Chapter 12 - The Body Is A Temple
Day 62
I met a married man in Delhi, who had fallen in love with a woman, who worked in his office. What to do? He could not share anything at home since he had a wife and children.
He did not know what to do. The same thought kept coming again and again. Her name was Rama. So he kept writing her name, "Rama," "Rama," in a note pad.
When he was asked for a signature, he wrote "Rama." It became such a problem that he started seeing her face everywhere.
Even the cat's face looked like Rama, and when he went out on his scooter, he would see her face in the streetlight. He would see her face even in the moon.
When he saw her face in the cat, he became afraid and so he came to me, asking, "Guruji, what has happened? Have I lost my mind? I think about her 24 hours a day.
Even in my sleep, I call, "Rama, Rama," and my wife is angry, demanding to know whose name I am calling. It has become a japa.
I do not say "Om namah shivaya" or any other japa. My mind is filled only with her. When I went to the bank to sign a check, I wrote her name and left.
Even if I resist it, the same thought comes to mind. What can I do? What is the problem?" This thought has become a japa.
When the mind is in love with something or when it is totally absorbed, that same thought will come again and again without any effort. That is what is known as japa.
Usually, what happens during japa? We may be repeating "Ram, Ram," or "Shiva, Shiva," but the mind is elsewhere, and there is no connection between the words and our feeling.
This cannot be called japa. Only when a word arises naturally over and over again with feeling and meaning is it japa. Each and every word that we speak arises out of love. This is the sign of a siddha.
If you look at the sutras from another point of view, you can say that each sutra describes the qualities of a siddha, one whose sadhana, or spiritual practices, is complete.
They honour all the happenings in the body and do not blame the body. Every word they speak is full. When our consciousness is vibrant and alive, then our words will have value.
Somebody may casually tell you, "I love you very much," but it is no use if you say it as though you are acting in a play.
In films, actors show lots of love and affection, even though there is not a drop of love or affection between them. It is just an act.
Many of our words are like lines from a play - life has become so formal, so ritualistic. There is no depth in people's lives.
There is no warmth when people ask, "How are you? Are you fine?" The question is repeated superficially, and the person who said it does not even remember that he asked the question.
People ask three or four times as a formality, "Where are you from?" And if the reply is, "I told you five minutes ago," they still go on asking.
In large functions and celebrations this happens regularly, it is all formal talk, formal business, and life becomes formal. Speech itself is japa.
That is to say, it is filled with so much life. Sometimes, when you gossip, there is no life in your voice because your spirit is not in it.
When you watch the television and hear the news, about some violence, do you feel any life in such news? Even a newsreader does not put his heart and soul into it, but just reads whatever was written.
It is more or less dry. All our speech is dry. Usually, we ask, "What did you cook today?" You may get some reply, but you do not even care to listen to it.
This kind of talking is useless, is it not? An enlightened person's life is not like this. He speaks with love. His words are like japa. Each sentence he speaks is full of love and truth.
Speak every word with care and with love. Do not talk simply as a courtesy. When those who are established in knowledge speak, even if it is just a few words, it will touch our hearts.
Although you speak less, speak well and with dignity. Even when you correct someone, or when you praise them, your speech should be filled with life.
Otherwise, your speech is lifeless, it is useless. Rise above such talk. That is why it says, "japa." In the past, people would see a Guru when life became colourless.
He would give them a mantra, a sound, and after hearing it, their lives would be filled with enthusiasm. A fountain of love would gush up in a dry life. This was known as japa.
When you remember the mantra, life will no longer be dry, it will be filled with juice. The best gift is self-knowledge.
In this world, there must be some give and take. It is a constant. We breathe in and we breathe out. We cannot just stop once we breathe in. We have to breathe out.
Similarly, everyone is involved in giving and taking. We give some things to others and we take from others too. Whether in small or big ways, give and take is a continuous process.
Yet for how long does the gift last? What is the best gift? The best thing that we can give is atmajñana, or self-knowledge.
What happens at a wedding ceremony? The host looks at the gift, notes the price and reciprocates accordingly.
Someone who brings a gift will get a coconut in return, while someone who comes empty handed will receive a sweet lime.
Even there, there are two gift categories. This is not giving.
In the Vedic culture, no work can happen without gifts. Whether it is a happy or sad occasion, gifts have to be given.
When someone dies, we give a gift and we also give a gift when a baby is born. Gift giving is an essential basis of this culture. Gifts are given at any festival.
It is customary to give something to neighbours, older and younger brothers, older and younger sisters, sons, daughters, daughter-in-laws, and son-in-laws and so on. This is a very prosperous custom. There is also a secret behind it.
