Over a slight matter there was a difference of opinion. It led to a hot discussion between me and one whom I hold in high esteem. The pitch of our voices kept on rising. I felt, I was right; he felt, he was right. Out of a conflict of right with right cometh tragedy. And after some minutes of wordy exchange, as we took leave of each other, my friend felt miserable and I felt unhappy.

Just then someone spoke to me with the simple frankness of a happy child. And though she spoke out of the tenderness of her heart, every word she uttered was a whip. “You write such beautiful things” she said to me, “and in your conversation with friends and others you give expression to such wondrous things of the Spirit. How often have you not urged that compassion is the secret of true life? And yet, as you spoke now to a brother, you became loveless! The tone of your voice was as the hissing of a snake and your words burnt as live coal!”

“How true.” I said to myself. And in sheer shame, I hung low my head.

In silence I asked myself, “Why did I use harsh words? Why?” And the answer came, “Because my life is not yet rooted in love. The roots of my life are elsewhere. Let me take care of my roots. Life is the root, words are as flowers and action is the fruit. If we are not rooted in love, our words go wild and our work more often than not becomes a curse.”

That night I kept awake. I sat in my quiet room, shedding unbidden tears of repentance. And then, methinks, I heard a voice say:

“My child, weep not, nor be disheartened. But pray for light and for strength to walk whither the light may lead!” And I said, “You know the burden that sits heavy on my heart. Tell me what I may do?”

And the Voice said, “My child, Let silence be the law of your life; for silence hurts no one. And when you feel like breaking your silence, ask yourself if what you have to say is something better than silence. If so, say it, else remain silent.”

I felt like asking a question. But before I opened my lips, I said to myself, “Surely, my question is not better than silence, so let me be silent!”

The Voice continued, “If only we could collect the words each one of us speaks, what a huge mountain they would make! Himalayas of words have passed through these tiny lips. And all these words, as it seems to me, come under five categories.

The five categories of words

1. Words inspired by love of God

These are the words we utter in adoration of the Eternal – the cry of the soul to the Over soul, the songs sung in praise of the Most High, prayer, kirtan and jap of the Sacred Name.

2. Words inspired by love of fellow-men

These are the words of comfort and consolation we pass on to those who suffer and struggle and are in sorrow-words which cheer them on life’s lonesome way.

3. Words which wound and hurt and kill

These are the words inspired by jealousy, envy, anger, malice or hatred. How often do we not speak ill of others, little knowing what havoc we cause! An archer shoots to kill. More dangerous is the man with a forked tongue. Every time he opens his lips, he sends forth shafts which strike and sting.

4. Words inspired by selfishness

These are the words prompted by egoism, by greed and sensuality. How often do we not ‘brag’ about our so called ‘achievements’ or speak in self-righteous pride! And see, how happy men feel when they indulge in obscene and sensual talk. And when it comes to making a little material gain, humans have no hesitation in speaking a lie. They gain a little and lose their all.

5. Idle words

These are the words men utter without a reason, merely to while away their time. The conversations of men are filled with silly questions and imbecile answers, which make our homes centers of idle gossip and our clubs and meeting-places so many towers of Babel. Against this type of talk did Jesus warn, when he said, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof, on the day of judgement.”

I listened in rapt attention. And the Voice continued: “When you purchase an earthen-vessel, you strike it and from the sound make out if it is cracked or not. So, too, is the integrity of man proved by his speech. If the words a man utters belong to the first two classes, verily, is he blessed among mortals. Such a person spreads sunshine wherever he goes!”

The post Here’s why you need to be mindful about the words you speak appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Health and happiness are twin goals that mankind has always pursued. Many of us know that we must be healthy in order to be happy; but very few of us realise that we must strive to be happy in order to be healthy. Since the beginning of the 20^th century we have accepted what is known as psychosomatic unity of the human being. ‘Psyche’ means mind or soul; ‘soma’ means body. Thus, the psychosomatic concept tells us that we are not just bodies – but an entirety that includes body, mind and spirit, functioning in a symbiotic relationship in which a separation is impossible to make.

