Thought for the Day

1.It is an arduous process for people to become aware of the One that is their core. People are of the essence of food (Annam). The gross body is the product of the food consumed. But within everyone there is a subtler force, an inner vibration named Vital Air (Prana). The mind (Manas) within is subtler still, and deeper and subtler than the mind is the intellect (Vijnana). Beyond the intellect, people have in them the subtlest sheath of spiritual bliss (Ananda). When people delve into this region of spiritual bliss, they can experience the reality, the Brahman (Divinity). That Divine awareness is indeed the most desirable.

2.During the war, the palms of Lord Sri Krishna, soft and tender like lotus petals, developed boils all over, since the steeds strained their hardest, when they were restrained or controlled as He had to hold the reins tight. The Lord devoid of food and sleep, performed services both high and low, and kept ready both horses and chariot in perfect trim. He also went on various other sundry errands, which were fundamental to achieving victory. He bathed the horses in the river, attended to their wounds and applied balm to cure them. Basically, He acted as a servant in the household of Pandavas! He never assumed the role of the Universal Sovereign that is His real nature and status. That was the measure of His affection for those devoted to Him!

3.The ideas and pronouncements of others may often be personal, or may induce feelings of hatred between people. Why should we accept them as ours and mould our feelings accordingly? We should not try to shape our feelings and patterns of behaviour to conform to those of others. We must not relinquish our faith, our experience and our innate holiness. Born as human beings, moving about as educated persons, yet foolishly following others as sheep do and polluting the minds with ideas borrowed from others are things to be avoided.

4.The scriptures are as affectionate to us as a mother is. They teach lessons as a mother does to her children, in conformity with the level of intelligence and according to the needs of time and circumstance. A mother with two children gives the strong and healthy one every item of food for which it clamours, but she takes great care not to overfeed the ailing child and gives it only those items that can restore it soon to good health. Can we, on that account, accuse her of being partial to one and prejudiced against the other in conferring love? The scriptures draw the attention to the secret and value of work (Karma). Work can improve life and set its ideals aright. Everyone must be instructed on how to transform work into beneficial activity. Yet, Karma is not all; it is only the means to the end. Advocacy of Karma is not the chief goal of the scr iptures.