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SWAMI SATCHIDANANDA
S. SATCH: Whatever you do becomes a meditation then. There is a beautiful saying in the Bhagavad Gita which says: whatever you do, whether you eat something, you do something, you sleep, or you offer something to others, or you pray-whatever you do, do it in the name of God; for others' sake, not for yourself. Then everything becomes meditation. Meditation need not be only when you go and sit in a corner and repeat a mantra. When you do a thing, do that one thing at a time. When you sleep, you sleep; don't think of tomorrow's activities. When you eat, you eat; don't think of your business. That's why I don't like these business lunches.
L.M.: I don't like them either.
S. SATCH: They invite you to have lunch, but talk about business. Are you eating, or talking there? So one thing at a time, and that too, well done. That you could call meditation.
L.M: Being present, really mindful.
S. SATCH: Be mindful of anything you do.
L.M.: That would also perhaps develop better qualities in meditation?
S. SATCH: Sure, sure, even your daily life will be successful in whatever you do, because you're applying the entire mind on it. When you apply your whole mind on something, you will certainly achieve success.
L.M.; What about the role of the teacher on the spiritual path? You are a teacher or guru. And in various scriptures, we have Lord Krishna, we have Jesus; also the Buddha and Guru Nanak, among others. How can we better understand the role of the guru--one which is so often misunderstood—especially here in the West, in America?
S. SATCH: The role of the teacher is that he should not think that he is a teacher. He is not a teacher; he is living a life and others watch and learn from that. By setting an example, living what you want others to live. But no teacher is complete, because the teacher himself or herself will still be learning.
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