STOP

[Guest guest]

We often come across the word " STOP " at traffic signals or

crossroads where traffic is managed. Therefore let that word " Stop "

be the topic for this morning. When we go at a high speed along the

national highway and there is a board saying " STOP " and we don't

stop, what will happen? An accident! We will land up in a hospital

instead of our destination. So we have to stop where we have to,

when we have to. If we do not, we are taking a risk.

 

we must observe traffic rules on the spiritual highway

Similarly, spirituality is an eternal journey. It is a journey that

has neither an end nor a beginning. In this endless, beginning--less

eternal journey, we should stop certain things in order to be safe

and secure along the spiritual highway. The spiritual highway will

be comfortable if we observe the traffic rules. We have to stop

certain notions, certain habits and some of our thinking processes,

so that we can have a better and safer journey.

 

Stop using high-SOUNDING vocabulary words

The first thing that we have to stop is using difficult vocabulary.

This does not exclude me. Rather I am the first and foremost

because, in a satsang, no one stands on a pedestal; we are all the

same.

 

Being a teacher, I have some more time to collect matter and

articulate so as to convince you. We are all pilgrims along the same

path. We have to put a stop to difficult vocabulary or words. We use

words to describe God; we use words to describe Divinity. We have to

put a full-stop to that!

 

Why? Words can never reach God. No, impossible! Words can never

convey Divinity. Impossible! Yet all of our attempts are only to put

God and Divinity into words. Put a full-stop to that verbal

expression or oral communication, particularly regarding Divinity.

There is also a second danger. We are tempted to use very high-

sounding words or vocabulary. Vocabulary, high-sounding words and

bombastic style are useless. They are a sign of ego. Vocabulary will

satisfy your ego but not your conscience; it will never satisfy your

spirit. Therefore, let us try to put a stop to this habit of using

bombastic words in describing God.

 

Words are inadequate to express the truth

 

We should also know another important point. Many people, including

men of wisdom, met Jesus Christ. All of them were convinced that

Jesus Christ was far above them. These men were experts in

scriptures and verses, in memory and capacity to repeat like a

computer or a tape--recorder. Yet they had to bend their heads

before Jesus Christ because Christ was the very embodiment of

practical peace in life. Christ was the very personification of

communicating things in the best way ever possible.

We also know about Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Most of the great

scholars of those times like Keshav Chandrasen, Pandit Sitanathan,

Padma Bhushan, had to bend their heads in front of Sri Ramakrishna

Paramahamsa. Why? That was because Paramahamsa's wisdom was beyond

vocabulary. Paramahamsa's wisdom was beyond the word, which is a

mere vehicle for communication.

 

When Swami Vivekananda met Paramahamsa for the first time,

Paramahamsa did not give any discourse or speech. Paramahamsa did

not make use of any powerful sounding words, though Vivekananda had

a dictionary with him. Even if Paramahamsa had used high-sounding

words, Vivekananda could have verified its meaning with the support

of his Oxford dictionary. But Paramahamsa never used those words

because Paramahamsa knew that words are futile.

 

Words are useless; words are empty. They do not convey the depth and

reality of Divinity. Paramahamsa's communication to Vivekananda was

his Divine touch. The very touch of the master was enough to bring

about enlightenment in the life of Vivekananda. Naren could become

Vivekananda by just the Divine touch, not by a discourse or a talk.

My friends, vocabulary is confusing, and bombastic style is about

pomp and publicity. It is an expression of ego. Therefore, as we

start this morning with the topic " Stop " , we should stop making use

of high-sounding words and verses, knowing full well that they are

inadequate to express the Truth. That is the first full-stop.

 

Facts change with time

 

Let's move on to the second. We often hear people using two

particular words -- facts and figures.

If you ask anybody, " Why do you talk like that? "

" I can because I have facts and figures to back me. "

All scientists speak on the basis of facts and figures. Put a full-

stop to that! God cannot be limited by your facts. God cannot be put

within the parameters of your figures. Facts and figures relate to

the world, not to God.

 

First, let us understand what a fact is. " Temperature is such-and-

such a degree " is a fact. But by afternoon, the temperature will go

up, and that is equally a fact. Night temperature falls down and

that too is a fact. Early hours of the morning, when it will be

severely cooler, the temperature falls further; it is also a fact.

So which is true now?

 

Morning temperature, afternoon temperature, night temperature, early

morning temperature are all facts. As temperature fluctuates, so do

the facts. Do facts express Divinity? No! Do facts convey anything

about God? No, because your facts are go on changing.

 

Facts change. Temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, light intensity

all change constantly. The five elements are always changing.

Sometimes the changes in the five elements lead to catastrophes. A

change in earth plates leads to earthquakes; changes in water in the

sea and oceans bring about cyclone and floods. Changes in the wind

lead to storms. Changes in the heat lead to global warming,

temperature increases, the greenhouse effect. They are all facts,

but they have nothing to do with God.

 

Facts have nothing to do with god

 

The facts that we know have nothing to do with God because all these

facts change from time to time. Here is a basic fact. All of us know

how we were 25 years ago. I think all of us have our albums and we

can look at how we were 30 years ago. We were very handsome then,

and now we look awful. It's better not to speak about it! (Laughter)

Future will be still worse! (Laughter) It's no suspense. I am sure

no one will say, " I am more handsome now than I was 25 years ago. "

If you say that, either it implies something questionable about your

personality, or you have to redefine handsomeness!

 

Therefore my friends, no doubt these are facts, but they go on

changing. Population changes, species and their numbers change.

Therefore, facts and figures do not convey anything relating to God.

Put a full-stop to them.

 

So what should I do now? We already put a full-stop to our oral

expression or words. Now we put a full-stop to facts and figures. So

what is it that we want? We want Truth. Be after Truth, not after a

fact. Fact and Truth are different.

JAI SAI RAM.

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan

rgcjp