Sadhu Vaswani’s 126th Birthday Celebrations

English Lecture 20th November 2005

Dada J. P. Vaswani’s English talk on 20 Ways to Lead a Happier Life – at the Sadhu Vaswani Mission celebrating the 126th Birth Anniversary of Sadhu T.L. Vaswani. 

The eagerly awaiting thousands, gathered together at Sadhu Vaswani Mission to celebrate Sadhu T.L. Vaswani’s 126th Birth Anniversary, drank in he words of Dada J.P. Vaswani, satiating themselves with hope and joy.

Dada spoke of his Master, Sadhu Vaswani as one in whose faraway gaze was the wonder of the Infinite.  He saw the One Light in all religions and stated that the prime duty of man is to make the world more beautiful through service of those in need.  Dada once again reminded each one to abstain from partaking of any fish, flesh or fowl.

On 25th Nov. which is International Meatless Day as well as Sadhu Vaswani’s birthday.  He encouraged the formulation of a Charter of Rights for Animals, the primary being the one to live, for we do not have the right to take away that which we cannot give.

Dada said, each person is looking for happiness through different means.  But those are all external.  True joy is internal through our peace of mind and Sadhu Vaswani was among the happiest of men.

Then Dada proceeded to share his long-awaited 20 Secrets with us for obtaining true wealth – i.e. happiness.

• Make others happy – that which you give to others, comes back to you.  The King of Ratnapuri, who had no heirs, called Sher Singh and Ramdas.  Sher Singh, when asked, said he would rule with an iron hand, whereas Ramdas said he would continue to be a servant of the people.  Naturally, the latter was selected to be the King.
• Appreciate everyone you meet – It is the deepest principle of human nature to feel happy when appreciated.  Leonardo da Vinci believed one should never reprove a friend in public.  One draws out the best from another with appreciation.
• Forgive before forgiveness is asked – Jesus, when asked, said that one should forgive seventy times seven – which meant one should never count the number of times one forgives.  Before going to bed one should think of all those who have wronged us by name and forgive them.
• Don’t hold grudges against anyone in your heart – This can even make you die due to “grudgitis”.  One should hold no bitterness or resentment in our hearts if we want to be happy.
• Cleanse and un-clutter your mind – Unhappy thoughts only cause sorrow.  Thoughts are forces, the building blocks of life.  Watch them carefully and keep away lust, anger, greed, envy, jealousy etc.  According to Gautama Buddha, the three evils of the mind are – lust, greed, hatred.  These and happiness, like darkness and light can never go together.  Lord Byron called hatred a madness of the heart.
• What matters is not what has happened, but how you think about it – This depends on our attitude which should be positive and constructive.  Dr. Carl Menninger said that attitude is more important than facts.
• Always expect the best, but be prepared for the worst – this will prepare us for any eventuality and we will not get a shock.  This is helped by believing in the meaning of mercy in all that God does.
• One should be full of the spirit of wonder belonging to children – This is possible only by belief that our Parent is always with us to guard and guide us.
• Keep your body healthy and strong – we need to follow four doctors – Dr. Diet, Quiet, Sunshine, Laughter and all this assisted by some physical exercise as well.
• You do not have to win all the time – Then, there will be no disappointment when one loses.
• Friends are more important than money – the latter is useful, but friendship is essential.
• Accept yourself as you are, unconditionally – man is a bundle of qualities – good, bad and indifferent.  Each one is unique.  We must strive for perfection but yet accept - so we should believe and achieve.
• This belief should not be complete belief – we are not yet perfect, so this belief should not lead to complacency.  Albert Einstein believed that what he knew was but an infinitesimal fraction of what is to be known.
• Always consider the good in others – never their faults and failings.
• Be fearless – As Franklin Roosevelt said, the only thing to fear is fear itself.  It is our greatest enemy, it is crippling and debilitating.
• Be assured that with God, all things are possible – this faith is like an unshakeable rock in the stormy seas of our lives.
• Learn to walk with God today and don’t worry about tomorrow – Anxiety will not remove tomorrow’s sorrow, but will rob today of its strength.
• Realise that success is not to be measured by money or material things – a couple in a Mercedes car was found quarrelling bitterly.  Happiness arises from our internal state.
• Develop a healthy sense of humor – for this, Dada cracked jokes which made the audience break out into peals of laughter, laugh with others, never at others.
• Keep on thanking God all the time – this is easy while one is enjoying the ride, but should also persist when the going gets tough.  Dada urged all to follow this 20th secret, even though we may forego all the 19.  This made us all break out into loud “thank-you’s” For all that Dada had given us.