Today, many farmers from all over the country have gathered here at the Bangalore Ashram. A very warm welcome to you all!
If the farmers of a country are happy and prosperous, then surely the people of that country too will be happy. A country whose farmers are unhappy cannot be happy and healthy. So it is very necessary that the farmer should be happy and content, and there are two ways for this:
1. To build our inner strength and awaken our self-confidence. This makes us capable of enduring and bearing all problems that come our way
2. We must carefully plan and strategize before doing anything so that difficulties do not happen
See, there are some things which are in our hand, and some that we cannot control. So we must make efforts to improve whatever is in our hands. Whatever is beyond our control, we should simply surrender to God, pray that everything goes well, and just move ahead with self-confidence. Then you will see that all your works start getting fulfilled.
(Sri Sri to the farmer: We shall discuss a number of topics in
this three day workshop. I am sure you all will greatly benefit from
all this. And when you benefit and prosper, then the many hundreds and
thousands of people in this country will benefit as well. So many people
in our country are able to make a living and run their lives smoothly
because your hard work.)
I always tell people wherever I go that before they start their meals, they should say a small mantra as a prayer, i.e., 'Annadaatha Sukhi Bhava' (May all those who contributed towards this meal be happy and prosperous).
When we were young children, my father would always tell us to chant this mantra before we began our meals. In fact, he would ask us to chant this mantra even after we had finished our meal. I never heard any other verse from him. He would always give importance to this mantra. When you chant this mantra, you actually pray for three people who help to provide food. The first is naturally the farmer who cultivates the food grains. The second person is the merchant who and brings these food grains to our homes. You might ask why the merchant? See, the farmer grows and harvests the crops, but if the merchant does not bring the grains to the markets, then both the farmer and the people suffer.
The people who hoard food grains and do not pay a fair price for them, or sell them at very high prices to the common people, cause the food grains to get spoiled. You know, we have a great abundance of food grains in our country, but because of poor distribution of the food grains, many people have to go hungry and at the same time the food grains also get spoiled (due to illegal hoarding).
It is because of wrong activities that the prices of tomatoes suddenly go up so high, and then once again suddenly falls down in the following months . Have you all experienced this? All those who have had this experience, raise your hands (Many in the audience raise their hands).
You all have to shoulder the burden of this loss if the merchant and tradesmen do not do their job properly, or if they are unhappy.
Only someone who is unhappy, unhealthy or discontent will do something wrong. Only one who is unhealthy and unhappy will not follow the rules and regulations and commit fraudulent activities. A person who is content from within will never think of creating trouble for someone else.
So when a merchant is happy and righteously follows rules and regulations, then he will not want to exploit or cheat the farmers. Today, our farmers are being exploited. How many of you agree to this? (Many in the audience raise their hands)
You know, the sugar we grow in India is priced at Rs. 12 for a kilo, but we import sugar from foreign countries and price it at Rs. 30 for a kilo. Is our Indian sugar less sweet than the imported sugar? Why is all this happening?
Some corrupt politicians get together with some businessmen and resort to such illegal activities. So if the businessmen are unhappy, then too the farmer and the people at large will be unhappy and will have to suffer.
When the merchants are unhappy, they take to adulteration of food grains and sugar and sell it to the people to make more profits. If you buy one kilo of rice, you will find that there will be impurities and grits in the packet of around 100-200 grams. Nowadays, milk, wheat flour and ghee (clarified butter) also is adulterated. And a businessman who is engaged in doing such adulteration is surely an unhappy and discontent businessman at heart. This is why we must pray for their happiness and well-bring, so that they do not adulterate the food produce and ensures that the farmers get their rightful share of the profits from the market. A merchant should not become greedy and sell food at unfair prices to make more money. He should ensure that he sells the food grains at the same prices at which he buys from the farmers.
According to what is written in the Dharmashastras (a body of ancient Indian scriptures that lay down the rules for righteous conduct), a merchant can keep 20% of the profit for himself, but not more than that. But today, what happens is that merchants and traders selfishly reserve 50% or more of the gains for themselves and leave very little for the farmers. This is not right. Instead, if some food grains or produce sells more in the markets, then the merchant should ensure that the farmers also receive an equal share of the profits.
The third person for whose wellbeing we pray through this mantra is
the lady of the house who tirelessly cooks food for us. If she becomes
unhappy, then the house will also suffer. If the lady of the house is
not content and happy from within, then no one will be able to enjoy or
digest the food that she cooks. If she cries tears of sorrow while
cooking the food, then the man who eats the food will also have to shed
tears. So it is very necessary that the lady of the house is happy and joyful. This is what we say by chanting this mantra as a prayer.
If you really look at it, the true Annadaata (the Giver of Food) is none other than God himself. And God is always happy and content. Does God ever become unhappy? No! Yet, at the level of this gross material world that we are in, we pray to God who is the ultimate nurturer, for the happiness and wellbeing of these three people who help to provide us with food. We all should chant this every day, both before and after our meals. Bless them before and after you have had your food.
India is one of those countries in the world that receives the greatest rainfall. There is so much rain here, but despite that, we are not utilizing our water resources properly. We are still dumping so many chemical wastes in our water bodies.
Chemicals and artificial fertilizers that have been banned in so many countries across the world are still being used in our farms and fields. We end up wasting so much more money for these chemicals and also destroy the natural quality and health of our soil. We not only suffer a loss in terms of our money, but also in terms of our soil and natural resources. We need to have a deeper discussion on these issues.
(Sri Sri addressing the farmer: Many experts and scientists have also come to attend this workshop here at the Ashram. They will all speak with you, and you too should freely discuss and put your issues forward. Just think that you have come to your own home. You are at your spiritual abode now. This is your very own place, so be happy and enjoy your stay here.
In the mornings, practice some Yoga, Pranayama and meditation also for an hour or two. We have many teachers here who will teach you all this so that you are healthy and fit. When you all are healthy, then the country will also be healthy. When you all are healthy and happy, then the food grains that you grow in your fields will bring happiness and health to all those who consume them in the country.)
This entire world is made up of vibrations, and we should see to it that these vibrations are Sattvik (positive and uplifting).
When a doctor is good and treats everyone well, we generally say that the doctor has a healing touch. See, all doctors are the same but some treat their patients better than the others do. They seem to have a healing touch in their hands. Whatever seeds of thought we sow into the consciousness, the same will be the vibration around us. That is why we should regularly practice yoga and Pranayama. So this is a wonderful opportunity for all of you to enhance the qualities of your mind and your being.
Every Friday, we perform a small pooja here in the Ashram in honor of
Goddess Lakshmi. Tomorrow, those of you who wish to attend the pooja
are most welcome to do so. First we shall pray to God to bless us with
timely rains, so that whatever seeds we sow in our fields blossom and
yield food, and that no one in our country goes hungry.
After the pooja, we shall have other sessions and activities. Before we start anything new, we are asked to pray to God. This tradition is unique to India and is not found in any other country in the world.
When we pray, we should remind ourselves that when we were born in this world, we were so dependent on our parents and family for all our needs. When we grow old, we shall again become dependent on our children and family for something or the other. So both, in childhood and in old age we have a dependency on others. And in between these two points of our life, we still are dependent on so many things, like the rains, the society, etc.
So throughout our life, we have a sense of dependency on something, or some person. But when we remember that this dependency in the true sense is our dependency on God for all our needs, then this sense of dependency becomes a source of great inner strength rather than a source of weakness. Then we can find strength even in moments of helplessness. This is the secret to worshiping God.
You must have heard this saying in Hindi, 'Nirbal ke bal Ram' (God is the strength of the weak). So first acknowledge that you are weak and then know that God is the strength of the weak. When you have this strong faith, then can you continue to feel weak and helpless? No, this knowledge brings immense strength and makes you self-reliant and independent. It is very necessary for our farmers to become independent and self-reliant.
By the way, today is also the anniversary of our Art of Living
Foundation. Actually, there is really no beginning to this knowledge, it
is timeless and beginning-less. But formally, we established The Art of
Living Foundation and the Ved Vignan Maha Vidyapeeth today, and so the
organization got registered on 13th November 1981. Today we have
completed 33 years of service.
One of the first trustees of the organization was Justice V.R. Krishnaiah. Today he turned a 100 years. It is his 100th birthday. He is the most acclaimed legal expert and court judge of India. He used to call himself an atheist back then. But then, after meeting me, we would have many discussions on spirituality and slowly he also became interested.
