Trapped in our worldly lives, what are the pitfalls that we lead ourselves to? And how to avoid them?
During the little time available, if you don't think of some good subject, but merely recollect the ignorant prattle of others, it is as if you too have joined the blame game. This is harmful to a devotee. One word following another produces anger and pain. The path of devotion is designed for suppressing, not developing these qualities. The talk of the fault finders is like the sound of bronze. Cheap metals make more sound. Gold which does not make sound is very valuable. So too, true devotees will remain mute, following the path of silence. Their tongue will be fully engaged in the repetition of the essential greatness of the Lord's Name. It is best that they have no respite for any other word. So, do not permit the words of the bronze-voiced persons to enter your ears, instead fill them with the Name of the Lord.
What is more valuable? Preaching or Practice?
Even an ounce of experience is useful than a ton of learning! Many people lecture hours after hours things that are learn by rote. Can one become great by merely the length or the beauty of the lectures? That is like vomiting a swallowed meal. Give up this talk about others being bad or wrong. Develop your faith and devotion. Strengthen your discipline to meditate on the Lord and engage yourself in beneficial deeds. Speak only what will bring good. Worship the Lord, keep Him ever in your memory. If you are immersed in these, you will not worry at all about the right and wrong of others.
How should we perform the tasks that get assigned to us in our daily lives?
If you are able to divest yourselves of desire when you are doing work, no impurity can touch you. Do you know the "Chilliginja" seeds when dropped into muddy water have the power of separating the dirt and depositing itself at the bottom? The seeds sink to the bottom and slip out of sight. In the same way, those who are experts in doing karma without attachment will have their minds perfectly cleansed and the results of their acts will lose effectiveness and sink to the bottom
During the little time available, if you don't think of some good subject, but merely recollect the ignorant prattle of others, it is as if you too have joined the blame game. This is harmful to a devotee. One word following another produces anger and pain. The path of devotion is designed for suppressing, not developing these qualities. The talk of the fault finders is like the sound of bronze. Cheap metals make more sound. Gold which does not make sound is very valuable. So too, true devotees will remain mute, following the path of silence. Their tongue will be fully engaged in the repetition of the essential greatness of the Lord's Name. It is best that they have no respite for any other word. So, do not permit the words of the bronze-voiced persons to enter your ears, instead fill them with the Name of the Lord.
What is more valuable? Preaching or Practice?
Even an ounce of experience is useful than a ton of learning! Many people lecture hours after hours things that are learn by rote. Can one become great by merely the length or the beauty of the lectures? That is like vomiting a swallowed meal. Give up this talk about others being bad or wrong. Develop your faith and devotion. Strengthen your discipline to meditate on the Lord and engage yourself in beneficial deeds. Speak only what will bring good. Worship the Lord, keep Him ever in your memory. If you are immersed in these, you will not worry at all about the right and wrong of others.
How should we perform the tasks that get assigned to us in our daily lives?
If you are able to divest yourselves of desire when you are doing work, no impurity can touch you. Do you know the "Chilliginja" seeds when dropped into muddy water have the power of separating the dirt and depositing itself at the bottom? The seeds sink to the bottom and slip out of sight. In the same way, those who are experts in doing karma without attachment will have their minds perfectly cleansed and the results of their acts will lose effectiveness and sink to the bottom
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