Don’t take good health for granted

The World Health Organisation [WHO] defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing—and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” To this we must add, spiritual wellbeing—without which a feeling of ‘wellness’ is incomplete. The sad fact of the matter is that people take good health for granted. They don’t even think about their health until they are in danger of losing it—when illness and disease begin to threaten. Even then, they go to a doctor or a hospital, and think that this is all they have to do about it—in other words, they take no responsibility of their health. This reminds me of the words of the great comedian, Charlie Chaplin. He said: “When I fall sick, I go to the doctor. After all, the doctor has to live! The doctor writes out a prescription for me and I take it to the chemist–for the chemist too must live! The chemist gives me medicines–but I don’t take them, for I too must live!”

The time has come when doctors too realise that they must work on the principle of healing that is within each one of us

I must offer due apologies to doctors and chemists who are reading this. But I am sure they too will see the point of the joke–you are your own healer. The power of healing is within you. And the time has come when doctors too realise that they must work not on the disease and its symptoms–but on this principle of healing that is within each one of us. It was Dr. Johnson who said: “To preserve health is the moral and religious duty of us all—for health is the basis of all social virtues. We can no longer be useful when we are not well.”

Health is not just about adding years to your life

Longevity is not the primary goal of human life. We are told that life expectancy has increased in our times; and this is attributed to better health care and the advances made in medicine and allied sciences. But a longer life is not what all of us seek. A life of pain and disease and affliction can only be a miserable burden when it is prolonged. Thus we have the cases of incurable diseases, and people who are ‘clinically dead’ being put on life-support systems in the ICUs of hospitals. This is hardly the kind of treatment or ‘life’ that we aspire to. Take the case of a man who is not really ill. He may not suffer from any disease–but he may feel dull, lethargic and listless. He may be unhappy, and beset by negative emotions. Such a man is not really healthy.

True health and wellbeing encompasses man’s physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual state. When there is harmony and integrity between all these states, one is in good health. This is the concept of holistic health that we need now.

The post Dada Vaswani explains the true meaning of wellness appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Simply by surrendering the fruits of action to the Lord. Let us stop chasing after personal satisfaction’ and individual happiness. Let us make our work—all our work—an offering to the divine. Do your best—but leave the rest to God. When you allow yourself to become an instrument of God, you will find that you can actually work better, and achieve greater success, for you are freed from your own personal limitations.

Not your success, not your failure

When you rid yourself of the desire to achieve results, when you are free from anxiety and stress that arises from expectations, you escape the twin perils of egoistic arrogance on one hand, and dejection/depression on the other. If your efforts are crowned with success, it is His doing; if you should face failure, it is His will.

In this way you are really putting into practice the maxim “work is worship”. Your work becomes an act of devotion, and when it is performed in this spirit, work will always be a wonderful, pleasant experience for you.

We read of Jesus that he got into the boat of Simon Peter and made him row out to the middle of the Sea of Galilee and cast his net for fish. Peter hesitated, for he and his mates had spent a frustrating day trying to catch fish in vain. Perhaps they were hungry and tired, and could not wait to get home. Nevertheless, he did as Jesus asked him to do—and the Bible tells us that his boat literally overflowed with the catch, and his mates had to be called in to help with the load, and their boats too were fully laden.

The point is that Peter did not tell Jesus, “Sorry, I don’t want to try again. I’m frustrated enough as it is.” He set aside his disappointment and weariness and did what he was told to do. You do not have to struggle; you do not have to fear and be anxious; you only have to allow yourself to become an instrument of God’s will—and the Divine Plan will be revealed to you and through you.

How, not how much

Work is worship, but taking a break is also vital. So, avoid overwork, for it has been the graveyard of many a noble soul. The overworked man is a burden to himself and a nuisance to others. Do not rush through your daily tasks. Move slowly and quietly from one work to another, pausing again and again, for a brief while, to remember the Lord, to offer a little prayer, before you continue with your work.

