Living a Life of Penance

Many people ask me in confusion, ‘How do we attain God? Elders say that we must grow beard, wear Rudraksha and saffron robes, renounce our families and perform penance in the forest. All this is utterly incomprehensible to me.’

My conviction is: You need not do anything to attain God. All the joys and sorrows you experience in your day-to-day life are forms of penance. Penance is not a separate entity in this Kaliyuga.

The glory and discomfort, the miseries of everyday life – all these are methods chosen by God to help you overcome your Karmas. If you understand this, you will not harbour the idea of doing penance in solitude. You will start considering it a blessing when others chide you – they are helping you overcome your karmas, faster.

What you are today, continue your life on the same lines. Don’t acquire anything else. Don’t leave anything you already have