Walking on path of truth is never easy but always beautiful.
To be with what is, to be truthful in one’s life, to one’s heart, one’s presence, one’s mind, this is following satya. Not the words. Our intention, is it truthful? Is your intention straight forward, is your intention clear? Or is there something else behind that? Is there some other hook you are keeping there?” That indicates the truth. Truth is not what we speak, but what we are. Have you experienced this? When you are righteous, how do you feel? Suppose an injustice is done to you, how do you feel? When you know something is correct, then how do you feel? You have no sense of doubt in you. That is how it feels and you are very close to the state of truth in such circumstances. Mahatma Gandhi started this thing called “Satyagraha“.Agraha, means emphasizing, anger. Satyagraha means truth with anger. This is what Mahatma Gandhi’s whole movement was. Truth with an emphasis, anger, valor. The second principle, the truth. The clarity in your intention, straight forwardness in your approach, is the truth, the second principle.
Next is asteya-non-stealing. You look at somebody and say, “Oh! How nice if I had a voice like them”. You have already stolen their voice. You look at someone who is beautiful and say “Oh! How nice if I were to look like that”. Sitting and wishing “I wish I had that looks; I wish I had that car. I wish I had that power. I wish I had that money”. You have stolen. Do you see what I am saying? This creates jealousy. Why do people steal? “Mine, mine, I want to possess it”. Asteya eliminates jealousy, non-stealing. People steal many things People steal somebody else’s smile, toys, somebody else’s technique. These things do not work. People who steal remain poor. The effect of not stealing, to stay committed, to be sincere is that, sarva ratnopalabdihi.
“Asteya pratishtayam sarvara ratnu pasthanam” (II Sutra 37)
Asteya = non-stealing; Pratishtayam = established; Sarva = all; Ratna = jewels, wealth; Upasthanam = approaches.
“When non-stealing is established, all the jewels (wealth) approach the person.”
All the wealth comes to you effortlessly. All the wealth comes to you. A little intention to steal can keep you poor. Do you see what I am saying? Most of the time poverty is self-made. A person wants to be sneaky and grab and get as much as he can. That is where his luck goes down the drain. Non-stealing brings all the wealth.
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(This is part of a series of knowledge sheets based on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s commentaries on Patanjali Yoga Sutras.)
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