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Many of us go through life hardly knowing ourselves often justifying our mistakes. This tendency of not admitting one's weaknesses and making excuses begins quite early in one's life. It is often reinforced in youth as they observe adults around them.

Wanting to be loved is a universal need. Everyone on Earth wants to be treated well. The big screen projects love in a way that often gives a distorted view of this beautiful existence. It gives us the impression that value, love and respect can be bought with fashionable clothes expensive cars and big houses.

A reflection

A man walked a long way through Himachal Pradesh to reach a sacred valley. A place called "The Valley of Gods" for its beauty. On reaching the destination he was taken up with the semi circular range of hills, the grassy plains and the gorgeous flowers in bloom.

He waited for the God of the mountains to speak but was met by silence Becoming impatient, he shouted, 'Can't you say something?'

The God of the mountains replied, 'Can't you say something?' Getting angry the man shouted, 'How rude of you to shout'.

The reply was a much louder, 'How rude of you to shout' Hearing this, the man got very angry and yelled. 'I hate you' The response was, 'I hate you'

The man turned around and walked away, deciding never to return.A few years later, a sage from the valley of Gods visited his village. With anger the man told him about his experience. The sage smiled and said, 'Will you give me a chance to take you back there?' Hesitant at first but then out of reverence, the man agreed.

After many days on foot, they reached the valley of Gods. Recalling the bitter experience, the villager told the sage, 'I will not speak a word. You can talk to him and be insulted.'

The sage smiled and then said, 'Greetings to you'
The reply was, 'Greetings to you'
The sage then shouted, 'I love you'
The reply came back loud and clear, 'I love you'

The sage turned to his companion, who stood in surprise 'See? I was respectful and kind to him and he returned the same kindness.' Many of us make the mistake that the young villager did. If there is a problem, we often fail to look within; instead we rush to blame the world. Life reflects what we give ourselves from big issues to small such as the weather or traffic.

Applying this principle to life as a whole will result in our kindness being mirrored. It need not be by the same people but we can be sure of receiving it from someone, somewhere when we need it the most.

A conscious act of discovering the greater is in us, while seeking our identity with it. As we tune ourselves to the better, thus gathering the very qualities of the higher.

'Love in action' is the heart of all religions. Have a friend to make life easier and richer. Grow to become a person who deserves harmony in friendship. The search is not outside but within. The joy is finding it.

* To help us in this search the Chenmaya Mission conducts innumerable Jana Yagnas, all over the world.

In August this year we are gifted to have Swami Jejomayanandaji who is eventually called Guriji by all of us to conduct a Yagna in Colombo (from August 26th - 30th at the Ramakrishna Hall, Colombo 6).

- Uma Surendra, Chinmaya Mission

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