DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE TO GAIN SUCCESS IN LIFE

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Divine Discourse on Maha Shivarathri - 23 Feb, 2009

 

DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE TO GAIN SUCCESS IN LIFE

 

The beauty of this scared land of Bharat lies in its Forbearance! Of

all the rituals, adherence to truth is the greatest penance. The

nectarine feeling in this country is the feeling of love toward

one's mother. Character is valued far more than the very life

itself. People have forgotten the basic principles of this great culture and are

imitating Western culture. Alas! Bharathiyas are not aware of the greatness of

their cultural heritage just as a mighty elephant is not aware of its own

strength.

 

(Telugu poem)

 

The elephant, unable to realise its innate strength, meekly submits

itself to the commands of the mahout, who works for a paltry sum of

money. It gets up and sits down as the mahout bids as it is trained by

him.. Similarly Bharathiyas today blindly follow the western culture,

quite forgetting their own rich and sacred heritage and culture. The

culture of Bharath is very sacred, strong, and ancient. It is eternal

and a beacon light that has and continues to guide all the countries of the

world. Then how can the Bharathiyas forget their own great culture?

 

The culture of Bharath is such that it instills the philosophy where the mother

and the father are to be respected like God... It exhorts every child to follow

the axiom of " Mathrudevo bhava " and

" Pithrudevo bhava " (mother is God; father is God). It does

not stop just at this level alone it also urges one to follow the truism of

" Acharyadevo bhava " and " Athithidevo bhava " (Teacher is God and the guest is

God). If you tend to ignore the words of your own mother, whom else will you

revere and respect?

 

Embodiments of Love!

 

As we go on talking for hours together, we tend to forget what we really intend

to communicate. So many deviations and distortions creep into our speech. Today,

the entire world is filled with negative feelings. Whoever you come across, and

in whatever you see, negativity is widespread. All are reflections of your inner

thoughts and feelings.

 

But beyond all these, there is one entity, called Atma, which is the

Embodiment of the Divine Self. There is only one Atma, which dwells in

every individual, or should I say in every living being. The Bhagavad

Gita declared " Mamaivamso jeevaloke jeevabhuthah Sanathanah " (the Eternal Atma

present in all beings is a part of My Being). There is no scope at all for any

doubt or duality in this aspect. It is " Ekameva adwitheeyam Brahma " (The Atma or

Brahma is one without a second). That is why it is said " A man with a dual mind

is half blind. "

 

Divinity is described in the Vedas as " Sahasra seersha purushaha

sahasrakshah sahasra paad " (The Cosmic Being has thousands of

heads, eyes and feet.). The significance of this statement is that one

Divinity expresses itself through millions of individuals and therefore all are

Divine. We tend to forget this great truth and consider each individual as

separate from one another. The strife and conflicts between human beings started

the moment humanity forgot its fundamental unity. It is time that this trend is

reversed and the elemental unity among human beings is re-established.

 

Along with unity, there should be purity. When unity and purity go

together, there is Divinity. The combination of unity, purity and

Divinity will result in the realisation of the Atma Tathwa (Atmic

Principle). The Upanishads, especially the Taithreeyopanishad, dealt at length

with this Atma Tathwa. The one who develops faith only in this Atma Tathwa will

succeed in all his endeavors.

 

The Atma Tathwa or Divine Consciousness permeates the entire Universe.

Even a blade of grass cannot move without this Divine Consciousness.

Everything in this Universe is the reflection of this Divine

Consciousness. It is the same Atma Tathwa which dwells in all human

beings irrespective of religion, caste, creed, and nationality.

 

This is true even in the case of Avatars. The Avatars of Rama and

Krishna may be different from each other by their names and forms; but

the Atma Tathwa which resides within them is only one. They all lived in their

human vestures till the completion of their Avataric mission, and once their

task was completed, they disappeared. So, physical bodies are not permanent. In

fact, nothing in this ephemeral world is permanent, not even the great Avatars.

 

Atma is the only entity that is eternal. It is beyond birth and death.

It is changeless. There is a beginning and an end for everything else in this

universe, except the Atma. Hence, one has to develop firm faith in this Atma

Tathwa.

 

Unfortunately, we today tend to forget this true and eternal Atma Tathwa and

develop faith in the ephemeral world. We weave a web of imagination around the

pleasures that this transient world would offer. Ultimately, we land ourselves

in sorrow and difficulties.

 

The Atma Tathwa is the only entity that is true, eternal, and

changeless. Everything else undergoes change from time to time. Even the human

body passes through different stages like childhood, adolescence, youth and old

age, but the individual remains the same through all these changes.

 

Today, people adapt themselves to continuous changes in time,

situations, and environment. People who change themselves thus are not a human

beings in the real sense. Who then is a real human being? One who does not

undergo a change; one whose faith in the Atma Tathwa (Self) is firm and steady.

That is self-confidence. One who develops that self confidence can find a place

for himself permanently in the history of the world.

 

You all know about Abraham Lincoln, the past President of the United

States of America. He was a perfect example of such self-confidence. He came

from a very poor family and could not afford to have books or even decent

clothes. He was so poor that he had to study under the

streetlights. His mother used to support him with the meagre amount of

money she earned by mending old and worn-out clothes.

 

One day his classmates, who were rich and wearing fine suits, boots, and hats,

heckled him, by saying that he did not deserve to walk along with them in his

poor clothes and that he should walk on the footpath. He came home crying and

poured out his agony to his mother, explaining how he was insulted and

humiliated.

