Periyava Golden Quotes -1015 to 1029

Periyava Golden Quotes-1015

All these days, I was talking about the duties you had to perform – the Vedic rites, Observance of Dharma and the fulfillment of social responsibilities. For a change, I was wondering why I should not advise you to keep quiet. This is also a duty to be performed in life. This has a greater benefit than the other activities we perform. After all, silence gives us true peace. This is also of great benefit to the society. Not only we do not corrupt society by speaking and doing the wrong things but the great spiritual power (Athma Shakti) derived from the control of the senses benefits society greatly. So I felt that people should be asked to sit and remain absolutely quiet for at least half an hour daily. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1016

Recently, there has been a debate on the necessity of holding prayers before the start of school hours. Some of the political leaders have faith in God while some do not and hence this division of opinions. Even those who do not believe in God are a bit hesitant about putting an end to this long standing practice because they were afraid of dissatisfaction of many. So they have started saying that the prayer hour need not be made compulsory and those who desire to do so can participate in the prayers. But the problem does not end there. This being a secular country, there was a question of choosing the prayer of one particular religion. They have now decided to have a silent prayer for two or three minutes before the start of the school.

Since the small children are being taught about silent prayer, I feel that I can tell the ‘grown up’ children about it.

Are they only students? You and I are also students like them, having to learn lessons lifelong in this big school called the world. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1017

Mounam (Silence) is a Brahma Vidya, having been described as the boundary of Gnana (Mounam Enbadhu Gnana Varambu). Being born in this world, it is not only necessary to learn whatever is needed to be learnt, but also to know about remaining absolutely silent, without doing, saying or thinking anything. Thinking and speaking as prompted by the mind will only make us regret not having attained the goal of this life. That is the reason I felt and told that even knowing about this control of mind (even if it may not followed immediately) and observation of silence is a lesson (Vidhya Labham) for everyone. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1018

I have also learnt a lesson after coming to Madras. I have learnt that the comforting peace that arises out of silence is eternal. It is said that it enables one to remain happy even in the midst of sufferings. It is not possible to completely avoid sufferings. Such sufferings help us in getting rid of our Karmic burden. But that suffering should not be felt as suffering. My Madras visit has enabled me to realize this through one instance. All of you wait here for hours together, with lot of difficulties, to witness the Puja. When you start witnessing the Puja, you forget all the difficulties and start singing bhajans happily. You also feel that it will help others too. But a few people thought a lot of sound is created during these bhajans and results in distraction. So they started hanging placards, asking people to remain silent. I instructed them not to do so. Do you know the reason? I felt that I had got an opportunity to learn a lesson and clear the test and that I should not miss the same. Now, by the grace of Eswara, I have learnt to perform my puja whatever may be the level of sound around me.

But, today, I did not talk about silence in order to for me to do my puja comfortably. I wanted you also to derive benefits from the practice of silence. I thought it will be correct and reciprocal now to ask you to pray quietly during the hours of worship when all these days I have participated in all the singing and talking. I felt that you should at least partially realize the happiness of keeping quiet. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1019

Shastras say in one place ‘Eat varieties of food till your belly is full’. The book on ritualistic worship also mentions this. During the worship, while offering food to the Lord the word ‘Naivedhyam Shad-Rasopedham’ will be chanted. ‘Shad-Rasopedham’ means food with six different tastes. We have to offer as many different kinds of food to the Lord while performing the ritualistic worship. ‘Nivedhayaami’ in Sanskrit means ‘I am announcing’. It means I am announcing that all these food items are placed before you. ‘Nivedhayaami’ does not mean ‘I am feeding you’. Only a few rare devotees like ‘Sant Namadeva’ can make the Lord (physically) eat. But people like us can only show/announce those in front of the Lord. Once the food is placed before the image of the Lord, it becomes ‘Prasad’ (Consecrated food), which only we eat. So it is understood that the scriptures have asked us to prepare and consume different varieties of food.  – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1020

Shastras say in one place ‘Eat varieties of food till your belly is full’. In another context, there are severe restrictions imposed (on us) like fasting, even without drinking water, etc.  On the one side there is tremendous external activities like, Chanting of Vedas; Reading of sacred books (Raamaayana and Bhaagavatha); Chanting, dancing and singing the Names of the Lord accompanied by musical instruments, display of Fireworks, etc. On the other side one dissolves oneself in meditation completely oblivious of the external world irrespective of whatever happens, in total silence. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1021

On one side there is sacrifice of animals in the Holy Fire and on another side, even plucking of unripe vegetables like snake gourd from the plant is considered to be a sin. On one side we have ferocious deities like Muni, Kaatteri and others and on the other side we have peaceful deities equipped with two, four or eight hands and riding on small mouse to elephants. The same scriptures, on the other extreme, says that ‘The Lord is without any name or form (Nirguna), there is neither the Lord nor the Devotee’. If the same scriptures speak contradictorily like this, then what does that signify? It means that we should start with things known to us and proceed to things which is unknown to us. It is only to facilitate such a thing that there is so much of wide gap between the known and unknown. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1022

What do we see? It is only the Dual-World (Dwaitham) in which we exist, with so many different forms and characters. In our present state we see only different taste, different views, different queries, anger, frustration, love, peace, rage, calmness, etc.

