Bhagavad Gita Ch12 part 06 on 26 December 2020

Full Transcript(Not Corrected)

OM VASUDE VASUTAM DEVAM KAMSA CHAANURA MARDANAM DEVAKI PARAMANANDAM KRISHNAM VANDE JAGAD GURAM SARVO PANISHA DOGDHA DOGDHA GOPALANANDANA PARTHO VATSHA SUDHIR BHOKTA DUGDHAM GEETAM RITAM MAHAT MOOKAM KARUTI VACHALAM PANGUM LANGAYATE GIRIM YAD KRIPATAMAHAM VANDE PARAMANANDAMADHAVAM We have been discussing this wonderful chapter called Bhakti Yoga. What is the easiest path for the realization of God? It is Bhakti Yoga. This is what Shri Ram Krishna was telling and Shri Ram Krishna was echoing what Bhagwan Krishna was telling to us. But Bhakti Yoga is absolutely fine. And what is the type of Bhakti Yoga? What does it mean? A person who is following, walking the path of devotion. What should be his attitude? What should be his life? What type of characteristics he must develop? These are the things that are beautifully depicted from 13th to the 19th verse. And in the last verse he says this is called the immortal nectar of Dharmiya. Dharmiya means what should be developed. And such a person becomes blessed by realizing me and by getting out of this samsara permanently. In the earlier we have seen that who is a Bhakta is the person who has got these characteristics. More than 20 characteristics have been depicted in this from 13th verse to the 19th verse. So Krishna is describing whom? A Bhakta. And Krishna is describing whom? A Jnani. And Krishna is describing a Paramahamsa. Krishna is describing the same Stita Prajna whom we have seen in the earlier end of the 2nd chapter. Who was called Stita Prajna? Stita Prajna, Jnani Bhakta, Bhagavad Bhakta, these yogi, these are all synonymous terms. Earlier in the 7th chapter we have seen what Krishna was telling that every spiritual aspirant is considered to be a great Bhakta. And of these there are four classifications. Some become Bhaktas, they adopt, they pray to God, they do not look to anybody when they are in distress. They are called Artha Bhaktas. But there are other people, they are not in distress but they have so many unfulfilled desires. They are called Artha Arthi. Artha means desires, Arthi means one who desires. I am okay but I would like to be more than okay, more happy by fulfilling some of my desires. Is it wrong? Absolutely no. Is it wrong to pray to God when we are in trouble? Absolutely no. Who says? God Himself says. Chaturvidha bhajante mam janaha sukrutino arjuna There are four types of people, all of them are Sukrutis, persons who had done great Punya. How do we know they did great Punya? Because if they had not done something good in their past lives, they would never have turned towards God. They will always do something, hook or crook, try to obtain by untruthfulness, by cheating, by stealing and by joining wicked people, what we call gangs, all these people. No, these are all great people. And how do we know they are great people? Because sooner or later God is going to give them that buddhi, that understanding through which they will be turning towards God and questioning what is Tattva, what is Purushartha, what is Hitha. The enquiry into what is the goal of life and what is the real truth and how can I direct my mind and reach that goal to know the truth. These three, they are called Tattva, Purushartha and Hitha. This is the essence of every scripture. What is the Lord telling? Chaturveda bhajante mam janaha sukrutino arjuna arthaha jignasu arthaarthe jnane ja bharatarshabha This is how a ladder of spiritual progress is described and every one of them have to go through it accepting those who are already free but take upon this human birth. They are called Karanjanmis, people born with a mission in life. Such people, Avataras are His Anucharas, His Sakas, Nityamuktas, Ishwarakotis. Only they have not to do this but first of all like children whenever there is trouble, we cry mother, ma and that's it. Then afterwards they will turn to father. I have to go to school. Give me a slate. Give me a pencil. Give me a pen. Give me a checkbook. Buy me a small car etc. etc. But in the end when the wisdom tooth grows then they turn towards the God and then He says so Lord now I am ready to travel towards you. This is called third stage, enquiring stage. This is called Jignasa and in course of time by God's grace they will attain that Nani. Then what He says later on is very interesting. Tesha, among those devotees, Gnani, those who attained realization. Nityayuktaha, always He remains as a Yogi. Ekabhaktihi, His only devotion is towards Eka, the Divine Lord. He excels. He is the greatest. Priyohignaninaha atyartham, among all the Gnanis, all the progressing devotees. This is the dearest to me and I am dearest to Him and Aham also, I also like Him. Ahamcha Sachamama Priyaha and for me also He is the nearest, dearest, closest. In fact, there is no difference between Him and me. In this 12th chapter whatever characteristics a person who aims to become a Gnani that means a Bhakta. Why