Commentaries by Vee Jay Attri during the Book Study – Secrets of Karma
We shall proceed for the study of the Secrets of Karma. We will continue from the karmic obligations towards the world.
Karmic obligations towards the world
“Vasudeva Kutumbakam.”
The world is one family.
-Hitopadesha
There is an amazing theory known as the “Butterfly Effect” that states that the fluttering of a butterfly in one continent can trigger a tornado in another continent!
Symbolically, this is referring to your thoughts, your feelings or emotions. Every time you radiate the energy of thought or feelings, this indeed is having an effect across not only on a continent but on the whole planet and maybe beyond, depending upon the intensity of your thoughts and feelings.
And that is the reason why one of the best contributions that we can make, especially during this challenging time, is service through your mind. The more you radiate peace, pure feelings of love, the greater would be the contribution to the world. It will definitely have an effect on a soul that is suffering, on a being that is in pain.
Whereas when you have negative thoughts or negative feelings, you are actually making things worse. It is a negative contribution, then that is not a very good karma. So, for the sake of the world, for the sake of the people who are in intense pain, much more than what you and I are experiencing, let us be very careful about what we are radiating moment to moment.
I mean, it is an unspeakable pain; suffering of the humanity. Compared to that, our challenges are negligible. At least you and I are having a shelter, a food to eat but it is not basically the destiny of millions and millions of people across the planet. As I was mentioning in the morning, it is really very heartbreaking to see the pain and sufferings of the humanity.
In the morning, I was seeing in the television about some recruitment happening in the state of Haryana, in India, for very low level position in any organization. We call it chaprasi or the peon and 27,000 plus youngsters, most of them are graduates, meaning either got a BA or a Bsc degree whereas the requirement is just 8 pass.
So, the minimum qualification is 8 standard pass but the people who are there, most of them are university graduates and they are actually waiting in the queue starting from the early morning up to late evening, just to get a chance for the interview, and it is kilometer of line. It is very difficult, even to express it, it becomes so difficult.
Such is the condition and this is still better and if you look into these youngsters, so dynamic. I mean they are all basically looking like film heroes. So dynamic, so young! That’s exactly is the plight of the country. They are willing to take any job for that matter.
Some of you may not know that in cities like Mumbai, they hire people who will kill the rats. So, the more the number of rats you kill in a day, there is a target given to you, the greater would be your chances for being hired in some of the government offices on probation.
I think you have to do this act of killing the rats for over a period of one month or three months. I don’t remember it but this thing is still continuing and they have to count exactly the number of rats that you kill; 100, that is the target per day. Can you imagine what I am talking about? Such is the plight of country.
Now, if you move into some of the African countries, it is even worst; Madagascar for example:
There was a news item that was actually telling that people there are compelled to eat even sand and I had witnessed it during my visits to Madagascar and I know what it means to live in this world.
Very hard and painful. So, compared to the rest of the humanity, just consider your own life, how blessed you are. You do not have the challenges of the rest of the humanity and therefore how much of contribution that God and the masters would be expecting from us.
Think about it and we have got no idea about what kind of blessings that has been bestowed on us. Make it a very firm resolution that you will have deep gratitude everyday as you wake up in the morning, and every day as you retire to bed for everything that has been bestowed on you.
Attitude of gratitude is so important. That means zero complaint. Stop complaining! We have no right to complain, we have no right to criticize. We have been bestowed with wisdom, we have been bestowed with the resources that is not common in the world. Therefore, let us become more responsible.
So, contribute through your mind, through your feelings. That is the biggest service that we can do as of today. We all share one world, and it is our duty to help our brothers and sisters anywhere in the world. Hence, contribute in every possible way and pray for the welfare of the humanity every day.
Some time back, I was talking to one of the patient who has been coming to the Foundation, a chain smoker. He was mentioning that he smokes 4 packets of cigarettes every day. Then, I was basically inquiring about how much does a pack of cigarettes cost? Rs230 is the normal brand, the cost of the normal mediocre brand you can call it, brand of cigarettes, Rs 230 per packet.
