Eternal India Encyclopedia

ETERNAL INDIA encyclopedia

WISDOM OF INDIA

He who knows only the Gita is not wise; nor is he who knows only

Yoga, indeed, is not for one who eats in excess nor for one who

the sacred books. He only is wise who trusts in God.

altogether abstains from food. It is, O Arjuna, not for one who is accustomed to excessive sleep nor, indeed, for one who always keeps awake.

When they see a stone serpent, they pour milk on it; if a real serpent

comes, they say, "Kill, Kill." To the servant of God, who could eat if

For one who is disciplined in eating and recreation, who engages

served, they say, "Go away, go away"; but to the image of God which

himself in actions in a disciplined manner, who properly regulates his

cannot eat, they offer dishes of food.

sleep and wakefulness— for him yoga proves to be the destroyer of

To speak truth is to be in heaven, to speak untruth is to continue in

sorrow.

the world of mortals. Cleanliness is heaven, uncleanliness is hell.

When one's properly controlled mind becomes steadfast within the

Sweet words are equal to all prayers. Sweet words are equal to all

Self alone and when one becomes free from all desires, then he is said

penances. Good behaviour is what pleases God..Kindness is the root of

to have accomplished yoga.

all righteousness.

"Just as a lamp in a windless place flickers not"-this is the simile tra- ditionally used in respect of a yogin whose mind is properly controlled

Those who have riches build temples for Thee; what can I build? I

am poor. My legs are the pillars; this body of mine is the temple.

and who practises the yoga of the Self.

Sayings of Basaveswara

Wherein the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, is at rest; and wherein he, seeing the Self through the Self, finds contentment within his own Self; Wherein he finds that supreme bliss, which is perceived by the in- tellect alone and which is beyond the ken of the sense-organs; wherein, being steadfast, he does not swerve from reality; Having obtained which, he does not consider any other gain to be greater than it; and being steadfast in which, he is not shaken by even a heavy sorrow; That state, one should know as the one called yoga— the disconnec- tion from union with sorrow. This yoga should be practised with He who does not entertain hatred toward any being, who is friendly and ever compassionate, free from all sense of "my-ness," free from egoism, even-tempered in pain and pleasure, forbearing; He who is ever content, the yogin, possessing self-control, of un- shakable resolve; who has dedicated to Me his mind and intellect—he, My devotee, is dear to Me. resoluteness and with undepressed mind...

If God be within the mosque, then to whom does this world belong? If Ram be within the image which you find upon your pilgrimage,

then who is there to know what happens without?

Hari is in the East: Allah is in the West. Look within your heart, for

there you will find both Karim and Ram;

All the men and women of the world are His living forms.

Kabir is the child of Allah and of Ram: He is my Guru, He is my Pir.

From Tagore, Songs of Kabir

No dignity is higher in the eyes of God than royalty, and those who are wise drink from its auspicious fountain. A sufficient proof of this, for those who require one, is the fact that royalty is a remedy for the spirit of rebellion, and the reason why subjects obey. Even the meaning of the word Badshah [emperor] shows this; for Bad signifies stability and possession. If royalty did not exist, the storm of strife would never subside, nor selfish ambition disappear. Mankind, being under the burden of lawlessness and lust, would sink into the pit of destruction; this world, this great market place, would lose its prosperity, and the whole world becomes a barren waste. But by the light of imperial justice, some follow with cheerfulness the road of obedience, while others abstain from violence through fear of punishment; and out of ne- cessity make choice of the path of rectitude. Shah is also a name given to one who surpasses his fellows, as you may see from words like Shah- suwar [royal horseman], shah-rah [royal road]; it is also a term applied to a bridegroom-the world, as the bride, betroths herself to the king, and becomes his worshipper. Silly and short-sighted men cannot distinguish a true king from a selfish ruler. Nor is this remarkable, as both have in common a large treasury, a numerous army, clever servants, obedient subjects, an abundance of wise men, a multitude of skilful workmen, and a super- fluity of means of enjoyment. But men of deeper insight remark a difference. In the case of the former, these things just now enumerated are lasting. But in that of the latter, of short duration. The former does not attach himself to these things, as his object is to remove oppression and provide for everything which is good. Security, health, chastity,

He from whom the world shrinks not and who does not shrink from

the world; and who is free from elation, impetuosity, fear, and pertur-

bation—he too is dear to Me.

He who has no expectation; who is pure, dexterous, unconcerned, and untroubled; who renounces all acts—he, My devotee, is dear to Me.

He who neither exults nor hates, neither grieves nor yearns; who

renounces good and evil; who is full of devotion— he is dear to Me.

He who behaves alike to foe and friend; who, likewise is even-

poised in honour or dishonour; who is even-tempered in cold and heat,

happiness and sorrow; who is free from attachment;

Who regards praise and censure with equanimity; who is silent,

content with anything whatever; who has no fixed abode, who is

steadfast in mind, who is full of devotion-that man is dear to Me.

From The Bhagavad Gita (The Song of the Lord)

/

The lamb brought to the slaughterhouse eats the leaf garland with

which it is decorated....the frog caught in the mouth of the snake desires

to swallow the fly flying near its mouth. So is our life. The man

condemned to die drinks milk and ghee....