Br. Samartha Chaitnya spoke to a rapt audience of 25 persons on Tips for Happy Living in Chinmaya
Jayam on the 7 th & 8 th Dec, based on Pujya Guruji’s composition Jīvana Sūtrāṇi.
Smt. Manjari Parekh welcomed the participants and introduced Br. Samarth Chaitanya. Jayam Bala Vihar
student, Bhavya Eriwal, chanted the invocation with fervor.
Synopsis of the talk:
Knowing and Doing
Samarthji emphasized that one must not only know the book but must apply it to one’s life. It should not
only inform but it must transform us. Every being strives for happiness but human beings have higher
and subtler standards than animals. We have to use our alertness, awareness, and discrimination to
choose the right goal, the intermediate goals and the sādhanā to reach them.
The Goal
The highest goal we can reach is self- actualization, the joy of discovering our real identity. That alone
can give us eternal joy and peace. The intermediate goals we set should align with this final goal.
Mentors can guide and help us to discover it, but ultimately, it has to be sva-anubhavaḥ, the plenary
experience of each person. This is our puruṣārtha, the goal and the path.
Finitude and Infinity
All human actions are finite and can, therefore, give only finite results. How can we discover infinite joy
and peace? By connecting ourselves to the infinite, inexhaustible Grace of the Lord, we can transform
the most meagre effort to a powerful force. But we must make the effort. We can connect to Grace by
surrendering, without reservations, to the Lord. We are only qualified to act; the results come from the
Lord alone. We must accept the results as blessings.
Quick tips
Do not work without Rest. Do not rest without work.
Action without thought. Thought without action. Both lead to failure.
Sorrow is assured when you ignore what you have and long for what you do not have.
Do not worry about the state of the world; work on the state of your mind.
We must always remember that we live in the presence of Bhagavān and His grace.
Samarthji’s discourses are precursors to the Foundation Vedanta course that he will be conducting every
week beginning from February 2025. The details would be shared with the participants.
Smt. Manjari Parekh thanked Samarthaji for his time and thoughts. The event ended with Aarti to Pujya
Gurudev.