It is not the amount of work we do that matters, but the way we do it; it is not what we do, but how we do it. There are many people who toil and drudge and slave, day after day, month after month, year after year—and their work is but a shadow on the wall. It vanishes the moment it is born. True work, abiding work, the work that transforms lives, flows out of the centre within the heart; the centre of harmony and happiness, peace and joy. When you work in this spirit, you will find that you are freed from all care for the morrow, all fear of the future.

What will happen to me tomorrow? Who will feed my family? Who will supply my daily needs? All these thoughts will cease to trouble you—for you know that the Lord will provide. It is His sole responsibility to take care of us and look after all our needs. Convert your work into yagna—an offering—and you are connected to the Lord. But remember, you must offer Him nothing but the best that you are capable of. The light shines in your life when you connect yourself with the Great Light: a new power, a new shakti will course through your veins, and you will find that God never fails you.

Change your outlook

The majority of men have their families to look after, bills to pay and a livelihood to earn. They have to provide for their children’s education, pay taxes and utility bills. In these days of increasing costs, they find it difficult even to procure the bare necessities of life for themselves and for those who depend on them. What are they to do? The essential thing they need is a change of outlook. As it is, many of us place too much dependence on ourselves, our efforts and our endeavours. We keep God out of the picture. Of course, human effort has its place in life. But we need to understand that above all effort is His Will and His Grace. And He is the giver of all that is. So let us learn to work as His agents and He will take care of everything else. We are His children—and when we work to the best of our ability and capability, it will be His responsibility to provide for us and take care of our every need.

Heed the beautiful words of the Holy Gita:

They who worship Me Depending on Me alone,
Thinking of no other—They are My sole responsibility!
Their burdens are My burdens; To them I bring full security!

He who has surrendered himself to God finds the greatest security of life. He need wander no more. All his cares and burdens are borne by the Lord Himself.

The post Dada Vaswani on making your work divine appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

In a little story, we read that the Angels asked God if there was anything in the world stronger than rocks.

“Yes,” answered God, “stronger than rocks is iron; for iron can break rock.”

“Is there anything stronger than iron?” asked the Angels.

And the Lord answered, “Fire; for iron may be melted in fire.”

“Anything stronger than Fire?” asked the Angels.

And the Lord said, “Yes, water; for fire is quenched by water.”

“Anything stronger than water?” the Angels asked again.

And the Lord answered, “Yes, wind; for wind may scatter water.”

“Anything stronger than wind?” asked the Angels.

“Yes,” said the Lord, “sympathy is stronger. And nothing there be that is stronger than the compassionate heart.”

I believe that in the coming years, compassion, maitri, will be the key to the new social order. Today, our hearts have become hard as stones. But once our hearts are lit with devotion and love, the hard crust falls off. When the heart is filled with love it becomes soft, it acquires the capacity to sympathise and empathise with those in sorrow and suffering and with those in distress.

I would describe compassion as the crown of all virtues. I believe it is this quality that takes us closest to the Divine within each one of usCrown of virtues

Here is a beautiful but simple definition of compassion that a friend shared with me: “Compassion is the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it.”

I would describe compassion as the crown of all virtues. I believe it is this quality that takes us closest to the Divine within each one of us. When we practise, not just feel, compassion, when we go out of ourselves to reach out to others and alleviate their suffering, we rise to the Highest Self in us. Need I say that at such times, negative feelings of strife and disharmony are totally nullified in our hearts and minds? And when more and more of us practise the divine quality of compassion, will our world not move towards lasting peace?

Compassion is the root of every religion. Because compassion brings with it kindness, it brings love, it brings fellowship, and it brings service. A man whose heart is filled with compassion is a friend of all, he is kind and loving to all. Such a man is kind not only to human beings but even to birds, animals and insects.

Can you read? Then read to a blind student. Can you write? Then write a letter, fill a form for someone who is not as lucky as you are

Everyone has something to give

Albert Schweitzer was always pained to hear people say, “If only I were rich, I would do great things to help and serve others.” He would promptly point out to them that all of us could be rich in love, generosity and compassion; and that we could always extend our loving care and compassion to others. This, he said, was worth more than all the money in the world!

All of us have something to give. Let us give what we can to others—our time, our talent and know-how, our effort, our understanding, our love, our concern, our sympathy, our smiles. Let us give with love and compassion. Even if one man is comforted by your words, even if one woman’s broken heart is healed by your understanding, even if one soul’s misery is wiped out by your kindness—you have made a difference!

Can you read? Then read to a blind student. Can you write? Then write a letter, fill a form for someone who is not as lucky as you are. If you are not very hungry, share your food with someone who is. If you are at peace with yourself, reach out to those who are in pain and disturbed by their suffering.

The distinguished American author and lecturer, Leo Buscaglia, once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

As the Dalai Lama says, “If you want others to be happy, practise compassion. If you want to be happy, practise compassion.”

The post Why compassion is the best expression of spirituality appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Dada Vaswani

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Jashan Pahalraj Vaswani, or “Dada” as he’s fondly addressed by his millions of followers around the world, celebrates his 95th birthday on 2nd August 2013. Although a scientist by training, he has conquered the world through his love, compassion and humility.

Over the past five decades, he has worked tirelessly towards spreading the message of his Master, Sadhu T L Vaswani. As a leading spiritual luminary, he has addressed the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, the British House of Commons in London, the Global Forum of Spiritual Leaders in Oxford, the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations in New York. In 1998, he was bestowed the prestigious U-thant peace award.

Dada surprises

I recall my first contact with Dada, a few years ago. I got the privilege to interview him in person. The experience of meeting him was so profound that I wrote an article about it, even before I finished writing the interview. This was published in our August 2008 issue. Even today, after five years, the memory of my interaction brings me goose bumps. His responses to my questions were as spontaneous as they were rich. The clarity of his thoughts triggered a strange feeling of euphoria in everyone who was present in the room. I can never forget that moment when, upon thanking him, touching his feet and asking for his blessings, he said to me, “I should thank you and you bless me, as I see God in you.” Saying this, he bowed down to touch my feet. I was speechless! Here was a man who practised everything that he preached. He just didn’t say it as so many do—he actually saw God in everyone.

Since that blessed day, I have had the honour of meeting him several times on different occasions and he has never failed to surprise me by recollecting our previous interactions in detail. The last time I met him in December 2012, he caught me off guard yet again. I was in Pune and thought of visiting the Sadhu Vaswani Centre to attend the Sunday morning discourse. Somehow he learnt of my presence. As I was sitting in the audience, Dada started the session by announcing to the audience of devotees that I was there, referring to me as his ‘very dear friend’. He then went on to praise Complete Wellbeing, calling it one of the best magazines in India. Later, he publicly felicitated me, and also my mother and my wife, who had accompanied me.

The divine is in you

Dada’s strength comes from his simplicity, faith, humility and his deep love for his master, Sadhu T L Vaswani. His teachings are simple and clear—and that’s what makes them so inspiring. Cutting across religion, Dada’s messages urge us to embrace the love of God—a God he sees in everything and everyone.

The post When I met God in human form appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

His energy and enthusiasm even today is nothing short of miraculous. Dada turns 91 on August 2. Incidentally, August 2 is also the International Forgiveness Day. How befitting! As a small gesture of love towards the Master as he celebrates 91 years of his ‘earth-pilgrimage’, we bring to you a very special interview with Dada in an attempt to bring you closer to the guru.

A PILGRIMAGE THROUGH PICTURES

Dada Vaswani

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Manoj Khatri [MK]: How does it feel, celebrating your 91st birthday? How do you view your journey of life. from 1918 to 2009?

Dada J P Vaswani: By God’s grace, I have never felt that I have become old. I believe that a person is as young as he thinks himself to be. So it is that I am happy in the company of youth who, I believe, are the builders of a new and radiant tomorrow.

My earth-pilgrimage, as it seems to me, began earlier than 1918. The journey has two fundamental aspects: the physical and the spiritual. On the one hand, man is a material substance—a few pounds of dust. “Dust thou art, to dust returnest.”

