Independent of India

Aug 14, 2010, 12.00am IST
Asaram Bapu.

If a wave tries to find water, it will turn out to be a difficult task indeed. But if the wave subsides and then tries to find water, it will realise that first, it is water and then only a wave.

If an ornament goes in search of gold, it will learn that it is first gold and then an ornament. An earthen pot on trying to seek clay, finds that it is itself first clay and then an earthen pot. Similarly, we are soul first and then individuals; then we are Gujarati, Sindhi, Marathi, Town Head, Prime Minister or Corporate Executive.

Particulars of caste, position and designation limit us. You belong to the wider human fraternity but by focusing on being an Indian, your identity gets reduc ed drastically. By considering yourself as someone belonging to Uttar Pradesh, you further confine your ambit. By believing yourself as someone who belongs to Lucknow, you limit yourself even further.

Nationality is a wide but artificial construct. Limiting yourself as someone belonging to Maharashtra, Mumbai or Nagpur narrows your perspective. Regarding yourself as belonging to Uttarakhand isolates you from India, making your outlook even smaller. Now if you talk of Haridwar within Uttarakhand – it gets still smaller. From Haridwar you restrict yourself to 'Har Ki Pauri' to make it even narrower. 'In Har Ki Pauri, on the right side of Brahmakund, my seat is on the left of Juggu temple priest and my name is so-and-so temple priest, MA, B Ed. Get rituals performed by me.' Now the temple priest thinks he holds a big title but in thinking so, he has definitely confined himself to a very small space!

As your titles keep increasing, you continue getting circumscribed and pettier in proportion. Forgetting your all-pervading nature you became entangled in the web of 'my and mine' and get trapped in the cycle of birth and death.

It is fine if you maintain titles in practice but intermittently shun all titles and recall your relationship with that All-pervading Supreme Self. When you go out you dress up, wear tie and shoes or evening gown and high heels, but when you come home and remove all these, you feel free and relaxed, don't you? Similarly all the phantoms of 'I am of such-and-such status, i am this, i am that' that your mind is possessed with – remove all these and like an innocent child sit down and reflect: 'Without ceremonial wedding, I am yours...'


If you have God's idol it is okay, even if you don't, that will also do. If you can light a lamp, its fine, if not, it doesn't matter. Appropriating the purpose of mantra recitation, lovingly pronounce Omkar in a protracted manner. Taking God's name is not counted as an action, but as a call.

Practice this technique ten minutes daily for forty days. You will find a tremendous transformation with immense benefits. The happiness you get from God's love, by calling out to God – that is real joy, bliss. Then your intellect sharpens, your wisdom increases; God's beauty, love and power get manifested in you.


Just reach out to God, lovingly, morning and evening. If you can afford to do this two-three times a day that is even better. You will realise that the time you wasted because of arrogance associated with meaningless titles -- that same time is now being saved and utilised in merging with the Truth-personified Supreme Being, in becoming pervasive, in making you attain joy of soul! Then gradually, the habit of getting immersed in real happiness will increase and by merging with All-pervading Brahmn, you will attain liberation and bliss.

http://www.ashram.org/