Datta Maata 121: Who am I? What is my duty?

Time pass is wasting time. It is verily your choice to immerse your mind in the good or in the bad. Let us talk a bit about the behavior and the time pass activities of the people. Usually, we find three kinds of people. The first kind of people is gluttons. As soon as they get up in the morning, they feel like eating. Few others find bliss in sleep. Whenever they find time, they take a nap. There are some others who do not know what to do and hence end up finding flaws in everyone they see -“This is his mistake. That is her mistake” and so on. This in itself is their job. As it is said by the famous poet Vemana in Telugu, those who find flaws in others never know theirs. They forget all that is done by them and instead focus on criticizing others. This gradually results in fights. Only then, they can sleep peacefully. It is enough for them to engage someone or the other in fight. If possible, they sleep. If not, they fight. When neither is possible, they overeat. Their works are linked to any of these three. Such people are called ‘fools’. Coming to another category of people – they like entertainment a lot. Entertainment is that which removes the afflictions of the mind and body. Most importantly, it removes the mental afflictions of a person. Entertainment can be anything from games to light music and fine arts. All of these are fine. However, if one can put in efforts to understand the reason behind the birth, that itself will become a good recreation. When the mind is in distress, one must engage in such useful thought processes – “What is it that I ought to do? Basically, who am I? What is my duty?” When such quest begins, people will read good books on scriptures whenever they find time and opportunity. Book is our good friend. Isn’t it? Reading itself becomes a big entertainment. Such people are called noble souls. The habit of reading book is the best ever habits in the world. In a way, Swadhyaya (reading to oneself) in itself is the real recreation. When we share our sorrows with others, we feel lighthearted when others console us with their sweet words. Instead, if we read good books or do Satsanga, we also get to know the reasons behind our grief and problems. We, at the same time understand our role when faced with adversities. Once we get to know the root of the problem, the second time, we become cautious so as to prevent the same happening once again. Few problems are our own earnings while few others trouble us even without our involvement. We can understand all that only by reading good books else there is no use at all. Hence, those who make reading good books as their entertainment and those who keep listening to good things and see good things - the life of such intellectuals will go ahead well with the recreation provided by literature and scriptures. Hence, everyone must have a shelf dedicated purely for good books because they are our real best friends. All of us must make reading noble books as our recreation. This is the wish of Datta.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!