do we say Gnani? Because we must, before we can desire God, we must have knowledge of what is God and that is called Gnanam. Gnanam, about God. Please remember, the knowledge about God is in fact knowledge about myself because whatever exists is nothing but God. Such a person, Atyanta Priyaha is very near to me and very dear to me. That's why we always say near and dear. When a person comes very near to us, he becomes very dear to us. That means literally there would be no difference between that person and me. I am he, he is me. That's why many times when husband and wife love each other so much, they can intuit, the husband can intuit what the wife is thinking so also vice versa. So there is no difference between Gnana and Bhakti. Gnana means to have right knowledge. Bhakti means to know that there is no other so near, so dear, excepting God. When a person attains to that, then that person will never again become deviated, Chuta. He will also become Achuta like God. That knowledge, Aham Brahmasme will always be there. So such a person is the greatest devotee. We are the greatest devotees of ourselves. Why? Because we know we love ourselves very much. Why do we love ourselves so much? Because we know this is me. That knowledge is there. I am not somebody else. I am myself. Therefore, it's most natural to love my own self. This is the Gnani Bhakta. That is what Swami Vivekananda says in his Bhakti Yoga in the ultimate run. Gnana, Para Gnana, Supreme Knowledge and Supreme Bhakti, Para Bhakti. There is absolutely no difference between these three. Also, explaining Swami Vivekananda says, Supreme Devotion is like a triangle and it is characterized by three characteristics. What are they? First of all, the devotee, he doesn't have any motive. He only loves God for the sake of God. Secondly, he doesn't want anything excepting God. And thirdly, he feels, I am God. God is me. There is no shop keeping there. There is no fear there. Because fear comes from a second. There is no second. Me and God. Not two. But I am God. God is me. Because God is everything. If everything is God, I am also God. In fact, everything is God. Then what does he do? He doesn't stop there. If God is everything, then God is not only me. God is everything that I experience in this whole world. That is what is being expressed in the 13th and then 14th verses. That's why he said, Several beautiful characteristics. These characteristics are described. First of all, they have to be acquired. But in course of time, all these characteristics become very natural expression when I get that knowledge. And what is that knowledge? I am God. God is me. The drop of water is the ocean. Ocean is the drop of water. So a small wave is nothing but water. A big wave is also nothing but water. We are all like that. Big bubbles, small bubbles, rich man, rich bubble, poor man, poor bubble, very wise person and wise bubble, otherwise bubble. Everything is the same. The differences, the problems stem from ajnana. Not knowing we are in fact nobody else. Once a rabbi, a rabbi is a Jewish teacher, is asked, teach me about all about Judaism. And then he said, this is the essence. Do unto others what you wish others to do to yourself. And if you understand this, you have understood the essence of not only Judaism but every ism including atheism. Because even an atheist also doesn't say that I will do harm to others but others should never do harm to me. He also wants to be happy only. These are being expressed, these marvelous things. What is the point we have to remember before we go deep into this is that it is from the knowledge. I, God and the world are not at all different from each other. Everything is God. I am God, world is God, Brahman is God. Therefore I have not attained that knowledge but I have the firm conviction from the teachings of my Guru and the scriptures. I have Shraddha. I know that is the truth. But by developing these qualities, by striving slowly slowly to acquire half percent, one percent, five percent, ten, fifty, seventy five, ninety nine. When I acquire hundred percent of these, what you call spiritual qualities, then I become a realized soul. Thereafter, I don't strive. These become by natural characteristics. A small perhaps analogy will help us to understand. Here is a woman. She is married and she is selfish. Before marriage, only me. After marriage, me and my husband and after the birth of a child, the whole attention, natural love because the mother knows this is my baby. What does she mean? She means this is me. This baby is another form of mine. That's all. That knowledge when it comes, then very naturally you don't need to teach a mother that love your baby. She is after your baby. No need. It comes automatically. When? Not after the birth of the baby. As soon as the conception takes place, the woman, she knows now I am going to be a mother and she takes so much care. Her eating, her moving, her activities and her sleep, everything becomes