On the other hand, he is what different traditions have referred to as spirit, Atman, soul, life force, consciousness or monad. How matter and spirit come together to create what we call life is a great mystery. The great English poet, William Wordsworth, reminds us, “Trailing clouds of Glory do we come from God who is our Home.” And William Blake sings, “The source of life descends to be a weeping babe.” We may believe it or not, each one of us is linked to the Higher Power. The link is called in many ways. Some call it Guardian Angel. The Jews refer to it as Lailah. The Buddhists call it Avalokiteshwara, Kuwan Yin or Kannon. We become aware of it in moments of deep silence or inspiration or archetypal dreams or mystical visions.

MK: Please reveal the secret of your health and longevity to us. is there a potion?

Dada J P Vaswani: The secret of health, to my mind, is:

1. Daily practice of silence
2. Holding in the heart no grudge against anyone
3. Rejoicing in the success of others
4. Doing as much good as a person can, to as many as he can, in as many ways as he can, and on as many occasions as he can.

MK: Can you share with us an event or a happening about your childhood or youth, something that is not public knowledge, but is still very dear to your heart—something that inspires you even today?

Dada J P Vaswani: I remember how once I was treated very roughly by someone very dear to me. It was an experience, which could have thrown me off my balance. I felt deeply hurt. At that time, I felt someone whisper in my ear: “To err is human, to forgive divine.” Immediately I cried: “I forgive! I forget! I bless everyone!” Since then I am trying to learn the lesson: “Forgive even before forgiveness is asked.” When you forgive, you are filled with the peace that passeth, surpasseth understanding. And there is no wealth richer than inner peace.

MK: Besides Sadhu Vaswani, can you name any three role models in your life?

Dada J P Vaswani

1. Baba Chetanram
2. Jamshed Nusserwanji
3. My own revered, beloved father—Shri P L Vaswani—a picture of simplicity, sympathy and selfless service.

MK: What has been the most important lesson of your life? How did you learn it?

Dada J P Vaswani: I cannot say that I have learnt a lesson, but I am trying to learn many lessons, chief amongst them is that I am nothing—a zero—and the Guru and God are everything.

Also read » Being like Dada Vaswani

MK: Please describe the most beautiful memory of your life?

Dada J P Vaswani: The most beautiful memory of my life is of the time when I did something [I will not narrate it], which made my Guru’s heart happy and he called me to himself and enfolded me in an embrace—the impact of which, I feel till today.

MK: What role has humour played in your life? Can you share you favourite anecdote/joke?

Dada J P Vaswani: I was once asked, “Which among the five senses is the most important?” My answer was: “None of the five senses, but the sixth sense—the sense of humour.”
Once, Bishop Felton J Sheen had to deliver a lecture in the Town Hall. He decided to walk there but lost his way. He said to a boy: “Can you take me to the Town Hall?”
“Gladly,” answered the lad.
On the way the boy asked the Bishop why he was going to the Town Hall.
The Bishop answered, “To deliver a lecture.”
“What is the topic?”, inquired the boy.
The Bishop’s answer was, “The Way To Heaven.”
The boy began to laugh. As he did not cease laughing, the Bishop asked him the reason and the boy answered, “You don’t know the way to the Town Hall and you are going to tell the people about the Way To Heaven? Ha! Ha! Ha!.”

(Everyone present laughs)

MK: In your childhood, what was the one value that you think shaped your personality and inclined you towards spirituality?

Dada J P Vaswani: Love of Truth and Compassion. I continue to be a seeker of Truth, Love and Humility.

MK: As a young man, did it ever occur to you that you would some day influence so many millions around the world?

Dada J P Vaswani: By God’s grace, I am aware of my insignificance. When people tell me that I am a VIP or treat me like one, I say to them, “Yes, I am a Very Insignificant Person.” Who am I to influence others? The power that transforms is the power of love. In my daily life, I seek to bear witness to the ideal of Love. Love bears: Love cares: Love dares: Love knows that it is nothing, the Beloved is All!

