Sri D. R. Kaarthikeyan speaks about kriya yoga at a public talk in Chennai, India.
Ananda has a dear friend, Sri D. R. Kaarthikeyan. Swami Kriyananda considered him to be “my Indian brother” and, indeed, their camaraderie made them seem like two brothers. Kaarthikeyanji is a pivotal member of the Board of Directors of not only Ananda in India, but many other spiritual and humanitarian organizations as well. One of the ways this compassionate soul helps mankind is to send out inspiring and uplifting material to his vast mailing list. Here is an inspiring piece we received from him last week:
Indian billionaire with a wealth of 291 billion dollars, Ratan Tata, was asked by a radio presenter in a phone interview: Sir, when were you the happiest in your life?
Ratan replied : I went through four stages of happiness in my life and finally I understood the meaning of true happiness.
The first step was to accumulate wealth and resources. But that time I didn’t get the happiness I wanted.
Then came the second stage of accumulating valuable objects. But I realized that the effect of this is also temporary, and the shine of jewelry doesn’t last long.
Then came the third leg of big projects. We owned 95% of the oil reserves in India and Africa. Also owned the largest steel plant in India and Asia. But here I did not reach the happiness I imagined.
The fourth step came when my friend asked me to buy wheelchairs for children with disabilities. Approximately 200 children. Upon the recommendation of a friend, I immediately bought them. But the friend insisted that I go with him and give them to the kids. Ready and at it, out there giving these kids wheelchairs with my own hands.
I saw a strange glow of happiness on the faces of these children. I saw everyone just sitting in their wheelchairs, moving and playing. It was like they came to a picnic spot and shared their winning prize. I felt so happy inside.
When I decided to leave, one of the kids grabbed me by my feet. I tried to slowly release my legs, but the child looked in front of me and squeezed them even harder. So I leaned over and said, “Kid, you need something else?”
This child’s reaction not only shocked me, but completely changed my outlook on life. This child said, “I want to remember your face so that when I see you in Heaven, I can recognize you and thank you again!!!”
“Master and the Red Mountains,” by Nayaswami Jyotish.
What makes us happy? There is a deep spiritual truth: It says that happiness increases as our consciousness rises and expands, and dwindles as it falls and contracts. That is why we say “up in heaven” and “down in hell.”
When Tata chased personal wealth, possessions, and power his consciousness shrank, and lasting happiness eluded him. But by thinking of others and acting altruistically, his consciousness expanded, and he was able to find sustained happiness. The law of expansion and contraction is one of the hidden laws of creation. It works because we are all interconnected and interdependent, and this is why a fundamental teaching for all the world’s faiths is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Every day we are given opportunities to put this into practice. The choice is straightforward: expand and be happy, or contract and be sad. Helping others will bring good karma to both them and us. Let’s spend more time giving out Divine Mother’s wheelchairs!
Paramhansa Yogananda puts it beautifully in one of his prayer-demands: “I loved many things only to find that my true craving was for Thee alone. Come to me now! Be with me always!”
In divine joy,
Nayaswami Jyotish
Listen to Jyotish as he reads the blog, then expands on it, often adding special behind-the-inspiration stories and answers to common spiritual questions. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (8:13):
34 Comments
So beautiful!!
Thanks for sharing! We always wait for your blogs. They are soul touching , maybe because you live what you say. Jai guru 🌸🌸🌸🌹🙏🙏🙏
Thank you Jyotish ji, this was very beautiful
Pranaam Devi and Jyotish ji
Much gratitude for this beautiful and inspiring story in respect to Shri Ratan Tata
Aum Guru 🙏🙏🙏
Grazie di cuore per questa commovente testimonianza : voliamo ,solo , quando ci liberiamo delle zavorre .
Immensa gratitudine.
I remain thankful to you for sharing these beautiful inspirational and powerful stories. Life changing experiences and moments here.
Thanku so much for this post .
Thank you Jyotish. What a beautiful reminder.
Thank you Jyotish🙏
So very pertinent especially the ending. One of my favorite refrain is part of a Hindi language prayer: “Tuj ko hi chhahu, tuj ko hi payu”…. It roughly translates to “May I seek Thee alone. May I get Thee only”. Thank you so much, Jyotish Ji.🙏
Thank you for this inspiring story to remind us of purpose and path
This just says all and so very helpful for each individual to live better! Thank you!
Thank you . Your blogs are always inspiring. Brought tears to my eyes . A way to remember service and unconditional giving 🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️❤️
Respected Nayaswami Ji,
I just read the mail below and tears came out of my eyes. It is such a truth that you become happy when your consciousness expands, and you become miserable when you chase power, material wealth and status.
I am a software engineer and am looking to enroll myself in a nonprofit organization, so that I can spend the rest of my life serving the society. And not run after power, material wealth and status.
Nayaswami Ji, you taught us a beautiful lesson today.
Thank You,
Vikram
Thank you Jyothish Ji for sharing a very beautiful and inspiring thought on Helping Others and Joy of Giving!!
Jai Guru!
Dear Jyotish: Thank you for the insightful wisdom that you shared in your post. As I grew up I wanted to be compassionate and supportive of others. It is the deeper realizations that are revealed by Masters wisdom that seems to stretch me beyond the unconscious thoughts and choices that are hidden in the (I want, I need, I can have- the I-me-mine) mentalities. Your wisdom and art blesses us all. Aum Guru, Prakriti
Very moving and uplifting.
Thank you Jyotishji :)
Thank you Jyotish. How about we give out the wheelchairs with the padded seat cushion of God and Guru’s Love? Mr. K and this blog are an inspiring reminder to me of Yata Dharma, Sthata jaya. Jai!
Namaste
Wow, the hair on my body stood up when I read the last lines of Ratan’s account. Thank you, Jyotish, for sharing this uplifting story and another beautiful Touch of Light 💜
A blessed Spiritual Renewal Week, all ✨
Every morning, or honestly I should say almost every morning, I read from several different books by Swamiji and Master. One of those books is Whispers From Eternity. Today’s random pick fits with your story here Jyotishji because part of what I see in this story is the same expression of love in this passage: “Bless us that the rivulets of all our sympathy, affection, and love lose not themselves in the drought of dreary selfishness. Let the little, lonely, separately-moving streamlets of our love, coming from Thee, at last merge in the vastness of Thy presence.”
Thank you Jyotish for your divine service with love, devotion and true desire for us all to find happiness within.
Here is the rest of the Whispers for those curious to read.
Love, shankari
71. Flood Me With Thy Omnipresent Love
O Fountain of love, make us feel that our hearts and our love for our dear ones are all flooded by Thine omnipresent love. O Great Source of the rivers of our desires, teach us not to run ourselves dry or lose ourselves in the sands of short-lived sense-satisfactions.
We demand from Thee that the rivers of our cravings pass through all lowlands of humbleness, self-sacrifice, and consideration for others; and at last, reinforced by Thee. We demand, O Thou Fountain of Love, that they merge in the ocean of fulfillment in Thee.
Bless us that the rivulets of all our sympathy, affection, and love lose not themselves in the drought of dreary selfishness. Let the little, lonely, separately-moving streamlets of our love, coming from Thee, at last merge in the vastness of Thy presence.
AUM!!!!!!
Thank you for the joy I felt upon reading this at this moment .🙏
$291 billion and he only bought 200 wheelchairs? Seems kind of a bargain for him.
Thank you, Jyotishji !
What inspiration! Joy felt just by reading the article. Imagine the results of active participation.
Respected Nayaswamiji,
Every Friday I go through your and or Mataji’s writings in your blog and every Friday I try to learn something. Both of you have come to us as a beacon of joy and happiness in our life. Exactly true, more we expand our mind, more we will come into contact with others. We have to understand – we have to realize them. Main thing is – we have to do something for others who require help. Whatever extent is possible, we have to do that – at least try to prepare our mind accordingly.
Thank you Nayaswamiji for writing such wonderful message in your blog.
May Mahabatar Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya and Paramhansha Yoganandiji bless us all.
With kind regards,
Indranath
Very true every month me nd my children do something like this .
THIS SYSTEM OF LIVING WITH ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE MY FATHER HAS GIVEN TO ME AS GIFT.
IN TURN I AM DOING IT AS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SOCIETY ON ALLMY TRAININGS COACHINGS ETC
THANK YOU
HAPPINESS BREEDS HAPPINESS
The meaning for me was that making other people happy makes you jhappy. The me ntion of
heaven wass just her way of expressing gratitude.
This is so powerful. Thank you, Jyotish. What a beautiful preface to Spiritual Renewal Week.
Dear Nayaswami Jyotish,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful blog.
Very touching indeed to read what the kid said to Tata.
Those lines from Master are beautiful and thanks for quoting.
Joy,
Prem
How beautiful!
So beautiful – thank you!
Beautiful….Very moving…. Thank you.
Jyortishji
it is realy very much hear touching and inspiring blog. Thanks lot .
Thanks Jyortish, Really inspiring & nice experience of a great Industrialist.
Thank you very much for sharing a practical & heart touching experience.