Q&A on ‘Asteya’ at the Satsang, 19th May 2013

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Q. Why do we get greedy?
Dr. J: That is our natural tendency. A child also is greedy, even though very young.
Smt. H: We are born with ignorance. And with ignorance, we develop wrong value systems. And this greed is also one of those things.

Q. How to conquer fear of a bad future?
Dr. J: Consult an astrologer.
Smt. H: Why are we breaking our heads by thinking about the future? Let us learn to be in the present. Right now, the present is in my hands, let me work hard and make myself better and better Stop thinking about the future. Plan, but live in the present. Don’t allow your mind to run too much into something which is not there, something you don’t know about.

Q. How to console yourself when your belonging is stolen?
Dr. J: You see, the simplest technique is to leave it to God. Have faith.
Smt. H: One of our students who was travelling everyday by train, was wearing a big gold chain and one fine day, the chain was stolen. And she started crying bitterly and came here. It was a very bad thing. Someone told her to complain to the police, her husband was called. Her husband told her, ‘The chain has gone but I don’t want to lose you. A chain will come when required. Aren’t you happy without a chain? It doesn’t matter.’ We can live nicely even without the chain. So when things go away, how are we going to move ahead in our life? Think that without that also I can function. First of all, don’t allow yourself to get in negativity and do whatever is required, complaint should be made, next time what to do so that it is not stolen, etc. We learn from situations. But suffering because of the situation is wrong.

Q. What about Robin Hood theory?
Dr. J: See, these are stories. So you can read more of them, then you’ll enjoy.
Smt. H: Yes, let Robin Hood do his job, you are not Robin Hood in any case.

Q. In life if you have never harmed anyone, but if you find that someone very close to you has left you to die, what do you do?
Dr. J: Save yourself and leave that person.
Smt. H: According to philosophy, no one is close to us. Even our body is not ours then how can someone else belong to us? Chanakya Shastra very clearly says, whom do you consider to be a very close friends? You never know when a person might change. Philosophy makes it very clean that everyone should remain vigilante with every other individual. No one can leave you to die; you have to uplift yourself. Sometimes one person goes and two come in his place. If someone hates you, you will find someone who loves you also. So have patience. If you are right and balanced, you will always get right things in life. If not now, a little later.

Q. Asteya in regard to material and money is conscious, which can be controlled. But how do we realize the unconscious Steya, when that can cause someone’s feelings being hurt?
Smt. H: See, to get hurt or not is your choice. Situations are not in your hands. Why should we get hurt? We should know that the world is like this. Sometimes a person will say nice things and another time bad things. Be prepared for both. Many believe that there is a criminal in every person. But I say, why see the criminal? See the divine in every individual and remain blissful. Just be vigilant.

Q. Giving people wrong expectations is an act of stealing?
Dr. J: Yes, without proper study and understanding of the person, if we start believing too much, person will steal.
Smt. H: Definitely, we have to be very careful. Do not give any such expectations to people. We don’t know what is happening in the future so there is no question of expectations.
Satsang is an open meeting held every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz East, Mumbai. It involves an interesting presentation to the public, made by the students of the Teacher Training Course. Each week, a new presentation of a Yogic concept is made in a simple way through skits and decoration for the general public, followed by a short speech from our Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra.