The Challenge-Part VII

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Five hundred million people are now looking up to Delhi. This was the very party which made so much sacrifice and brought independence to this nation. Every one in that party, without exception, was humble and lowly. You respected and revered them. Today - what is your attitude towards them? To that institution; to its party men? Don't you think we are repelled by them? Earlier they attracted us by their sacrifice and their desire to serve the nation, Today however, to the extent they exhibit an anxiety to make money, to make themselves secure through corruption, to that extent does people's respect and reverence for them fall. Christ was accused of the worst crime and was nailed to the cross.

Today we worship the very cross. When people with integrity started going to jail for the sake of the country, jails became a symbol of greatness; a sanctum sanctorum. A nation is not great because of the country. A country is not great because of its geography or its wealth or mountains, rivers, trees and plants. It is not these things that make a country great. A country is great because of the great people in that country. It is not five hundred million people who make a country great. It is great scientists, great philosophers who make the country great.

One great Maharshi, one Ramakrishna Paramahamsa made India great. In America everyone is not great. A great scientist, a great explorer, a great man like Abraham Lincoln is sufficient to give a good image to the country. Alas, what is the position in our country? Out of the five hundred millions where are the great scientists? If at all there is a spectacular personality it is Sir C.V. Raman, a great political statesman who is now 92 years old. But what about the younger generation. Why do mighty men not emerge? We are smarter than were the past generations. But what about the mind? We have wonderful ideas, but we do not know how to execute them. The mind is not under our control. I can give you great lectures. But if I stammer, I cannot express my ideas. The instrument of speech is not under my control.

Similarly, we have become mentally paralysed. What are the methods of exercise and rehabilitation? Rehabilitation techniques are described in the various religions of the world. Whether it is in a church, a mosque or a temple, it does not matter. Whether it is from a photo, a wooden cross or an idol, it does not matter. Symbols and instruments are not important. We must understand the crux - essence - the method of changing the mind. Once the quality of thoughts is changed, the mind will change. When the mind is changed, man is changed. Therefore, we must know how to change the quality of our thoughts, because if its qualities are changed, the mind itself is changed.

About the author

Swami Chinmayananda

Swami Chinmayananda the great master's lectures were an outpour of wisdom. He introduced the Geetha Gnana Yagna. He wrote a lot of books on spirituality, commentaries to Vedantic texts, children books etc. He then started spreading His teachings globally.....