Follow the Wise

Follow the Wise

The Rishis and the Seers tapped the source through living the Truth. They had deep penetration into the Truth through the eye of wisdom or intuition in Nirvikalpa Samadhi. They did rigorous Tapas and intense meditation. They disciplined the outgoing senses and led a virtuous life. They were absolutely moral and righteous. They developed all the qualities of the heart. They practised dispassion and renunciation. They had no attachment for mundane things. They kicked off ruthlessly all wealth, relatives, wife, family, children, position and status. They embraced poverty, purity and austerity. They lived in forests. They ate fruits and roots. They breathed pure air. They lived on the banks of the Ganga amidst Himalayan scenery, which had, and has, high spiritual vibrations. They did not live in Mount Road or the Mall.

Desirelessness is the flower-bunch in the tree of contentment and quiescence. Desirelessness is the axe with which the forest of this Samsara is cut down. A desireless man is totally free from all weakness of the heart. For a man of absolute desirelessness the whole universe is but a straw.

You cannot practise Yoga living in the Wall Street or Piccadilly or Esplanade, Mount Road or the Mall, breathing the contaminated air of these places, eating unnatural, heavy foods, attending cinemas, theatres and ball-rooms, wasting much vital energy, with nerves under high tension and with ears dinned by the sounds of motor cars and machinery.

In enjoyment there is fear of disease; in social position, the fear of falling off; in wealth, the fear of enemies; in honour, the fear of humiliation; in power, the fear of foes; in beauty, the fear of old age; in scriptural erudition, the fear of opponents; in virtue the fear of traducers; in body, the fear of death. All the things of this world pertaining to men are attended with fear; renunciation alone stands for fearlessness.

Shun honour, respect, degrees, name, fame, power, position and titles. They are absolutely worth less. They will not give you eternal satisfaction. They will only intensify your vanity. They are all intoxicants of the mind. They bring misery and mental disturbance. That is the reason why Raja Bhartrihari, Raja Gopichand and Lord Buddha gave up kingdoms, riches, honour and fame.

In the Bhagavadgita you will find: Humility, unpretentiousness, harmlessness, forgiveness, rectitude, service of the teacher, purity, steadfastness, self-control, dispassion towards the objects of the senses, and also absence of egoism, insight into the pain and evil of birth, death, old age and sickness, unattachment, absence of self-identification with son, wife, or home, and constant balance of mind in wished-for and unwished-for events, unflinching devotion to Me by Yoga, without other objects, resort to sequestered places, absence of enjoyment in the company of men, constancy in the wisdom of the Self, understanding the object of essential wisdom; that is declared to be real Wisdom; all else is ignorance (Ch. XIII: 8-12).

Demoniacal men know neither right energy, nor right abstinence; nor purity, nor even propriety; nor is truth in them. ‘The whole universe is without Truth, without basis,’ they say, ‘without a God, brought about by mutual union, and caused by lust and nothing else.’ Holding this view, these ruined selves of small understanding, of fierce deeds, come forth as enemies for the destruction of the world. Surrendering themselves to insatiable desires, possessed with vanity, conceit and arrogance, holding evil ideas through delusion, they engage in action with impure resolves. Giving themselves over to unmeasured thought whose end is death, regarding the gratification of desires as the highest, feeling sure that this is all, held in bondage by a hundred ties of expectation, given over to lust and anger, they strive to obtain by unlawful means hoards of wealth for sensual enjoyments (Ch. XVI: 7-12).

In the Vishnupurana it is said: If the deluded fool loves the body, a mere collection of flesh, blood, pus, faeces, urine, muscles, fat and bones, he will verily love hell itself! To him who is not disgusted with the nasty smell from his body, what other argument need be abduced for detachment? It is need less and useless to say more.

All men and all buildings will be destroyed in the twinkling of an eye if only a dreadful epidemic is to break out or an earthquake to shake up the earth without mercy. Yet people want to build bungalows in Simla and Mussoorie and attain Immortality there! How foolish these people are! Poor self-deluded souls! Pitiable is their lot! They are earthworms only as they revel in filth. I pray for them. May God bestow on all Viveka, Vairagya and devotion! May all attain soon Eternal Bliss and Perennial Joy!

