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The Pearl of Wisdom
"Wisdom Study Version"
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From the book, "The Pearl of Wisdom" or "Guru Mani",
by His Holiness, M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen 
(may God be pleased with Him, and with Us)
About The Book "The Pearl of Wisdom"

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Chapter 16
- Original Version -

"The Different Types of Swamis"

Go To "Wisdom Study Version"
Go To "Wisdom Outline" - For "Chapter 16"
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His Holiness Teaches Us:

Disciple:

Swami, O Noble Guru, It is said that the world is great. It is also extolled that there is a God for all the universes. Swami, advise us.

People believe in God and have faith in Him. Do they say this knowing the truth or knowing themselves?

Swami, please explain this to me. How many swamis are there?

Guru:

Son, the term "Swami" is of great significance. It is full of grace. It refers to God.

"Swamiyar?" is a Question. "Swami" has two meanings. First, "Swami" can refer to God. Ordinary men too have the name "Swami", as a term of endearment used at home referring to a son, a child, or a loved one. And the name "Swami" can be used as a derogatory term, for in truth there are "Swamis" who deserve contempt.

However the world is in the process of searching for a "True Swami", saying,

"Who is He?  
Could it be this "Swami" or that "Swami"?  

Unaware of the "True Swami", the search continues for the "True Swami" the world over. It is very, very rare indeed for such a "True Swami" to be discovered and identified. Each household will laughingly say that there is many a "True Swami".

However, there are "Four Different Kinds of Swamis". I shall describe them. Listen

First there is the Swami who travels the earth, saying, 

"O God, you are my Savior!"  

He is the Swami who had lived a happy married life enjoying the worldly pleasures till adversity brought him poverty, harassment, and difficulties. Harmed by his wife and children and despised by the world, he roams the forest and wonders in the desert.

Second, there is another Swami who had lived a life of prosperity, had ruled many countries, had amassed great wealth, had traveled widely with wife and children, seen many things, heard of many things, consumed intoxicants and enjoyed life till he had lost all his possessions and incurred heavy losses.

Now, discarded by his wife and children, and also by his relatives and other people, he has none to inquire after him and look after him. There is a saying,

"If a rich are ruined 
They will not belong even to a dry pot"

So with a distorted mind and forgetful of the earth, he directs his mind the other way to ask, 

"Is this the world?  
Is this how the end will be?

He beats his head and seeks refuge in the Primal One, saying, 

"The world is false.
This birth is false.
My God is the Only True One"

So lamenting, he carries a bowl in his hand and becomes the Swami who begs for food.

And Then there is the Third False Swami.

"This is no birth for me", says the third type of Swami. He wonders with no self-awareness, delusioned by the great earth, fascinated, mesmerized and blinded by the supposed greatness of the earth.

He boasts of his disbelief in death. He shows kindness to his parents but causes evil to his neighbors and misery to the poor, saying, 

"Who is equal to me!"

He charges interest, lives a frugal life, loiters about in a foolish manner, and lives a life like the useless poisonous tree. He is a miserable sinner possessing treachery and witchcraft. He fraudulently amasses wealth and buries it under the earth. He is forgetful of Charity and offers no help to brothers, sisters, children and others. He neither eats adequately nor clothes himself properly.

Such a miser will leave his body and enter the torturous hell. The miser's relatives and people are displaced and his begotten son fearfully carries a begging bowl, loiters here and there, wandering about pleading for alms and searches for resting places in cemeteries and other places.

He recollects the lives of his parents and past generations while spending his days in lazy existence, helping himself to the morsels of food for which he sings daily. He is unmindful of day or night.  

With disheveled appearance and unaware of the way of life, he becomes lazy, eats like the cattle thinking it is the best way to live and the best approach to attain the achievable. He eats what he gets to develop his body. He performs the ritualistic and ceremonial prayers, having eaten like a bull.

He voices the "O" sound and the "Ah" sound of the "Onkaram" as authority. He thinks that within the raw mango is sourness, within the coconut is the kernel, within the stomach are the intestines, and inside the paddy is the grain.

"Is this not all true?" says the Swami.

"The darkness of ignorance can dispel sorrow and change it into a state of 
happiness and cause the eye to resplend. It is surely the night. Dawn will be 
the day".  

"All what I said is reasonable, isn't it? Tomorrow will be a happy day if you
realize it. It is sorrowful to develop the destructive body. What I said was about
earthly happiness".

"On this earth there are many more pleasant Swamis".  

So saying he ends his sermon.

What shall I say about the characteristics of this third type of Swami? Son, I have related to you the special features of the three types of "False Swamis".  

Now I shall tell you about the characteristics of the fourth type of Swami, all of which "We" will start to describe in the Next Chapter.  So, please Listen.

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