restricted only because of that knowledge. If I do something bad, it will be bad for my baby. A devotee is like that, would be mother. Who knows? I am going to be a mother. I am going to be a Jnani, a Bhakta and that's so. Everything is God. My God is everywhere. I will have to see my God everywhere. Let me learn. If I don't learn, I won't become a Bhakta and a Jnani. But if I learn, then I will become God and God knows. We are all his children. Therefore, like a loving grandmother, it becomes a grandmother. This is the logic of why we should develop these qualities because these qualities is what helps us, pushes us towards realization. Once realization comes, realization itself pushes us, express from within, these qualities come out. First, we have to get these qualities from outside to inside. After realization, they will naturally flow out because a Jnani, Bhakta doesn't say anything excepting God. This is beautifully expressed, Ishwara. This whole world is nothing but Ishwara. With that knowledge, you live the rest of your life. Do not desire any other wealth excepting the wealth of this knowledge that everything is God. Then what happens to him? He will be as we saw in the Manushya Panchakam. So one billionth and billionth part of this Brahmananda satisfies all of us. But we become Brahmananda itself. With this background, let us go. We discussed 13th, but I would like to expand a little. I cannot hate anybody. Maitra, I am a friend of all. Karuna, when I see people suffering, infinite compassion, what is called sympathy, empathy would come. I think I narrated the incident in the life of Swami Vivekananda. One day, Swami Vivekananda heard Swamiji. He was sobbing. Next day, he asked, Swamiji, why were you sobbing? He said, I do not know. That somewhere a terrible disaster had taken place. I can feel the piteous cries of those people. Later on, the news have come that more than 50,000 people have died somewhere in the African region. Unconsciously, even though he did not know the incident, Swamiji felt it. Why? Because those people were no other than himself. That I am different, you are different. This is the attitude of a Jnani. A Jnani says, you are me. That is where the philosophy of charity. We are not giving charity to anybody. We are not helping anybody. By helping others, we are helping our own selves. That is why Ramakrishna's greatest teaching, Shiva Jnane Jiva Shiva. I am Shiva, you are Shiva. One Shiva is helping the other Shiva. I am helping myself. So this is the idea. He who never hates any being and is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from the feelings of I and mine and even-minded in pain and pleasure, who is forbearing, ever content, steady in contemplation, who is self-controlled and possessed of firm conviction, and who has consecrated his mind and understanding to me, dear to me, is the one who is thus devoted to me. Let us briefly expound these things. A true devotee never hates anyone, even the lowest creature. Ramakrishna was telling, one day I saw a small insect. It is so tiny. It is wriggling. And he said, I saw consciousness wriggling in the form of this small insect. That is why Jains, they never try to walk after evening in darkness because they are frightened that they might accidentally tread on some small creature and we do it routinely. Then they knew, probably they were wise, they knew that this COVID is coming, that's why they always cover their nose and mouth, etc. But what is the point? By their very breath, they should not harm any creature. Through their breath, no tiny creature should enter into them and attain salvation. That's why they try their level best to cover it. They eat their food also before sunrise so that they can see what they are eating. So, if anybody wants to become... This is the first quality, Advesta. The reason also is there. Suppose somebody hates. Suppose you hate somebody. Now, whom do you think you are thinking? Two things happen. First of all, our mind is diverted from God to the person whom we dislike. Hatred is an extreme manifestation of dislike. Secondly, there is a psychological law. By thinking of a wasp, a bee turns into a wasp. Keeta Brahmaravata. So, the same way, by thinking of the evil qualities of other people, slowly we also acquire beautiful psychology for our own peace of mind. Let us not hate anybody. Also, there is this law. The moment we start hating, immediately the restlessness and what is called losing peace of mind, the automatic reaction, inevitable result. And that nobody wants. We lose our peace of mind. On the contrary, if we become friendly. That's why, Advesta Sarvabhutanam. How to get rid of it? Maitraha. Become a friend. That is the first thing. Let us not look at the faults of other people. By looking at the faults of other people, we in fact develop those qualities. The truth is, if we do not have a bad quality, we will not even know that bad quality in other persons also. So, this is the first quality we have to develop. Advesta Sarvabhutanam. But naturally the question comes, what about if they are hating us? Okay, I would not like to hate them. But if they are trying to harm us. Ramakrishna has two levels of advice for us in this situation. Ramakrishna gives us the beautiful parable of a brahmachari and a snake. We all know that story. A snake gave up its former poisonous nature and even stopped hissing. And then some of the wicked boys, they took advantage of it, caught hold of its tail, whirled it round and round and dashed it to the ground. And it became so hurt, became so helpless, became very weak, thin. And after a year, the guru, the brahmachari holy man, passing by and he inquired about this snake. And the local people said, it is dead long back because we ourselves have killed it. Of course, how do they come to know it? Because after that they have never seen it. So, brahmachari said, that's impossible. I have given it a mantra, it must be alive. So, he went near and called it out. After a lot of calling, slowly it crawled back because it was so weak, because it was not getting food, because it was not coming out and searching for food. Brahmachari asked, why this condition? And it said, sir, you told me that I should not hurt anybody and I am observing it. Then the brahmachari gives a beautiful advice, which Ramakrishna gives us to two levels of people. What is it? For householders, you do not hurt but you hiss. That means, short of injuring other people, take every step, whether it is threatening, it is abusing, it is threatening to go to a court or even taking the help of evil people, gondas. If necessary, you do it. I know so many householders, they have rented out their houses. And for the last so many years, they are not getting their rent, their due rent. Neither the tenants, they are absolutely unwilling to give more than what was fixed several years back. But they don't give even that much. What are you going to do? For the struggling householders, you must hiss, whatever is necessary to prevent ourselves. Of course, always it doesn't work. Sometimes the evil people, they can even turn against us and harm also. Then there is only one way. If we can help, let us help ourselves. If we cannot, we must pray earnestly to God. And that is called Artha Bhakti. But for the advanced student, he should not even hiss. And these advanced students usually, by Shri Ramakrishna, they are called Sannyasins, monks, they have no right even to hiss. Ramakrishna gives a beautiful parable. And Swami Brahmanandaji gives a beautiful parable. And though we know these things, but yet let us remind ourselves. I am going to take a little time in discussing this because these are of paramount importance. And most of us, we neglect to do these things. Here is something very important. Shri Ramakrishna gives a beautiful... There was a monk, one day he went out for begging. He saw a rich man beating a servant. This sadhu, holy man, could not bear it. He went to interfere. Now the wrath of that rich person turned towards this monk. And he beat him black and blue until he fell down unconscious. And then what happened, we don't know. After some time, the gurubhais, they came to know. They rushed there, lifted the sadhu, took him to the monastery. Slowly he was being brought to consciousness. And a little bit of milk was being poured into his mouth. And then to know whether he was aware of what was happening, one of the brothers asked, Do you recognize who is pouring milk into your mouth? And that man opened his eyes and said, He who had been beating me all this time, the same one is giving me milk. This is of course the highest state. He sees nothing but God, nothing but God. This is the most wonderful thing that we have to understand. Now, Brahmanandji gives another story. This story actually he heard from somebody. There is a funny, I think a funny incident here. Later on, Brahmanandji recollected, he had collected some of the words of Sri Ramakrishna, teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. Not like M, but some teachings. So he said, why not whatever I remember, be kept in a format so that they can be published. In fact, it was published as words of the master later on. He gave this particular story. And it seems one night Sri Ramakrishna appeared to him and said, Did I say that? No, I did not say this. I heard it from somebody. This is not my story. From some Gujarati sadhu, I heard it. Because so many sadhus used to wander, pass through this Dakshineshwar temple, hundreds and hundreds, and all of them are Paramahamsas, and very few Bhagavan people. What was the story? There was a monk sitting on the bank of a river, and there was a tree nearby, and there was a scorpion. It accidentally fell into the river. It was struggling, and it was being carried away. The monk saw it, immediately rushed, and then took it in his palm and brought it out. And then the scorpion stung him. This took place three, four times. Another man was observing it. He said, Sir, the scorpion is stinging you, giving you so much of pain. Why are you still helping it? A beautiful reply was given by that sadhu. He is a true sadhu. He said, it is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It cannot help. It is the nature of a sadhu to help other people. Therefore, when it is not giving up its nature, why should I give up its nature? And then Sri Ramakrishna himself had experienced it. Under the illusion that Sri Ramakrishna had known some magical mantras by which he had captured Madhur Babu, and he was worshipped, he could get whatever Sri Ramakrishna wants, he could squeeze from Madhur Babu, and if I know those mantras, I can also keep him under my thumb. Thinking thus, the family priest of Madhur Babu, a fakir, one day asked Sri Ramakrishna when he was lying down in the state of bhava, semi-conscious state, and Sri Ramakrishna could not reply. He was conscious, but could not reply. And after asking a few times, this man misunderstood, thinking that Sri Ramakrishna is unwilling to tell, and then he kicked him several times, and then Hriday was the witness to that later on. Then Sri Ramakrishna said, promise me you will never tell this to Madhur, because if Madhur comes to know, he will really injure this person. Much later on, when for some other reason, this family priest was removed by Madhur Babu, then accidentally he came to know that this was what had happened. Madhur Babu's eyes became blood red, even after hearing it after so many years. He said, Baba, Father, why did you not inform me? I would have wrung his neck and separated it from his body. Sri Ramakrishna smiled and said, I knew you were going to do that. That's why I did not tell you. I wrenched a promise from Hriday that he would not tell it to a second soul. This is the nature of the Lakshana. What are we talking about? A true devotee cannot hate anybody. Why he can't hate? Because later on, when he progresses, he sees that everybody is nothing but God. Then what about other people giving trouble to him? A devotee doesn't see that other people are giving trouble to him. He has two explanations. First explanation is that it is my paapakarma phala. This is the result of what evil I had done in my past life. This is called Karma Siddhanta. And Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs absolutely believe in it. And second is, even after realization, somebody abused me because it is God who is abusing. Who is friendly? It is God. Who is a relative? It is God. Who is father, mother? Everything is God. But the enemy, that also is nothing but God. Prahlada perfectly expressed this attitude and said, it is not Hiranyakashyapu, my father. It is Narayana who is making me go through all these trials and tribulations. Therefore, if Hiranyakashyapu, my father, he is not giving trouble, he cannot save me from trouble. It is Narayana who is giving me. Only Narayana who can really also save me, help me. These are two go together. Not only I cannot help, I cannot hate other people, but I will be, on the contrary, the greatest friend of everybody. This is what is telling Mitra, a Jnani, a true bhakta. He is a friend to all. He is a friend of everybody. Not close to someone. Not even one millimeter distance. He is a universal friend. That's why one of the greatest Rishis is called Vishwamitra. Mitra for the entire world, Vishwamitra. Such a person, what does he do? Bhoktaram Yajna Tapasam Sarvaloka Maheshwaram Suhurudam Sarvabhutanam Matvamam Shantim Richchati In the 5th chapter which we have seen, I am sure most of us have forgotten, 29th verse, he says, what does he feel? I feel happy when the other person feels happy. I feel unhappy when the other person feels unhappy. Why? Because everything is God. Bhoktaram Yajna Tapasam Whatever is being done by anyone in this world, who is the doer? God. Who is the enjoyer? God. Who is the lord of all these worlds? God. Sarvaloka Maheshwaram And what is his nature? Sarvabhutanam Suhurudam He is the well-wisher of the whole world. Who is a better well-wisher than a mother to a baby? So who is a well-wisher to all of us, excepting God, whose creation we are? Creation means we are his children. Such a person, Gnatva, thus knowing me as like this, Shantimal, only a person obtains that peace, that Paschita, all understanding, such a person. What does it mean? By contemplating upon me as the doer, enjoyer, knower, the ruler and the greatest friend of all, such a person in reality becomes like fear. This is called, I feel anybody is suffering, me. Anybody is happy, it is me. Anybody is rich, that is me. Anybody is poor, that is me. Again, this beautiful, this one is again quoted by Bhagavan Krishna, आत्मा उपम्येन सर्वत्र समंपश्यतियो अर्जुन, सुखम्वा इधिवा दुखम्, सयोगी परमोमतः, here, Gnani, अत्यंतमवप्रियः, such kind of devotee, very near and dear to me. Here, instead of Bhakta, devotee, Sayogi, such a yogi, such a spiritual aspirant, Paramomathah, the