 

His mother consoled him by saying, " My dear son! Do not get

affected by either praise or blame. Understand the situation at home.

Your father cannot afford to spend money on your education. Develop

self-confidence. That is your property. "

 

These words made a lasting impression on the tender heart of Lincoln. He

inculcated self-confidence and self-respect, with the constant support and

encouragement of his mother. He even did some odd jobs and earned some money to

support himself. The good name he earned for himself in society won him the

respect and love of his fellowmen.

 

In due course of time, his friends and well-wishers advised him to run

for election. They assured him of their support and votes. On their

advice, he participated as a candidate in the election and won. He

became the President of America. Thus, Abraham Lincoln, the son of a

poor artisan with very little money to pursue even his primary

education, became the President of America by sheer hard work and the

self-confidence which his mother encouraged him to develop all through

his life.

 

People cannot reach great heights without self-confidence. Not even the nine

forms of devotion " sravanam (listening), kirtanam

(singing), Vishnusmaranam (contemplating on Vishnu), Padasevanam

(serving His Lotus Feet), vandanam (salutation), archanam (worship),

dasyam (servitude), sneham (friendship), and Atmanivedanam

(self-surrender) " can help.

 

Any amount of sadhana (spiritual practices) without self-confidence will be of

little use. Hence, I wish that all of you should develop

self-confidence. Face your examinations with self-confidence. Without

self-confidence, not even your friends can help.

 

Do not forget to follow your mother's advice, for, she is

" Mathrudevo bhava " (mother is God). She will always protect you, wherever you

are. One who respects the commands of their mother and follows them sincerely

will come up in life, as in the case of Abraham Lincoln.

 

Unfortunately, people today do not give due respect and recognition to

their mothers. There are people in high positions who do not hesitate

even to put down their mothers in front of others. There have been

instances when they do not hesitate to call their mother a servant when guests

or colleague officers visit their houses and ask about the

mother. This behaviour is totally against the Vedic injunctions, which

urges everyone to treat the mother as God..

 

In fact, the mother is living divinity. She is the first guru to a human being.

She is the only person who selflessly works and wishes for the welfare of her

children.

 

Those who disregard the advice of their mother will never be successful in life.

Even in foreign countries, people like Abraham Lincoln attained high positions

by obeying the commands of their mothers and by developing self-confidence.

 

We consider foreigners as great. But not all foreigners can be

considered great. Only those who respect their mothers and follow their advice

are great. If you ignore the advice of your mother, you are sure to face

difficulties in life. Follow her advice wholeheartedly. Without a second

thought, develop the quality of implicit obedience to the wishes of your mother.

Only then only will your life be peaceful.

 

The women of Bharath have earned great name and fame for the sterling

quality of chastity. They are not to be treated lightly. Such noble

women are always worth remembering and need to be emulated. Savithri

could bring her deceased husband back to life, by the power of her

chastity. The great woman Sita entered the fire to prove her chastity

and came out unscathed. There were several more such examples in this

country of Bharath, of women who have shone as guiding lights to the

entire world.

 

Bharath is a holy and sacred land. You are indeed fortunate to be born

in this great land of Bharath! You must therefore sanctify your lives by

following the rich and sacred culture of this country. Magnanimity and sacrifice

flourished in this holy land of Bharath The spiritual outlook of Bharath is

unparalleled. In fact, it is this spiritual outlook that has sustained this

country through time and has taken it to great heights.

 

People here are enjoying peace and bliss even today, while the whole

world is passing through difficult times. It is for this reason that

people from all other countries visit this country and find solace here. We have

to sustain this rich legacy of spirituality.

 

Whenever someone asks a student what he is doing, he replies that he is

concentrating on his studies. But the real meaning of concentration is fixing

one's mind on a particular object. Contemplation is the next step. The final

step is meditation. Thus, concentration, contemplation, and meditation are the

three steps in sadhana. Meditation is not just sitting silent and closing one's

eyes. Maintaining an unwavering and steady mind is meditation.

 

People think that concentration is a great exercise, but it is just the first

step in sadhana, the others being contemplation and meditation. Concentration is

like primary school education. Contemplation is high school education and

meditation is college level education. Only after reaching the college level one

is eligible to acquire a degree. All our ancient Rishis reached this stage and

meditated upon Divinity.

 

When one reaches the stage of meditation, there is no scope for any

wavering, and one's faith in Divinity becomes steady. You have to

attain that stage. You may study a number of books and pass your

examination in the school or college. But, it is only one who reached

the meditation stage that passes the test prescribed by God.

 

Dear students! Do not be proud of your achievement in getting a first

class or a rank. It is not the marks that count. See that you do not get

remarks, which is the result of your losing self-confidence. Hence, develop

self-confidence to become real successes in life.( Or) Develop self confidence

and become really successful in life.

 

(Bhagawan sang the bhajan, 'Bhajana bina' and continued His discourse.)

 

Embodiments of Love!

 

Constantly meditate upon a name and form of God that is to your liking. It does

not matter which name and form you select for your namasmarana. All names and

form belong to the one God. He is Atmaswarupa (Embodiment of divine Atma). God

takes up different forms and is worshiped by various names. Only God can fulfill

the desires of devotees. It is He who grants you powers and positions. Without

Him, you cannot achieve any position. All are zeros only! With God's grace, one

can become a hero!

 

Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam

 

(Source:http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/Shivarathri2009-Di\scourse\

..html)