free life is:
Walk with God today, and trust him for the tomorrow!
O LORD
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1918 August - 2 : |
Date of Birth |