What is the state in which we should be? What is that unknown which we should know now? The answer is ‘The source which is the basis for all such duality is something called as ‘Adwaita’ (Non-Dualism). In that (Non-Dual) State, there is no taste, no sound, no form, no name, and no character, but the origin of all these things, is available. To make the known path divine, we have all the offerings, singing, chanting, various deities and the violent and non-violent activities.

But we should not stop at knowing only the known things but also gradually learn about the unknown. That is the reason for the fasting – overcoming the taste, silence – overcoming noise and the ‘Niruguna Brahman’ – Divinity without Name and Form. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1023

It is not sufficient if we just describe two opposite things. But we have to find means to link them. We have to live in such a way that our life reflects this ‘link’.

What is this link? That is living in moderation. You would have heard about the word ‘Mitha-Vaadhi’ meaning moderates. During the freedom movement, the moderates said ‘We should not clamour for immediate independence, and at the same time should not allow the Britishers to dominate’. We come to understand the justification in their demand, only after getting our independence.  – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1024

‘Moderation’, is walking on the middle path, without going to extremism either way. ‘Mitham’ means ‘Measured’ as in ‘Measured Behaviour’. This means, doing a thing after much thought, without haste. ‘Geometry’ is actually derived from the Sanskrit word, ‘Jya-Mithi’. ‘Jya’ means earth. ‘Mithi’ means measured or a regulation for measuring a thing. So geometry was found from measuring the earth for creating the ‘Fire-Pit’ (Vedikai) for the Vedic Sacrifice. ‘Ksehtra’ also means this earth and hence ‘geometry’ was also known as ‘Kshetra-Ganitham’.

So ‘Mitham’ means keeping the mind ‘measured’, without allowing it to run wildly, without any control,  after secular work, earning, spending, eating, dressing, entertaining, etc. If we are able to practice such moderation in our life, it will help us to keep the mind under control and attain everlasting peace.  – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1025

How can we develop (good) habits? We can acquire that only by the Grace of Eswara. But how can we receive that Grace? It is only to receive this Grace that the scriptures have laid down the two extremely opposite paths. On one extreme, is the known path, which includes feasting, singing, dancing, different deities to suit our different tastes? On the other extreme we have, the unknown path, consisting of fasting, silence, meditating on the Formless Divine, etc. When we keep on practicing these two extremes alternatively,  our mind will come to a balance, just like the scales comes to a balance as we go adding equal weights on both the sides. This will lead us to ‘Moderation’ (Mitham) in all aspects of Life. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1026

Can a rope stand straight on its own? We have to fix poles on both sides and tightly tie the rope between the two poles. Only then the rope will remain straight without loosening itself. In the same way to bring moderation to our life style, the scriptures have given us two extremely opposing paths to follow. Since we do not know how to live in moderation, the scriptures have given these two extremes in the religious code which, by practicing, will enable us to achieve this moderation in our life.

In other religions, only one ‘extreme’ path like non-violence or worshipping the ‘Nirguna Brahman’ alone is stipulated, for every person. But the common people unable to follow the strict edicts of these scriptures, tend to fail in their path. Contrary to this, our religion shows two extremely opposing paths. The human mind, which is always after changes, follow these two paths alternatively.  – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1027

I have told you about the significance of our religion which, unlike other religions, has not laid down strict canons to be followed by everyone, as a life-rule. It has given flexible rules to be practiced at different times. It has also laid down that aspects like strict non-violence, renunciation, etc. is applicable to a particular group of people and not made compulsory for all. It is because of these qualities that our religion, despite all the strict orthodox rules and practices, has survived through the ages, because of its flexibility. – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1028

In our present religious state of mind, we are able to attain the same amount happiness through feasting, singing, and worship of God with form. But it is not the same while following the other extreme path of fasting, silent or meditation of the Formless Divine. We practice these stipulations to an extent, only because of our faith in the path shown by our forefathers. But if we follow these practices diligently we can achieve moderation in our life.

When we start practicing this ‘moderation’ diligently in our life, we will gradually ripen and attain maturity. Then the ‘unknown’ which we consider as the other extreme path; which we are able to grasp a little through imagination; that State of ‘Merging with the Divine’; will become a natural experience to us.   – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal

Periyava Golden Quotes-1029

Lord Krishna also speaks on this aspect of, following the balanced path of moderation without going to the extremes, in Srimad Bhagawad Geetha.

He says “NADHYASHNATHASTHU-YOGO-ASTHI-NA-CHAIKAANTHA-MANASHNATHAHA. NA-CHAATHI-SWAPNA-SEELASYA-JAAGRATHO-NAIVA-CHA-ARJUNA’ (06-16)”. ‘A person will not attain Yoga, if he either overeats or always fasts, either sleeps always or never sleeps’.

“YUKTHAAHAARA-VIHAARASYA-YUKTHA-CHESTHTASYA-KARMASU. YUKTHA-SWAPNAVAA-BODHASYA-YOGO-BHAVATHI-DUKHAHAA (06-17)”. ‘A person who is in moderation in eating, sleeping and all activities will attain Yoga, which will vanquish all the worldly sorrows’.

The Lord uses the word ‘Yuktham’ for ‘moderation’. The words ‘Yuktham’ and ‘Yogam’ derived from the same root-word ‘Yuj’ which means ‘to unite’. Yoga is that which unites the individual soul with the Supreme Soul. ‘Yuktham’ is that moderate path which helps in achieving this Unification.  – Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal