Jaya Guru Datta. Let’s discuss a little about Shanti/peace. - TopicsExpress

Jaya Guru Datta. Let’s discuss a little about Shanti/peace. According to the Guru Gita, you should recognize that he whose darshana gives you peace in your heart effortlessly is your Guru. We do not call just anybody, Guru. Guru is a term of respect, yes and he may be a Guru too. But, when you accept someone as your Guru, you must carefully observe and accept someone as your Guru when you mind is transformed and when your mind is effortlessly filled with bliss. In addition to the feeling that he (Guru) belongs to you, you gain the courage, “He will address my desires and difficulties” and thereby gain peace of mind. That is when you should seek refuge in him as Guru. However, it would be a mistake to think that our responsibility ends there. One should not think, “We have identified our Guru, that is it. He will take care of my Sadhana/spiritual practice. To make that momentary peace of mind permanent, one should serve the Guru and start undertaking Sadhana in the path shown by the Guru. Shortly after we start such Sadhana, we realize a truth. That truth is, “By continuing to fulfill desires, permanent peace cannot be attained, it is only by getting rid of desires that we attain permanent peace”. Desires keep sprouting one after another like a continuous chain. If you keep fulfilling them, you gain some contentment. Initially there is some contentment, but soon there is discontentment, “Why are we always trying to fulfill our desires?” That is when we will not feel right about this. So, what is it that gives complete contentment and permanent happiness? There is nothing in this world that can give us that. It is only Paramatman who can give us that. It is God who gives real and lasting happiness. What is it that we want? Happiness. We want happiness that is permanent. What is that called? Sat Chit Ananda. Even though everything else - people or objects or whatever else - seem to initially give happiness, they eventually give us grief. Such knowledge is obtained only through service to the Guru and through his teachings. Lot of people hanker after material objects in pursuit of permanent happiness. But when struggle when they realize that it only gives temporary happiness. So, to be in Sat Chit Ananda, to be in permanent bliss, is possible through Guru alone. Service to the Guru and adherence to the teachings of the Guru will permanently establish that bliss. Since we set out on this journey in quest of lasting peace, our focus should be turned away from desires and towards realization of God. Because, what is it we are after? Why do we undertake this journey? It is to gain peace. Along with peace, we should get rid of the ignorance and restlessness in us. Along with that, we should gain real bliss. Along with that, we should make that bliss permanent. To do this, we need to turn our mind towards realization of God. That is when we visualize the experience. In other words, it means that God is giving us happiness and is watching/taking care of us. Jaya Guru Datta.