greatest in my opinion, who, he, who sees the same God everywhere. आत्मा उपम्येन, so the whole world is nothing but me in different names, different forms, different qualities, different so-called friends, enemies, good, evil people, everybody is nothing me. आत्मा उपम्येन, me only. समंपश्यति, with equal-mindedness, O Arjuna, he sees the whole world. सुखम् वा इदिवा दुखम्, they are happy, I am happy. They are unhappy, I am unhappy. Others' pain becomes my pain and my, others' happiness becomes my happiness. Such is a person who is called a friend and there was a great soul called Bharathravari and he has written three books, 108 verses approximately, 3 into 108. शिंगार सेतक, that is amorous play between a lover and a beloved. When he was a king, when he was enjoying householder's life, this should be the real enjoyment. Not sitting in a mosquito-ridden and 150 degrees temperature and a torn mat and an old man and woman and trying to squeeze a little bit of his unfulfilled desire. That is not happiness. Happiness means a couple should enjoy like that. This is a most wonderful book. India produced such books which very few other people have produced. I am just telling because India is supposed to be otherworldly country by many misguided, misunderstanding people. The greatest book on what we call the man and woman relationship, Kaamashastra is written by one of the greatest Rishis that in our Vatsyayana Rishi has written Kaamashastra. Like that, King Bharathravari had written. Later on, he was one of the greatest pious persons. He also undergone terrible tragedy in his life. His own wife was running after somebody, leaving such a good person. Anyway, she helped him because it brought tremendous dispassion to him. He renounced the world. Then he wrote two books. Neethisathaka means what is a book on wisdom which applies to both worldly people as well as spiritual people. Then, finally he wrote as a monk one of the greatest books like the imitation of Christ, like Bhagavad Gita, Vairagya Shatakam. Shringara Shatakam, Neethi Shatakam, Vairagya Shatakam. 108 verses on this Vairagya Shatakam. But here, in this Neethi Shatakam, what is called wisdom, book on wisdom, he gives a beautiful definition of a friend and if we judge any person as our friend, I am not sure anybody will come. Even a mother also, father also, brothers and sisters also, also our closest friends, not one single one of them fall into this category. Only a good monk falls into this category. Like Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, direct disciples and any other good monk, they are the only good friends. That is why cultivate holy company because holy people are your greatest friends. Let us see now, what this Bhattacharya is to say, how is he going to define what is a friend. Suhrut Sarvabhutana, Maitra, is a Suhrut, Elvishar, to the whole world, like God. Because every spiritual aspirant, sooner or later, he is going to realize and become God. Brahma with Brahmayogoti. What does this Bhattacharya say? Who is a true friend? Santaha means great people, good people, intelligent people, wise people, they define who is a friend with these following characteristics. What are they? A real friend, warrants of his friend's sin, do not do this, prompts, you always do some good deeds, inspires them. If these people have terrible secrets, defects, conceals the secret, never allows anybody else to know these things, reveals the merits. If this person has got a merit, he will tell them, hey, you have got this merit, bring it up. Does not leave the friend in distress. All other people, just as there is a, what is called Subashita, I don't remember exactly, that when a lake is full of fish, all the birds come there, as soon as that lake becomes dry, just they will leave that lake and then disappear from there. So long as there is money, property, everything is there, then everybody is, oh, you are my greatest friend. How many such stories we hear? But as soon as this person is in need, he comes out for a little bit of loan. The moment you say he is approaching, you see him from a distance, you tell your son, tell that person that my father is not at home. There is a funny story that one such person was sitting and a poor man was coming and this fellow knew that that poor man is coming only for one purpose, to beg of some help and he instructed his four-year-old son, go and tell. If he asks, is your father inside? And then you say, oh, he has gone out, he is not inside. So this poor person came, knocked at the door and then this boy opened and then asked, is father in? This boy was replying, my father asked me to tell you that he is not inside the house. The man understood and turned away. So when a person is in distress, the whole world simply deserts them like poison. But a good friend, he will never. So he even unasked, he will go and give that one. These are some of the qualities of Sat Mitra Lakshanam Idam These are some, only a few of the