Follow the Wise – Guidance, Discipline, and the Path of Noble Living

Follow the Wise is a simple but powerful instruction for anyone who wants to live with clarity, peace, and purpose. Human life is filled with choices, distractions, desires, doubts, and temptations. If a person follows only the restless mind, they may move from one confusion to another. But when they learn from those who are pure, experienced, disciplined, and spiritually mature, life becomes more balanced and meaningful.

The wise are not merely people who have collected information. They are those who have understood life deeply and live with humility, compassion, self-control, and inner peace. Their wisdom is seen not only in their words, but in their conduct. They do not speak one thing and live another. Their presence itself gives strength, calmness, and inspiration.

Follow the Wise means learning from noble examples. A sincere seeker should observe how great souls think, speak, act, serve, forgive, meditate, and face difficulties. Their lives show that peace does not come from outer comfort alone, but from purity of mind and right understanding. By studying their conduct, one learns how to live with dignity and spiritual awareness.

Ordinary company influences the mind strongly. If one stays with people who are angry, greedy, careless, negative, or selfish, those tendencies slowly enter the mind. In the same way, good company uplifts thought and character. Satsang, or association with the noble, gives faith, discipline, devotion, and courage. It protects the seeker from wrong habits and weakens harmful desires.

Follow the Wise does not mean blind imitation. Every person has their own duties, nature, and stage of growth. The seeker should understand the principle behind noble conduct and apply it wisely in their own life. Blind copying may create confusion, but thoughtful learning brings maturity. The wise show direction; the seeker must walk with discrimination.

A wise person teaches by example that self-control is necessary. The senses naturally run toward pleasure, comfort, praise, and enjoyment. The mind seeks quick satisfaction. But uncontrolled living leads to restlessness and bondage. The noble ones teach moderation, simplicity, patience, and discipline. They show that freedom comes not from obeying every desire, but from mastering desire.

The instruction to Follow the Wise is especially important in spiritual life. Scriptures may be difficult to understand without guidance. The ego may misinterpret teachings according to its own likes and dislikes. A sincere guide helps remove doubt, correct weakness, and encourage steady practice. Such guidance saves the seeker from many inner and outer mistakes.

The wise remind us that humility is greater than pride. Pride closes the door to learning. A proud person thinks they already know enough and refuses correction. Humility opens the heart. It allows one to listen, reflect, improve, and grow. A humble seeker receives wisdom even from small events, simple people, and difficult situations.

To learn from noble souls, one must cultivate respect. Respect does not mean fear or slavery. It means recognizing the value of goodness and truth. When the heart respects wisdom, it becomes ready to receive guidance. A careless or mocking attitude cannot absorb higher teachings. Reverence makes the mind soft, focused, and receptive.

Follow the Wise also means choosing ideals carefully. In modern life, many people follow wealth, popularity, appearance, power, entertainment, and social approval. But these cannot guide the soul to freedom. A person may become famous and still be inwardly empty. The truly worthy ideal is a life of truth, purity, service, devotion, knowledge, and compassion.

The wise teach that suffering often comes from wrong identification and attachment. They show how to remain balanced in success and failure, praise and blame, gain and loss. Their lives reveal that peace is possible even in difficult situations when the mind is trained and the heart is surrendered to higher truth.

This instruction also helps in daily relationships. When anger arises, remember how a noble person would respond. When jealousy appears, remember their contentment. When pride grows, remember their humility. When laziness comes, remember their discipline. In this way, the memory of the wise becomes an inner guide.

The seeker should also read the lives and teachings of saints, sages, and realized masters. Their struggles and victories give hope. They were not always surrounded by comfort. Many faced hardship, misunderstanding, criticism, and sacrifice. Yet they remained steady because their life was rooted in truth. Their example proves that spiritual strength is possible for sincere aspirants.

Follow the Wise finally means becoming wise oneself. The goal is not permanent dependence, but transformation. By walking with noble guidance, the seeker slowly develops discrimination, purity, courage, compassion, devotion, and inner steadiness. Their own life then becomes a source of help for others.

In the end, Follow the Wise is a call to choose good company, noble ideals, and higher guidance. It teaches us to learn from those who live with truth, humility, discipline, and love. By following their example with discrimination and sincerity, the seeker rises above confusion, weakens selfish tendencies, and moves toward peace, wisdom, and liberation.

To Those Who Wish to Take Sannyasa