MK: You travel even at this age. where do you get so much energy from?

Dada J P Vaswani: The Source of Energy is within each one of us. All we have to do is to contact the Source.

Also read » Dada J P Vaswani: Humility personified

The post A Pilgrimage of Love — An Interview With Dada Vaswani appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

MK: How can one achieve true and complete wellbeing?
Dada: If we want complete wellbeing, we must go to the spirit, the soul. Our roots are in our soul. If there is guilt in the soul, you cannot have a healthy life. Because, the guilt travels to the mind and from the mind it travels to the body. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna “You are an immortal soul. You are neither the body, nor the mind, nor the buddhi [the intellect]. You are the soul.” So, the root is in the soul. It is beyond the physical, physiological and psychological. To be sure, there is the physical self, the intellectual self, and the emotional self. But the root is in the spiritual self. They talk of “intelligence quotient”. They have started talking of the “emotional quotient”. But they have not reached the “spiritual quotient”. But, unless the soul is all right, the body cannot be.

When I was a student, TB was very rampant. It was considered as an incurable disease. The medical scientists found a cure for TB. Soon blood pressure and heart diseases came into prominence. New procedures like bypass operation were found to deal with heart disease. Then, cancer became the chief concern. Even as they try to tackle it, AIDS has emerged as the gravest disease. This will continue—sickness with take newer and more deadly forms until we reach the root—the spirit/soul.

MK: You have talked about consulting four doctors: Dr Diet, Dr Quiet, Dr Sunshine. and Dr Laughter. Please explain…
Dada: Let me discuss each of them one by one.

Dr Diet

Everybody knows that so much depends on diet. Even doctors will tell you that. So many diseases are due to overeating. We like a dish and feel tempted to eat more and more of it. A story goes that the God of Anna [God of food] complained to the Supreme God that people are misusing him. The Supreme God said, “Don’t worry. Whatever they eat because of their need will help them. Every extra grain that they consume will eat them.” So, we think we are eating, but we are being eaten up.

Besides how much, we should also watch what we eat. Eating sattvic foods is good for health. There are three kinds of food – sattvic, tamsik, rajsik. We should eat sattvic foods like fruits and vegetables. We should follow a vegetarian diet.

I often pray for peace. But there can be no peace till we stop all killing. All life must be considered sacred; for the simple reason that if I eat another animal for food, I will not hesitate in killing a human being whom I regard as an enemy. All killing must stop.

All religions teach one simple thing: “Do not do anything that will hurt anybody, through deed, thought or word”. We must give that type of education to our children. Life is a gift of God, only he can take it away, we have no right to take it away. I do not believe in euthanasia. Even if somebody is suffering, we have no right to take away his life. Because, he has to go through that experience. That experience is going to enrich his spirit.

By the way, do you know that on an average, a non-vegetarian human being eats over 1000 birds and animals, big and small during a lifetime? One thousand creatures who love life just as much as you do.

Dr Quiet

It is essential to spend some time in silence – because we live in a noisy world. When dust particles cling on to your clothes, you wash them with soap and water. Even so, there are particles of noise that cling to your mind, heart, and soul that need to be cleansed in the waters of silence. Therefore, you must take dips in waters of silence everyday. I often refer to this as our daily appointment with God. We keep a number of appointments in the day, but we miss out the most important of all appointments, which is our appointment with God. God is not a shadowy creature living on a distant star. God is where we are, God is with us right here, right now. All we need to do is to close our eyes, shut out the world, and call Him with love, and longing in our heart and He will be here in front of us.

Dr Sunshine

This is about having a fellowship with nature. There are people who have not seen the stars shining in the sky. They are so cut off from nature that they don’t know what a star is. We are a part of nature, so we should have fellowship with nature. That is why we have holidays. A holiday is meant to be a day when we have fellowship with nature

Dr Laughter

Laughter is an all-round tonic. It is a physical tonic, a mental tonic, a spiritual tonic. Laughter helps strengthen the lungs, Laughter strengthens the immune system. Laughter aids digestion. I often say that there should three bouts of hearty laughter – before each breakfast, each lunch and each dinner.

