Worry: Bhagavan’s Recipe

In an interview in 1989, Swami told me, “Don’t worry. Always think of God, I am always with you. Have a happy and healthy life.” I am sure He tells this to thousands of people. Look at the words and how we often take them for granted. “Don’t worry” is one of the most commonly used phrases in English. We use it to console our friends, to respond to apologies, and more. Do we mean it when we say it? We often say it automatically, just for the sake of saying it. This is why we take Swami’s words for granted; our mind doesn’t take “don’t worry” seriously.

I commit the same mistake, without realizing that these words are the highest teaching we can receive from God. “Tell me, what is the shape of worry?” asked Swami. He gave the answer, “Worry has no shape, and a single intense prayer to God can do away with it.” Instead, look at how ridiculous we are in the world; scientists and doctors have spent billions of pounds on research into tranquilizers.

Swami once told me in another interview, “Don’t worry about the past. Past is past.” We worry about the past, present, future, and practically everything. Worry about the past is not going to change anything, neither is worry about the present or the future. Some people worry about not having anything to worry. The solution to worry lies in Baba’s next words, “Always think of God. I am always with you.” Someone asked Swami, “But, Swami, if that is so important, why don’t we do this all the time? Why do we forget? Why don’t we always think of God so that He will fill us with His love?” Here Baba smiled and said, “That is God’s grace; for you to think of God is God’s grace. It is His gift. It is His blessing. It is something He gives, the chance for you to think of God.”

~Dr. T. Jareonsettasin, Thailand
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, October 1991