He would attend the guided meditations I conducted in those days because at that time there was no Sudarshan Kriya, and I used to conduct meditation only. He spent a lot of time with me. Then he felt that there is something really wonderful about spirituality, and from then on he began his journey as a devotee and a believer. He was a very noble-hearted soul.
You know, whether a person is an atheist or a believer (of God or spirituality), as long as he remains steadfast and true to his word and action, he surely becomes successful in life. And as time progresses, slowly and surely they start developing an interest in spirituality and become strong believers. We have observed this many times.
A person may sometimes say, 'Oh, I am an atheist', but they say that from a very superficial level. Deep down, they also know that there truly is something that is beyond their limited understanding. So such people slowly and surely do understand the value of spirituality.
In fact, at that time I was very reluctant to start an organization. It was these few people who inspired and supported me to start the organization, Pitaji (a loving name for Gurudev’s father), Justice Krishnaiah, Justice Bhagawati, Mr. Lakshman Rao who was the mayor of Bangalore, and Mr. Narasimha Rao, who then was the Chief Secretary of Karnataka at that time. These five people told me, 'No, you must start this organization'. Today is the day that they formally registered the organization 33 years ago.
So, today our Ashram has completed 33 years of its existence. In
those days the Ashram was not what it looks like now. In those early
days, the rooms and living quarters were thatched huts made from straw
and mud. In those days, there was not a single sturdy house made of
cement; everyone made huts. But just see the change today. Everyone
today makes strong houses made of cement. In those days, when it used to
rain, water would drip from the straw ceiling to the floor. I always
used to like simplicity. I would often ask that the houses and huts
should be constructed from coconut coir and grass straws, just like how
it used to be in the olden days. At that time, there were just around
100-200 people with me. Some of you are still sitting here today. We
used to fetch water from the well, and a generator used to supply
electricity for lighting the Ashram. The power supply would only last
for one to two hours in a day. There was so much rain in those days, and
it was so windy, that everything used to get blown away with the strong
winds. Then we thought that we should make more pukka places to
stay. Many people from foreign countries also started coming to meet me.
One of those people told me, 'Gurudev, there are so many devotees
pouring in to the Ashram now. You will really have to get a huge
meditation hall constructed soon to accommodate all these people. They
will not be able to stay in huts and tents for long'.
I agreed and told them to start the construction. I myself made the design of the meditation hall and gave them instructions. That meditation hall is now the Vishalakshi Mantap that you are sitting in today.
Some 10-15 years later, more and more sturdy houses began to be constructed. So, I told that if we are getting pukka houses constructed for ourselves, then we should also help the people from the villages and surrounding areas in building pukka houses for themselves. I told the devotees at that time with me, that only if everyone living here also gets a pukka house, will I give the permission to have such construction. They all got together and ensured that everyone living near and around the Ashram also got pukka houses built to stay in. Each house had a proper toilet. We also got a small colony made for the people who stay behind the Ashram premises. Earlier they used to stay in slums. So that really helped improve the living conditions of the people.
If the farmers of a country are happy and prosperous, then surely the people of that country too will be happy. A country whose farmers are unhappy cannot be happy and healthy. So it is very necessary that the farmer should be happy and content, and there are two ways for this:
1. To build our inner strength and awaken our self-confidence. This makes us capable of enduring and bearing all problems that come our way
2. We must carefully plan and strategize before doing anything so that difficulties do not happen
See, there are some things which are in our hand, and some that we cannot control. So we must make efforts to improve whatever is in our hands. Whatever is beyond our control, we should simply surrender to God, pray that everything goes well, and just move ahead with self-confidence. Then you will see that all your works start getting fulfilled.
Only one who is unhealthy and unhappy will not follow the rules and regulations and commit fraudulent activities.
A person who is content from within will never think of creating trouble for someone else.
A person who is content from within will never think of creating trouble for someone else.
I always tell people wherever I go that before they start their meals, they should say a small mantra as a prayer, i.e., 'Annadaatha Sukhi Bhava' (May all those who contributed towards this meal be happy and prosperous).