People who are cheerful are less apt to fall sick than those who do not know how to smile and laugh. That is why some good hospitals display slogans like “Laughter is hazardous to disease”.

MK: What’s the secret of your long and eventful life? You are still very vibrant.
Dada [laughs]: The secret is simple. Surrender. Once you surrender to a higher power, then the problem is not yours; it has to be tackled by that higher power. But modern man clings to his problems and thinks it is in his power to solve them.

After explaining so many diverse things to Arjuna, the Lord finally says to him “Arjuna, come I will give you a secret of spiritual life. After renouncing everything, come unto me for singular refuge and I shall liberate you from all bondage to sin and suffering. Of this I have no doubt.” In a similar vein, Jesus said to his disciples, “Come unto me, ye that are weary and heavy laden. I will give you rest”. What else do we need if we are liberated from sin and suffering?

MK: We have read that you have a strong background in science. So what led you to these spiritual pursuits?
Dada: It was the love of my beloved master Sadhu Vaswani. He was a picture of love.

MK: You have written a book called The Secrets of Wealth and Happiness…
Dada [interrupts smilingly]: I have not written it. It was written through me. I do very little. You will know it soon, I am so ignorant. You will know it

MK [smiles in awe]: The book talks about the integration of the mind, body, and spirit. Complete Wellbeing is based on the same idea. What is your advice for our readers who are interested in this integrated approach to wellbeing?
Dada: If you wish to treat man holistically, you have to change your pattern of education. Much depends on education. I have high hopes in education. The type of education that we received in ancient India was different. Then, the emphasis was atma vidya, the science of the spirit, the atman. Now, we have sciences like Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. But, these relate to the external world, which is the least part of the universe. The truth lies in the spirit.

MK: You say, “Both rain and sunshine are needed to make the rainbow. Both joy and sorrow are needed to make life truly beautiful.” Can you elaborate on that? What is the role of suffering in man’s life?
Dada: Suffering purifies. If there were no suffering, there would be no purification. Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Our hearts need to be purified. Through a process of janmaas [births], we have accumulated a lot of dirt. Our hearts are dirty, our souls are dirty. They need to be cleansed, and suffering is only a cleansing process.

Life is a school; it is not a pleasure-hunting ground. Experience is the teacher. Experiences can be pleasant and unpleasant. Both teach. They have to be two—because, we live in a world of relativity. If there is light, there has to be darkness. If there is a night, there has to be a day. The unpleasant experiences purify our heart.

Before a piece of cloth is dyed, it has to be bleached. And bleaching is a suffering that the cloth has to go through. Why, even gold has to pass through the crucible before it can be moulded into beautiful ornaments. God wants us to become ornaments. We have to pass through that process. The lessons we learn through suffering, their influence endures. Pleasure passes away. I may live a life of pleasure for years together, but it leaves no impact. But the lessons that suffering teaches are long-lasting.

If there is no sunshine and no rain, the fruits will not ripen. Both joy and sorrow, both sunshine and rain co-operate to ripen the fruit. Both rain and sunshine are needed to make the rainbow.

MK: You have said that all sin and suffering have but one source: man’s denial of his own divinity. Why do we deny our divinity?
Dada: Because of ignorance, avidya. That is the product of Maya. We think we are children of Maya, not children of spirit. How many of us know that we are spiritual beings? We have been given the human birth to realise that we are immortal. The purpose of the human birth is to grow in the realisation that we all are immortal soul.

MK: Yet, there is so much scepticism in people.
Dada: That’s because of the period we are living in, the Kalayug. The mind is the guru of the modern age. And the mind is analytical. We don’t need analysis, we need synthesis. We have to go beyond the mind. We are all in the clutches of the mind, which is why people find it so difficult to meditate.

