Date : 20 Sep 2017

 

 

Department of Science and Technology invited Swami Prakarshananda to deliver a talk on ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ on 20^th September.

Swamiji said we should understand ‘Swachhata’ and ‘Sewa’ separately to draw the right meaning. Swachhata (Cleanliness) has to be both internal and external. This internal and external cleanliness is known as Yama – Niyama in our Shastras. Objects from the outside world of objects dirty the external place. Our mind though inside is also polluted but without any objects, then how does it happen?

Mind is nothing but the flow of thoughts formed by past impressions and impressions in turn are formed by the experiences of life. Experience comes from our actions. Therefore it is most important to perform good actions. We cannot be partially good. We have to be good at all levels. In order to perform good actions first we should have good thoughts. To entertain good thoughts we have to be cautious about what we absorb through our senses (Gyanendriyas). If we only take in the good through the gyanendriyas then we will have noble impressions and ensure virtuous thoughts. That is the path to internal cleanliness.

External cleanliness is possible only if we consider it our responsibility. We must be determined to maintain cleanliness at all levels, because inner cleanliness is reflected in outer cleanliness.

Sewa is not new to us, we have heard of it from childhood. Every religion talks about sewa in some way or the other. Our life should be dedicated to the service of the All-Pervading Almighty, for only then will we always maintain cleanliness at all levels.