qualities of a good friend. Who says? Not Tom, Dick and Harry. These are the teachings of the wisest persons, great Santa Mahapurushas. So let us expound it a little. When a good friend sees his friend is about to commit something, he will go and warn. Even at the cost of being misunderstood, then he says, Oh, this person doesn't want me to become prosperous. He is jealous of me. That is why he is warning me. He wants me to be like himself. Most of the so-called good friends, they may not be in a great position. They may not be rich people. Few people become rich only because of business or anything. People become rich only because of Punya Karma done in the past life. That's why same business people, some people in the business, it never fails. Same business, others, they just get out. So, I do not wish my friend to suffer. He is sure to suffer if he does this. No mother ever allows her child to eat poisonous food, food not suitable for the child. Even at the cost of the child misunderstanding and weeping and shouting and sobbing and all those things. On the contrary, my friend, do this, do this, do this. That's why Shastra, a scripture is called a loving mother. Because Shastra, a scripture does two things. It inspires us to do good deeds and it prevents us from doing bad things. That's why a scripture is called consisting of both vidhi and nishedha. Do this, it is a commandment and do not do this, this is a commandment. Then, guhyam niguhati. If the fellow, this friend has got some secrets and if it gets out, he will be harmed and this good friend knows all of them. But, he will never tell anybody, he will not whisper it to. But, most of us do directly, many times indirectly, we go on not whispering, shouting at the top of these things, when especially that person is not present at the back. This is called backbiting. Then, gunan prakati karoti. If this person has got some good quality, what I am trying to tell you, if this friend has got some potential good quality, hey, your voice is beautiful, if you can sing, it will be wonderful. I am telling you my own experience. I never knew that I could sing well. Now, I cannot of course sing. One time, not best singer, but quite good singer, I would say, even though I am saying it myself. I never knew. I came to the training center in Belur Math. There was one Shiva Maharaj. He was a brahmachari. He was also in the training center. Once he heard me just singing something, like bathroom singing. Immediately, he pulled me out and said, brother, you have a very good voice. You learn singing. And actually, I thought, I did not believe him. But then slowly, one or two other people told me. So, I took lessons, both after the training center in Cherrapunji, the beautiful harmonium. And he taught me for nearly one year how to sing simple bhajans, not classical music, etc. Though, I did practice some raga, etc. Why am I telling all this, what is called autobiography? It is a good friend. Even if his friend does not know these good qualities, he will openly tell him, encourage him, guide him, so that even those which are manifest, which are potentially there, he will encourage him. This is called unan prakati karoti. Apad gatham. Every one of us have to go downwards at some point or other. From second step to third, third to fourth, sometimes we have hard falls. When we are in that condition, he will never give up. He will be with us all the time and when we lose everything, he will give shelter, he will do everything. Here, I remember that I discussed this point elaborately. If possible, I will discuss in my next class also. But what is important is, why did Kshatriya Ram lose? Because of his truthfulness. Truthfulness, satyameva jayate, Mundaka Upanishad says, and devalokaha vidataha satyena pantha vidataha devalokaha they say, he lost not because of the saying truthfulness, it is the will of the Divine Mother. This person, if he wants God, he has to give up all these things, depend totally upon God. He is not to speak of an avataras life. Even the parents of the avataras are not to speak of an avataras life. This person, he gives shelter. Then Kshatriya Ram is totally depending upon God, really pended his way to Kamarpakur, his friend Laha. Immediately, he gave him some land, gave him his own two cottages, Kshatriya Ram stay here and gave him all the ancestral property which was considerable, nearly 33 acres of very costly, beautiful, cultivable wetland. Such is the person. He will give necessary his own life. These are some of the Lakshanas, characteristics of a good friend. This is very important. And every aspiring devotee must try to become such a good friend otherwise it's impossible for him to progress in spiritual life. We'll discuss these points more elaborately in my next class. As I said, these are those qualities. There is no other way to progress in spiritual life. May Sri Ramakrishna Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda bless us all with Bhakti.