Redeem Your Life By Good Actions

Man is born out of karma, 
he lives and dies in karma. 
Karma is verily God, 
and it is responsible for man's 
happiness and sorrow.
(Telugu poem)

Karma is verily the life of man. Whatever actions man undertakes to perform from morning to evening, he should first understand and then perform. This is the primary duty of man. The nature of the action that you perform determines the type of result you get. When man performs good deeds, he will have good results. On the other hand, when he performs actions with evil intention, the results are bound to be bad.

Man Should Behave Like A Human Being

Bats fly in the sky like all other birds which perch on the branches of trees to take rest. However, unlike other birds, bats hang from the branches with their head down and feet up. Has anybody tied them in this manner with a thread? Or, has someone forcibly put their heads down? No. It is the result of their karma. In the same way, if man harbours evil thoughts and performs evil actions, he is bound to get evil results. However, if he performs good actions, he will get good results in accordance with the nature of his actions. When we look at them, even bats appear to be like other birds. But, they have a different fate unlike other birds, which fly freely.

We cannot escape from the consequences of our actions. But we perform bad deeds and expect good results. There is none who desires bad results after performing good actions. However, every action has a result in accordance with its nature. When you write correct answers to the questions put by your teacher in the examination, you get good marks. But if you commit mistakes your marks will be deducted. In the same way, one who is born as a human being should perform actions after enquiring what is good and what is bad. To perform good actions is the primary duty of man. To perform bad deeds is the attribute of an animal. You should always remind yourself that you are a human being and that you should perform only such actions which behove a human being. You should ask yourself before performing any action, “Am I behaving like a human being or an animal?” We should perform actions after examining them in a proper way. A human being should perform actions which befit his human birth. If you act contrary to human nature, even your neighbour will chide you, saying, “Having been born as a human being, you are behaving like an animal.”

In this manner, man will be punished by his fellow human beings if he behaves like an animal. Therefore, man should conduct himself like a true human being. It is a disgrace to humanness if man behaves like an animal. Man must conduct himself in a manner which is appropriate for a human being. The result of good actions will be good and bad actions will be bad.

Do Not Forget Your Humanness

There is no need for God to punish you for the bad actions performed by you. Your own bad actions will give you the punishment. It is not possible to get good result out of a bad action and vice versa. We should understand the truth that we are born as human beings only to perform good deeds. The word 'Manava' (man) consists of three syllables – Ma, na, va. Ma means ignorance, na means without, va means to conduct. A human being is one who conducts himself without ignorance. One who is born as a human being must conduct oneself like a human being and speak sweetly and softly. Among the birds also, there are many categories. Some of them sing sweetly and give happiness to all. But there are others like crow which are disliked by people and are driven away when they start cawing. One feels like listening to the song of a cuckoo for any length of time.

Similarly, the type of treatment that we receive from others is in accordance with our speech and behaviour. We are born to do only good deeds. A human being should always help his fellow human beings. Help Ever, Hurt Never. We should not hurt anybody. Sometimes, we hurt others knowingly. This is a greater mistake. God has given mind, intellect and chitta (mind stuff) to man to use them in a proper way. It is for this reason that the Vedanta declares Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoh (mind is the cause of bondage and liberation of man). The mind that has been gifted by God to man should be put on the right path. It is not the real nature of a human being to criticise others, to make fun of them or to hurt them. Man should be devoid of all such evils. When even animals are doing service to man, there is nothing great if man helps his fellowmen. Having been born as human beings we should love our fellow human beings like our brothers and sisters. That is the hallmark of a true human being.

First and foremost, man should obey the command of God. The same divine principle is present in all human beings. Daivam manushya roopena (God is in the form of a human being). Man should implicitly follow the command of God who incarnates as a human being. You should listen to the command of God and not of your friends who may be very close to you. We are born as human beings. Our appearance is also like a human being. So, we have to conduct ourselves like a human being. Never harm anybody by your thoughts, words or deeds. Conduct yourself as a human being and uphold your humanness. Whatever caste or culture you may belong to, you should acquire goodness in accordance with that. Since you are born among human beings, live among human beings, you should follow humanness. Only then will your life as a human being become worthwhile. If you forget your humanness, there is no use in performing any amount of Japa, Tapa, Yoga and Yajna (recitation, penance, spirituality and sacrifice). Whatever spiritual practice you may undertake, you can be called a human being only when you uphold humanness.

First Achieve The Unity Of Thought, Word And Deed

You should perform only such actions which will please God. Then only does your life as a human being become meaningful. Jantunam Narajanma durlabham (of all living beings, human birth is the rarest). You should not waste such a precious and rare human birth. You will lose your humanness completely if you indulge in falsehood, injustice and unrighteousness. Therefore, you should have good thoughts, good speech and good vision. See Good, Do Good, Be Good. This is the inner meaning of human life. There are people who may appear to be good and smiling but their mind is filled with evil intentions. This is not good. Manasyekam vachasyekam karmanekam mahatanam, Manasyanyat vachasyanyat karmananyat duratanam (Those whose thoughts, words and deeds are in perfect harmony are noble ones; those who lack harmony of these are wicked). One should have unity of thought, word and deed. If you have unity, then you will attain purity and purity will lead you to divinity. Therefore, one should have purity in order to attain divinity. Saying one thing and doing something other than that is not good. This is no unity at all. How can you have purity when you are devoid of unity? Therefore, if you want to have purity, you must have unity. Suppose somebody criticises you, you should think that this also is for your good. Whatever others may do, think that it is all for your own good. Perform all actions with the aim of redeeming your life. You should see to it that you do not lose your humanness. You may lose any property, but do not lose the property of humanness. Lead your life always smilingly and blissfully. But laughing unnecessarily is also not good. You should perform all actions with good intentions. When you perform good actions, your thoughts will also be good. When your mind is filled with good thoughts, all your bad thoughts will disappear. Therefore, you should always develop only good thoughts. This will lead to good health. We should love everyone. Love All, Serve All. If you adhere to these principles, you will always have good health.