MK: So is there a prescription to still the mind?
Dada: Yes. I can think of three ways. One is self-enquiry. What am I in essence? One great teacher was Ramana Maharshi, of Tiruvannamalai. His sadhana (practice) was very simple. He would tell his disciples “Go sit in a silent corner and keep on asking yourself the question ‘Who am I?'” — over and over again. And one day from the depths within, the answer will come “I am the atman“. This concept is easy to read in a book, but it has no effect at all. You have to realise it yourself.

The second way is selfless service. Serve people without expect anything in return, not even a word of thanks. No acknowledgement at all. “It is my offering to the cosmic spirit. But it is very difficult. The thought comes in “I am serving, he is not serving”. That spoils the whole thing.

The third is self surrender. Self surrender is the easiest. “Hari, main jaiso taiso tero” (God, I come to you as I am, accept me and take me across).

MK: I can’t think of any more questions. You have said so many things; there is so much food for thought.
Dada: Once again, I too have heard it, as you are hearing it. I have not said it. I am one of the listeners.

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As is the usual practice, I had planned to do some research/home work on J P Vaswani. I asked my colleague Rahul Baji to help me in this effort. We were happy to have an opportunity to meet a person of this stature. When the meeting was re-scheduled to an earlier day, I was a bit concerned because I usually like to do my homework before I meet someone for an interview, but in this case I couldn’t. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to meet him. Fortunately for me, Rahul had managed to do some research on the internet, based on which he prepared a decent list of questions we could ask Dada.

The moment arrived. I was looking forward to meeting him because I had heard and read so much about him. But nothing could have prepared me for the encounter that ensued. As he walked into the room, I and Rahul knew this experience would be different than what we had imagined.

My first feeling on seeing the radiant face of Dada was that I am meeting a living saint. His politeness struck a chord. The way he bowed to us when we greeted him, the warmth with which he approached us, the endearing smile on his face, were welcoming and comforting. His soft-spoken manner, his gentle laughter and near-perfect diction added another dimension to his splendid aura.

When I started my “interview“, I felt like I’ve never felt before. It’s indescribable. It was kind of like a combination of nervousness and happiness. From the very first interaction with him, I instinctively knew that the list of questions were inconsequential. My instincts were right. I proceeded with the interview and went on to ask him the first question. His response was something only someone of his stature could have given. Merely two questions later, I no longer wanted to look at Rahul’s painstakingly prepared list of questions. The interview had somehow got magically transformed into a spiritual experience where I felt I was in a presence of a beautiful human being — a bona fide expression of God.

As our discussion progressed, I was no longer an editor/journalist. I became a witness. In doing so, I could see love for all humanity oozing out of his every cell as he shared with us his exquisite thoughts about how each individual could seek health, happiness, harmony and fulfilment. His thoughts were at once simple and uncommon.

What struck me and Rahul the most was that here was a man who didn’t simply preach that God is in everyone – he believed so himself. This came across emphatically throughout our discussion, but specifically when I thanked him for sharing his thoughts with us and he quickly thanked me in return, saying: “I too have heard it as you are hearing it. I have not said it. I am one of the listeners”.

During the entire engagement, I noticed several unique traits about Dada: the endearing smile is a permanent feature on his face. His ideas on surrendering to God, serving others and making others happy, living in harmony with nature and such were not merely intellectual concepts. He lives by them. His whole life is an example of a man who practises first, then preaches. His sincere humility is known to inspire. His genuine compassion is contagious. Certainly, I was infected. And so was Rahul.

I was feeling blissful and blessed in his presence. I wanted to continue hearing his soothing voice, listening to his soul-uplifting thoughts and watching his glowing face. No wonder I wanted this meeting to go on and on. But I knew that it had to end. And that thought saddened me. I asked him to bless me and once again he flummoxed me with his humility by asking me to bless him. He then held my chin and said, “You are that.” I felt I had been touched by God because only God can be perfect.

When I turned and looked at Rahul, who was sitting next to me, he was wiping the tears in his eyes. Everyone else in the room also had moist eyes. Dada’s presence is so overwhelming that when the time to leave comes, the heart yearns for more.

[With inputs from Rahul Baji]

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