Now, if you multiply that Rs230 over a period of one month, it comes to almost about Rs7000, times 12, that is about Rs72,000 Mauritian Rupees. That is equal into about over 150,000 Indian rupees and for 150,000 that you spend on one packet of cigarettes in one month, you can feed somewhat like 3000 to 4000 people.
What kind of gratitude you should have towards the resources that have been bestowed to you? Think about it and that is the reason why responsibility is so important, not only for the welfare of your family but for the welfare of the entire planet, all our brothers and sisters across the planet.
Alright, let us wrap up the obligations with the inner reflection. Please close your eyes, inhale slowly.
Inner reflection for Karmic Obligations (Chapter 4)
1. My body is my temple. I will not abuse my body in any way. I will keep it clean and healthy.
Keeping it clean includes eating healthy food, preferably vegetarian and exercising. That is very important, there should be a commitment for this.
2. I will have reverence towards spiritual teachers and support their activities in every way.
So, if you have a spiritual teacher, it is not sufficient that you receive all the wisdom. It becomes a liability not to serve when so much has been given to you. You have to do some service in whichever way possible.
At least, be a part of the Great Invocation morning and evening twice a day and see if you can do meditation like the meditation on Twin Hearts in blessing the world. Simple service.
3. My parents are my first teachers. Their blessings are essential for my growth and success. I will never neglect their needs.
4. My family is my first school, and I will fulfil all my obligations towards my family. I will never do any such act that can harm my family.
That includes being responsible, avoiding any activity that brings pain to the family.
5. I will help my peer group to evolve. I will not incur bad karma by indulging them in negative entertainment.
You should be very careful about your spendings on things that are not essential and you as a spiritual being, should be the guiding force at least for your family. Ensure that you do not have the habit of pleasing people because they are happy. It is only a momentary happiness.
Keep in mind that neither you nor the people in your life are humans. They are spiritual beings. They are non physical beings. A non physical being can never be satisfied with physical pleasures or comfort. Spiritual beings need spiritual food.
One of the most important contributions you have to make to your family, to others is spiritual contribution. So, do not keep the people in dark by simply entertaining them whenever they need your company. You have to do something more.
Even if you have to have get togethers, ensure that there is some spiritual food given to them first, before you do any other thing.
I still recall a very profound experience, I must share it with you. Once, we were actually going out on a picnic with the family, in fact two occasions, I noticed. First we went to a temple and we spent a long time in the temple. In their own way, the members of the family were worshiping.
I was simply supporting them because I am not used to go to the temple and worship because I started on the spiritual path at a very early age. But, I never used to comment about someone’s belief. I was supporting them and then after all the prayers, we went to some garden and then spent some time.
The quality of the energy, I still remember on that particular occasion, was so beautiful. I could feel the souls are being quenched before the body is actually fed. So much of satisfaction, I could see in the eyes of the people. Next time, we had another picnic but this time we went straight away for the picnic and the quality was very inferior.
The happiness quotient, the joy and the satisfaction that particular picnic brought was much inferior compared to the satisfaction that we derived on the first picnic where there was some spiritual activity, where the souls were given some spiritual food before the vehicles are being fed.
This is the truth and that is the reason why, even if you are having a leisure time, if you happened to go to hotels or wherever to have some change which is okay, ensure that you do not compromise on your spiritual activities. You should take the family along with you on your path.
Souls are there to evolve. That is the reason why they are here on the plane of matter. Do not make any conclusion that they are not listening to you. The problem they do not listen is because you yourself, you are not actually committed to your own practices.
Because you do not respect your practices, people will not respect what you are doing. Think about it peacefully.
6. I will nurture healthy feelings towards my country. I will support her by participating in social and community services.
Very important!
7. The world is my family. I will support my brothers and sisters in need of help anywhere in the world in every possible way.
Regardless of the culture and religion, understand that everybody on the planet are our brothers and sisters. That means you cannot afford to have any kind of hatred towards anybody for that matter, any religion.
We spiritual beings, we have already transcended religion. Yes, we are following a particular way of life, that is ok; going to temple or whatever. However, spiritual beings are beyond religion. That is why we have got equal eyes on everybody.
Nobody is superior, nobody is inferior. All are just one!
Further reading, Secrets of Karma, Page 86 – 87