The Company You Keep

Question: Swami, company is very essential for everybody. Is it as significant as it is said to be?

Bhagavan: Undoubtedly, good company is very important for every one of you. In fact, you should seek the company of good people. You should run away from bad company. It is the company you keep that decides your life. So, it is said, “Tell me your company. I shall tell you what you are!”

When it is in association with the wind, dust floats up but the same dust in association with water sinks down. Let me give you another example: When you mix ten cups of milk with one cup of water, the value of water will go up. But, on the other hand, if you add ten cups of water to one cup of milk, the milk will lose its value. This explains clearly the importance of the association or company you keep.

In the Mahabharata [epic], you hear about Karna, who, despite his excellence in archery, intelligence, and physical prowess, was known as one among the dustacatustaya [the four wicked ones]. Karna [son of Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas] lost his name and fame because of bad company.

Question: Swami, What is your advice to employees who struggle to make both ends meet, and wish to follow Swami?

Bhagavan: I have advised you a great many times to keep [your] hands in society and head in the forest. You work well when you use both hands. Be very sincere in your work and serve whole-heartedly. At the same time, keep God as your aim and objective. You should keep Him in your mind at all times.

Consider a mother. She may be very busy with her household work, but she never forgets her child. She knows when her child will feel hungry and needs to be fed.

You must have watched the dance program in our auditorium. The dancer keeps two or three pots one above the other on the head, and she moves her head and limbs precisely to the rhythm of the drumbeat. To the surprise of the audience, pots remained stacked  on her head exactly as they were at the start of the dance performance.

How is that possible? The answer is simple. As she dances, the dancer concentrates on the pots over her head so as not to lose balance. Similarly, in your life you may be doing several things; yet, you should ever remember God and keep him as your sole aim. Always look inward.

Source: Satyopnishad, Vol. 2