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 Swami,
these days, imitation has become very common. This
is also responsible for young people to go in search
of new fashions. What are Bhagavan's views on this?
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 It
is not good to imitate. Swami often tells the boys:
IMITATION IS HUMAN WHEREAS CREATION IS DIVINE!
Imitation diminishes one's intrinsic abilities and
masks one's intrinsic nature. An example: Once,
a crow tried to walk like a swan. It kept on trying
for a long time but could not succeed. In the end
it got fed up and gave up the imitation. But in
the meanwhile, it had also forgotten how to walk
like a crow! This is the ultimate fate of those
who try cheap imitation. Always be your own true
self. |
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| Swami,
some people say that there is no happiness in their
lives, and that they can never be happy. Why is
that? |
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 The
mind is the reason for such a feeling. Happiness
can be attained only if the mind is turned towards
God. If the mind is turned towards the world, then
life would become painful.
An example: Take a hand-fan and move it towards
you; then the breeze will come towards you. If,
however, you move the fan away from you, how can
you get breeze? In the same way, only if the mind
is diverted towards God, can you get happiness.
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| Swami,
what is it that humans should give up? |
|
 People
think that giving up means that one must renounce
life. What one must give up is attachment - this
is the true meaning of renunciation. Swami Ramanand
Tirth had a wife and son [before he became a renunciate].
After he became a renunciate, his wife once came
to see him. The Swamiji turned his face and said
that he was a renunciate and that therefore the
lady should not come to see him. Hearing this, the
lady replied that she had not come there to see
her husband but a holy sannyasi. Ramanand Tirth
was humbled by the reply and felt regret that he
has spoken proudly to the woman.
You do not have to give up PROPERTIES. Instead,
what is important is to develop PROPER TIES WITH
God!
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| Swami,
why don't we receive God's Grace? |
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 This
is a totally wrong notion. God treats everyone alike.
The fault lies with individuals. For example, if
it rains and you want to catch the rainwater, you
must place a vessel in the rain with the mouth of
the vessel facing the sky. Only then will the rainwater
collect in the vessel. If on the other hand you
place the vessel upside down, how can you expect
rainwater to collect in the vessel? Your mind is
the vessel and God is the sky. Turn the mind towards
God; then the water of Grace can surely be collected.
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