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What are the main principles of life?

 

A newborn baby cries, but a grown-up man should part from this world

smiling. Do you know why the baby cries? It cries because of the

misfortune that lies ahead of it, a long, troublesome and problematic

life. In the words of Adi Sankara, punarapi jananam punarapi maranam,

punarapi janani jathare s'ayanam.

 

Everyone is born again and again, life after life. So, the infant

cries. But at its birth, its parents, its relatives and elders

celebrate, smile and distribute sweets don't they? Life begins with a

question, koham, who am I? But, it should find an answer soham, I am

He, I am God, before it ends. We get the answer, through sadhana,

spiritual practice or exercise. There is no point in going through

the question paper again and again. without finding the answer.

 

We can in one way divide life into three phases morning, midday and

night. Morning is the stage of an infant, the four legged one

crawling on the ground on both hands and both legs. Midday is the

stage of a youth, the two-legged, walking with two legs. Night is the

stage of an old man, the three legged with a walking stick as an aid

to the two weakened legs.

 

Brahmacarya, celibacy is the foundation over which a three-storied

building, with the first floor, the stage of a householder, the

second floor that of a recluse, and the top floor that of a

renunciant is built. Thus, for the mansion, celibacy is the

foundation. By the time a person becomes fifty years old, he should

have full control over his five organs of action, karmendriyas by the

time he is sixty he should have conquered all the six weaknesses,

kama, desire, krodha, anger, lobha, greed, moha, infatuation mada,

pride, and matsarya, jealousy.

 

At the age of seventy, after overcoming the weaknesses, he is revered

as one of the seven sages, saptaris is, like the seven notes of

music, saptasvaras, and the seven seas, saptasamudra. At the age of

eighty, having followed the eight paths of yoga astanga yoga, he

shines like the eight lords of the directions as tadikpalakas. At the

age of ninety, life shines like nine precious gems, navaratnas having

followed the nine paths of devotion. At the age of hundred, he is

master of the five organs of perception, and the five organs of

action, and is divine having experienced divinity in depth, brahmavid

brahmaiva bhavati.

 

You should also know another point. Whatever you do, it is for your

own satisfaction and not for other people's. In other words, it is

for your self-satisfaction. You put on new clothes. For whom do you

wear them? It is for your satisfaction that you wear a new dress. You

construct a new house. For whom? It is for you only, isn't it? You

eat an apple not for the benefit of the apple, it is for your own

satisfaction.

 

Understand that Self is God. You have to play well your role in the

drama of your life. Swami is Sutradhari, the director while you are

the actor, patradhari. Consider this an opportunity. Lead your life

in an ideal way and get a good name in society. God should say that

you are good. This is what is said in the Gita, manman a bhava

madbhakto madyaji mam namaskuru. Don't pray for the fulfilment of

desires. Pray to be with Him and Him alone. Then. everything else

will be added unto you. Be always humble and respectful.

 

In South India, food is served on plantain leaves When all the items

are served, the leaf on account of its weight, remains without being

blown off by the wind: When it is empty, it is blown off because of

its lightness. In other words, empty vessels make much noise. A tree

loaded with fruits is always bent because of the weight of the

fruits. Similarly, a true scholar is humble and modest .A cloud-like

mass of air goes up higher and higher, while a cloud of vapour comes

down. A person with ego ruins himself.

 

There are four main principles you should know and follow in life.

The first principle is tyaja durjana samsargam, run away from bad

company. The second principle is bhaja sadhu samagamam, be always in

good company. If necessary, you better lose or pay money if you must

in order to avoid bad company. You should never be separated from

good, pious and noble people.

 

The third principle is smara nityamanityatam, bear in mind always

what is impermanent or transitory. In other words, distinguish that

which is divine from the one that is temporal. You are gifted with

intellect for discrimination and judgment. Discriminate between what

is transient, perishable and dual and what is eternal; immortal and

non-dual.

 

The fourth principle is kuru pun yamahoratram , do meritorious deeds

day and night. The body is meant for serving others.

Paropakararthamidam sariram.