When we were young children, my father would always tell us to chant this mantra before we began our meals. In fact, he would ask us to chant this mantra even after we had finished our meal. I never heard any other verse from him. He would always give importance to this mantra. When you chant this mantra, you actually pray for three people who help to provide food. The first is naturally the farmer who cultivates the food grains. The second person is the merchant who and brings these food grains to our homes. You might ask why the merchant? See, the farmer grows and harvests the crops, but if the merchant does not bring the grains to the markets, then both the farmer and the people suffer.
The people who hoard food grains and do not pay a fair price for them, or sell them at very high prices to the common people, cause the food grains to get spoiled. You know, we have a great abundance of food grains in our country, but because of poor distribution of the food grains, many people have to go hungry and at the same time the food grains also get spoiled (due to illegal hoarding).
It is because of wrong activities that the prices of tomatoes suddenly go up so high, and then once again suddenly falls down in the following months . Have you all experienced this? All those who have had this experience, raise your hands (Many in the audience raise their hands).
You all have to shoulder the burden of this loss if the merchant and tradesmen do not do their job properly, or if they are unhappy.
If the businessmen are unhappy, then too the farmer and the people at large will be unhappy and will have to suffer.
When the merchants are unhappy, they take to adulteration of food grains to make more profit.
When the merchants are unhappy, they take to adulteration of food grains to make more profit.
So when a merchant is happy and righteously follows rules and regulations, then he will not want to exploit or cheat the farmers. Today, our farmers are being exploited. How many of you agree to this? (Many in the audience raise their hands)
You know, the sugar we grow in India is priced at Rs. 12 for a kilo, but we import sugar from foreign countries and price it at Rs. 30 for a kilo. Is our Indian sugar less sweet than the imported sugar? Why is all this happening?
Some corrupt politicians get together with some businessmen and resort to such illegal activities. So if the businessmen are unhappy, then too the farmer and the people at large will be unhappy and will have to suffer.
When the merchants are unhappy, they take to adulteration of food grains and sugar and sell it to the people to make more profits. If you buy one kilo of rice, you will find that there will be impurities and grits in the packet of around 100-200 grams. Nowadays, milk, wheat flour and ghee (clarified butter) also is adulterated. And a businessman who is engaged in doing such adulteration is surely an unhappy and discontent businessman at heart. This is why we must pray for their happiness and well-bring, so that they do not adulterate the food produce and ensures that the farmers get their rightful share of the profits from the market. A merchant should not become greedy and sell food at unfair prices to make more money. He should ensure that he sells the food grains at the same prices at which he buys from the farmers.
According to what is written in the Dharmashastras (a body of ancient Indian scriptures that lay down the rules for righteous conduct), a merchant can keep 20% of the profit for himself, but not more than that. But today, what happens is that merchants and traders selfishly reserve 50% or more of the gains for themselves and leave very little for the farmers. This is not right. Instead, if some food grains or produce sells more in the markets, then the merchant should ensure that the farmers also receive an equal share of the profits.
A merchant should not become greedy and sell food at unfair prices to make more money.
According to what is written in the Dharmashastras, a merchant can keep 20% profit for himself, but not more than that.
According to what is written in the Dharmashastras, a merchant can keep 20% profit for himself, but not more than that.
If you really look at it, the true Annadaata (the Giver of Food) is none other than God himself. And God is always happy and content. Does God ever become unhappy? No! Yet, at the level of this gross material world that we are in, we pray to God who is the ultimate nurturer, for the happiness and wellbeing of these three people who help to provide us with food. We all should chant this every day, both before and after our meals. Bless them before and after you have had your food.
India is one of those countries in the world that receives the greatest rainfall. There is so much rain here, but despite that, we are not utilizing our water resources properly. We are still dumping so many chemical wastes in our water bodies.
Chemicals and artificial fertilizers that have been banned in so many countries across the world are still being used in our farms and fields. We end up wasting so much more money for these chemicals and also destroy the natural quality and health of our soil. We not only suffer a loss in terms of our money, but also in terms of our soil and natural resources. We need to have a deeper discussion on these issues.
(Sri Sri addressing the farmer: Many experts and scientists have also come to attend this workshop here at the Ashram. They will all speak with you, and you too should freely discuss and put your issues forward. Just think that you have come to your own home. You are at your spiritual abode now. This is your very own place, so be happy and enjoy your stay here.
