Practical Vedanta

Practical Vedantarace has infinite power, has [an] infinite body. The only question is what you are.Are you the race or one [individual]? The moment you isolate yourself, everythinghurts you. The moment you expand and feel for others, you gain help. The selfishman is the most miserable in the world. The happiest is the man who is not at allselfish. He has become the whole creation, the whole race and God [is] withinhim. . . . So in dualism — Christian, Hindu, and all religions — the code ofethics . . . . is: Do not be selfish . . . . things for others! Expand! . . . .The ignorant can be made to understand [this] very easily, and the learned can bemade to understand still more easily. But the man who has just got a speck oflearning, him God himself cannot make understand. [The truth is,] you are notseparate [from this universe]; Just as your Spirit] is [not] separate from the rest ofyou. If [not] so, you could not see anything, could not feel anything. Our bodiesare simply little whirlpools in the ocean of matter. Life is taking a turn and passingon, in another form . . . . The sun, the moon, the stars, you and I are merewhirlpools. Why did I select [a particular mind as mine? It is] simply a mentalwhirlpool in the ocean of mind.How else is it possible that my vibration reaches you just now? If you throw astone in the lake, it raises a vibration and [that stirs] the water into vibration. Ithrow my mind into the state of bliss and the tendency is to raise the same bliss inyour mind. How often in your mind or heart [you have thought something] andwithout [verbal] communication, [others have got your thought]? Everywhere weare one. . . . That is what we never understand. The whole [universe] is composedof time, space, and causation. And God [appears as this universe]. . . . When didnature begin? When you [forgot your true nature and] became [bound by time,space, and causation].This is the [rotating] circle of your bodies and yet that is your infinite nature. . . .That is certainly nature — time, space, and causation. That is all that is meant bynature. Time began when you began to think. Space began when you got the body;otherwise there cannot be any space. Causation began when you became limited.We have to have some sort of answer. There is the answer. [Our limitation] isplay. Just for the fun of it. Nothing binds you; nothing forces [you. You were]never bound. We are all acting our parts in this [play] of our own invention.But let us bring another question about individuality. Some people are so afraid oflosing their individuality. Wouldn't it be better for the pig to lose his pigindividualityif he can become God? Yes. But the poor pig does not think so at thetime. Which state is my individuality? When I was a baby sprawling on the floortrying to swallow my thumb? Was that the individuality I should be sorry to lose?Fifty years hence I shall look upon this present state and laugh, just as I [now]look upon the baby state. Which of these individualities shall I keep ? . . .We are to understand what is meant by this individuality. . . . [There are twoopposite tendencies:] one is the protection of the individuality, the other is theintense desire to sacrifice the individuality. . . . The mother sacrifices all her ownwill for the needy baby. . . . When she carries the baby in her arms, the call offile:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chitra%20Selv...ksBySwami/PracticalVedanta/PracticalVedantaPDF.html (108 of 113)2/26/2007 12:24:34 AM