What is most valuable in the world? Pt 1
What is most valuable in the world? Pt 2
If a question like, “What is the most valuable in this world?” is asked, one may say silver, another gold and yet another diamond. But silver, gold and diamond are not valuable. Man is valuable. It is man who digs the earth and brings out the gold. He alone cleans it and gives value to it. He cuts a stone into diamond and assigns value to it. Who is the one who is giving value to diamonds? It is man. So, the most valuable of all is man. Man has to keep up his value.
Human birth is the rarest of all. It is a sin, if the human birth obtained is not utilized in a proper manner. The body is a result of the merits of many births. The body is like a boat. Life is like a water flow. At present we are in iham and our destination is param. In order to reach our destination we must take care that the boat does not get any holes in it. ‘Sheeryathe nashyathe ithi shareeram’. The source of this body is transient. Impermanence is there in its very name. The divine power that dwells in it has taken the name of human. That body is called man. Bodies of various creatures are not called man. The very word ‘Manava’ indicates that he is divine. Ma- Ajnana; Na – without; Va – varthinchuta (to conduct oneself). To conduct oneself without ignorance is manavathva. Ignorance is equal to death. To dedicate our life to such ignorance is an insult to humanity itself.
Manava = ma – not, nava – new = I am not new. This thought has to be develop – I am an old one. I have an intimate relationship with god. I am a very ancient one. Saying that we are old we should not become rotten. That is not correct. We are old in the sense that we have an old acquaintance with god.
What is the meaning of humaneness? Harmony of thought, word and deed is humaneness. When there is no harmony of thought, word and deed it will be demonic nature. To say what we think and then put the same into action is humaneness. Harmony of thought, word and deed is called thrikarana shuddhi. However, we do not find thrikarana shuddhi these days but we must try to experience it. Calling ourselves humans and behaving in an exactly opposite manner is to defame humaneness. Humaneness can only develop in spiritual hearts and not all hearts. Therefore, to develop humaneness one must develop compassion and understanding.
Humaneness has two qualities. To be deluded thinking that he is good, intelligent and perfect is a kind of ordinary quality. The second one is to appreciate the good qualities, good feelings and intelligence of other people. It is important to recognize the good qualities, intelligence and ideals of other people. Such people are rare in this world. Only when man gives up the quality of talking good about himself and demeaning others can he be called a human.
What is the meaning of human and humaneness? Only when we realize the meaning of this can we successfully accomplish the tasks that we undertake. The unity of body, mind and soul should be considered as humaneness. One is to do, second is to know and the third is to be. The combination of these three is humaneness. To do anything in this world body is essential. Only through body we do all our activities. So this body is meant ‘to do’.
We understand the difference between good and bad; merit and sin; truth and untruth through enquiry. The mind knows these things. We are able to know good and bad through the mind. Therefore the nature of athma is to be changeless, motionless, stable, eternal and true. The unity of these three is sath-chith-ananda. ‘Sath’ means to be. ‘Chith’ means to know – be it physically, scientifically, spiritually or worldly. The combination of sath and chith is Ananda. With the help of this we are experiencing our body. Man is an embodiment of sath-chith-ananda. Instead, if only body is kept in consideration then it will lead the life to animalness.
If the body is not in connection with the mind or soul then it leads to animalness. If mind does not connect itself to the athma then it leads the body to demonicness. Though the athma has no connection with the body or mind it is forever divine. When body joins the mind and mind in turn joins the soul there will be fullness. Therefore the combination of body, mind and soul is humaneness.
One day or the other human body has to perish and return to dust. Before the body turns into dust it is the duty of every human to experience humaneness. Human body is given so that man can grow from body consciousness to athmic consciousness and not for indulging in sensual pleasures. Many kings have ruled this place. Where are they now? Many great kings, rich people and people who held exalted positions have left this world and gone. Only the good and bad deeds that they have done will remain in this world. So having been born as humans in this world we have got to behave as humans and earn a good reputation. That is our duty.
How many are born as humans by birth? How many have turned humans after birth? How many have led their lives understanding fully the secrets of duty and action? Who is human and who is a monkey? We must understand the truth that human being is not a human being just because he has a human form. We should not be deluded by the external form. Not the form but the divinity within decides that he is human. We have got to realize this truth.
We must give up the desire in experience and ego in action. When desire and ego are given up even bhoga turns into yoga. When man who thinks that he is the body gives up the thought and understands that he is not the body then humaneness has reached a saturation point. Unless one gets rid of flaws or ego there is no use being humans.
Humaneness is beyond animalness. Divinity is beyond humaneness. Animalness cannot reach humaneness but humaneness can definitely reach divinity. To get rid of animalness in humaneness and develop divinity is the main purpose of our lives.
Please continue to What is most valuable in the world? Pt 2
What is most valuable in the world? Pt 1
What is most valuable in the world? Pt 2