In the mornings, practice some Yoga, Pranayama and meditation also for an hour or two. We have many teachers here who will teach you all this so that you are healthy and fit. When you all are healthy, then the country will also be healthy. When you all are healthy and happy, then the food grains that you grow in your fields will bring happiness and health to all those who consume them in the country.)
This entire world is made up of vibrations, and we should see to it that these vibrations are Sattvik (positive and uplifting).
When a doctor is good and treats everyone well, we generally say that the doctor has a healing touch. See, all doctors are the same but some treat their patients better than the others do. They seem to have a healing touch in their hands. Whatever seeds of thought we sow into the consciousness, the same will be the vibration around us. That is why we should regularly practice yoga and Pranayama. So this is a wonderful opportunity for all of you to enhance the qualities of your mind and your being.
First acknowledge that you are weak and then know that God is the
strength of the weak. When you have this strong faith, then you will not
feel weak and helpless.
After the pooja, we shall have other sessions and activities. Before we start anything new, we are asked to pray to God. This tradition is unique to India and is not found in any other country in the world.
When we pray, we should remind ourselves that when we were born in this world, we were so dependent on our parents and family for all our needs. When we grow old, we shall again become dependent on our children and family for something or the other. So both, in childhood and in old age we have a dependency on others. And in between these two points of our life, we still are dependent on so many things, like the rains, the society, etc.
So throughout our life, we have a sense of dependency on something, or some person. But when we remember that this dependency in the true sense is our dependency on God for all our needs, then this sense of dependency becomes a source of great inner strength rather than a source of weakness. Then we can find strength even in moments of helplessness. This is the secret to worshiping God.
You must have heard this saying in Hindi, 'Nirbal ke bal Ram' (God is the strength of the weak). So first acknowledge that you are weak and then know that God is the strength of the weak. When you have this strong faith, then can you continue to feel weak and helpless? No, this knowledge brings immense strength and makes you self-reliant and independent. It is very necessary for our farmers to become independent and self-reliant.
Before we start anything new, we are asked to pray to God. This
tradition is unique to India and is not found in any other country in
the world.
One of the first trustees of the organization was Justice V.R. Krishnaiah. Today he turned a 100 years. It is his 100th birthday. He is the most acclaimed legal expert and court judge of India. He used to call himself an atheist back then. But then, after meeting me, we would have many discussions on spirituality and slowly he also became interested.
He would attend the guided meditations I conducted in those days because at that time there was no Sudarshan Kriya, and I used to conduct meditation only. He spent a lot of time with me. Then he felt that there is something really wonderful about spirituality, and from then on he began his journey as a devotee and a believer. He was a very noble-hearted soul.
You know, whether a person is an atheist or a believer (of God or spirituality), as long as he remains steadfast and true to his word and action, he surely becomes successful in life. And as time progresses, slowly and surely they start developing an interest in spirituality and become strong believers. We have observed this many times.
A person may sometimes say, 'Oh, I am an atheist', but they say that from a very superficial level. Deep down, they also know that there truly is something that is beyond their limited understanding. So such people slowly and surely do understand the value of spirituality.
In fact, at that time I was very reluctant to start an organization. It was these few people who inspired and supported me to start the organization, Pitaji (a loving name for Gurudev’s father), Justice Krishnaiah, Justice Bhagawati, Mr. Lakshman Rao who was the mayor of Bangalore, and Mr. Narasimha Rao, who then was the Chief Secretary of Karnataka at that time. These five people told me, 'No, you must start this organization'. Today is the day that they formally registered the organization 33 years ago.
Whether a person is an atheist or a believer, as long as he remains
steadfast and true to his word and action, he surely becomes successful
in life.
I agreed and told them to start the construction. I myself made the design of the meditation hall and gave them instructions. That meditation hall is now the Vishalakshi Mantap that you are sitting in today.
Some 10-15 years later, more and more sturdy houses began to be constructed. So, I told that if we are getting pukka houses constructed for ourselves, then we should also help the people from the villages and surrounding areas in building pukka houses for themselves. I told the devotees at that time with me, that only if everyone living here also gets a pukka house, will I give the permission to have such construction. They all got together and ensured that everyone living near and around the Ashram also got pukka houses built to stay in. Each house had a proper toilet. We also got a small colony made for the people who stay behind the Ashram premises. Earlier they used to stay in slums. So that really helped improve the living conditions of the people.
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