It is necessary for man to be healthy. Health is not limited only to physical body, it includes mental well-being also. Never eat improper food. Eat only those food items which are good and sacred and have been sanctified by offering to God. Do not offer improper food to God. Offer only sacred and satvika (pure) food to God in clean utensils. You get the result in accordance with the offering that you make. As are the actions, so will be the result. It is not possible to get good results by performing bad actions. Therefore, we should perform good actions and experience good fruits. Then only can we have good health. If we eat good food, we will have good thoughts. But people today say one thing and do something else.

Once a sanyasi came to a house and begged for food. The housewife said to him, “My dear son, go to the river and have your bath. Meanwhile, I will prepare food for you.” This sanyasi was an epitome of laziness. He said to her, “Mother, for sanyasis like us, Govindeti sada snanam (reciting the name of Govinda is like having a bath).” Then the intelligent housewife gave him a befitting reply, saying, “Govindeti sada bhojanam* (reciting the name of Govinda is like having food). Hence, you may go.” It is meaningless to say, Govindeti sada snanam to justify our laziness and not to have a bath. When you say that reciting the name of Govinda is like having a bath, you should also accept that the recitation of His name amounts to having food. We should observe propriety in our life.

Understand The Importance Of Good Company

Sometimes, you may get bad thoughts. You should immediately change them into good thoughts. For this, good company is necessary. “Tell me your company, I shall tell you what you are,” it is said. When you join good company, you become good. On the other hand, when you are in bad company, you become bad. Hence, always have good company. How can anybody accept you as a good person when you indulge in smoking, drinking and meat eating? If you want to be good, perform only good deeds. Whatever is the type of action you perform, you will get the result according to that.

Human life is most sacred. It is attained as a result of merits earned in many previous births. Thousands of people have gathered here. For what? Only for God. Many people gather at places like liquor shops also. But there you cannot have good thoughts. Therefore, we should always have good company.

We should join good company and develop good feelings. Do not have jealousy, anger and ego. Not only that. You should have gratitude for every good thing done to you by others. Gratitude is very important. One with a sense of gratitude will reap its good fruits wherever he may be. There are some people who betray even those who have done good to them. This is not good. We should be grateful even for a little good done to us. Your life will be a mere waste if you lack gratitude. Develop good qualities. Wherever you may go, you should conduct yourself with good feelings and serve everyone. Even if you come across your enemy, you should offer your greetings to him. Then he will also reciprocate in the same manner. On the other hand, if you talk to him with disrespect, he will also show disrespect to you. Our entire life is reaction, reflection and resound. If you want to achieve good results, you should lead a good life. If you work hard and study well, you will secure first rank. But if you do not study well, how can you get good marks? If you do not study well and yet get good marks, people may doubt that you have copied in the examination. Your conscience is your witness that you got good marks because you had written your examination well. Hence, do good and experience goodness. Only then will your life as a human being become meaningful. Live your life as a human being.

You need not pray to God for protection. Your goodness will protect you. Your goodness is your true support in life. Manasuku manasu sakshi (mind is the witness of mind). We do not need any other witness. Lawyers say, “witness, witness, witness”. But what sort of witness? Not always a true witness. Our true witness is only our mind. Whether it is for earning money or for developing virtues, we should act in a righteous manner. We should do only such acts which are acceptable to our conscience. Self-satisfaction is very important. We can perform self-sacrifice only when we have self-satisfaction. Students! Right from this age, you should develop good feelings. That is true education. There is no use reading big books without developing good feelings. There are many students who appear to be studying all the time. But nobody knows what they are really studying. You should study something only after knowing that it is good for you. You should not read those books which teach you to go on paths contrary to humanness.

Perform All Actions To Please God

You are all students. Hence, your only objective should be to acquire education. But what sort of education? Atma-vidya (education of the Self). You should study for self-satisfaction. Some students study day and night. But nobody knows what they are studying. They have big big books and in those big books they keep trash books and read them. Their parents feel happy thinking, “Our child is reading the Mahabharatam!” You should not resort to such evil practices. When you act in this manner, you will lose respect in society. Not only that, your life itself will be ruined.

First and foremost, students must control their anger. Thereafter, they should develop forbearance. Not merely that, they should always be peaceful. Only when you are peaceful can you understand the real meaning of what you are studying. At this age, students have a sacred heart. Offer your pure heart to God. You may not be able to please everybody in this world, but you can please God. If you return the money given to you by someone, he will be satisfied. But you should return not only the money, but give him your love also. You should treasure that gratitude in your heart. Then only you can say that you have repaid your debt. Everybody wants happiness. But where is happiness? “Hari bhajan bina sukh shanti nahin …” (There can be no happiness and peace without chanting the name of God). That is why Guru Nanak started the practice of community singing. When many people sing the glory of God together, at least a few of them may be able to focus their mind on God and achieve self-satisfaction. Some people may be dozing during Bhajans, while the mind of some others may be wandering here and there. But at least one person’s mind will be focused on God. Hence, community bhajan singing is very good, which will fill your heart with bliss.

Yesterday was Shivaratri. Shivaratri means auspicious night; the night to develop virtues. Day and night come one after the other. But all nights are not Shivaratris. The night on which you recite the name of God is real Shivaratri. That is the night which brings auspiciousness to you. Hence, you should develop good feelings in your heart at least on Shivaratri.

Shivaratri, Prasanthi Nilayam, 7-3-2008.