सही मार्ग हमेशा आसान नहीं होता

 “सही मार्ग हमेशा आसान नहीं होता 

और आसान मार्ग हमेशा सही नहीं होता।”

                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~

सत्य का मार्ग प्राय आसान, विलासमय और आरामदायक नहीं होता। 

इसके लिए प्रयास, समय और धैर्य की ज़रुरत होती है। 

सत्य आराम का नहीं — जागरण का वादा करता है 

हमें वास्तविकता के साथ सामंजस्य में लाता है और हमें सच्चाई से जोड़ता है। 

दूसरी ओर, ये ज़रुरी नहीं कि आसान और सुविधाजनक मार्ग हमेशा सही ही हो। 

हो सकता है कि वह कुछ देर के लिए आकर्षक, सहज और सुखद महसूस हो, 

पर सम्भव है कि वह हमें सत्य की प्राप्ति के लिए सही और आवश्यक साधना से दूर ले जाए।  

धर्म हमसे सुविधा नहीं, बल्कि सत्य को चुनने की प्रेरणा देता है। 

धर्म यह नहीं कहता कि हम वह चुनें जो आसान और सुविधाजनक हो, बल्कि वह चुनें जो सही हो। 

आसान और सुविधाजनक धारणाएं मन को तुरंत राहत देती हैं और अहंकार को भी पोषित करती हैं, पर सत्य टिकाऊ होता है और स्थायी स्पष्टता प्रदान करता है।

वह चरित्र को गढ़ता है, समझ और ज्ञान को गहरा करता है, और हमें सत्यनिष्ठा व आंतरिक शांति की ओर ले जाता है।

अंततः प्रश्न यह नहीं कि क्या आसान है -- 

        बल्कि सत्य और सही क्या है। 

                    " राजन सचदेव "

The right path is not always easy

" The right path is not always easy,

And the easy path may not always be right".

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~

The path of truth is rarely comfortable. 

It demands effort, time, and patience.

Truth does not promise comfort; it promises awakening and aligns us with what is real. 

The path of comfort, on the other hand, is rarely true.

It may feel appealing, effortless, and pleasant at the moment, but it may turn us away from what is right—and what is necessary. 

Dharma does not ask us to choose what is convenient, but what is right. 

Easy and convenient concepts provide immediate relief to the mind and also nourish the ego.  

However, the truth endures and offers lasting clarity. 

It shapes character, deepens understanding, and leads us toward integrity and inner peace.

In the end, it's not about what is easy, but what is right. 

                                                   " Rajan Sachdeva "

Every memory is not worth saving हर याद सहेजने लायक नहीं होती

Not every memory deserves to be saved. 

Every memory is not worth saving 

Save and cherish only those memories 

that put a twinkle in your eyes and a smile on your face, 

- Not tears in your eyes and a frown on your forehead.

हर याद सहेजने लायक नहीं होती। 

और ये ज़रुरी भी तो नहीं कि हर याद को संजो कर रखा जाए। 

सिर्फ़ उन्हीं यादों को सहेजें और संजोएं

जो आपकी आँखों में चमक और चेहरे पर मुस्कान लाएँ, 

न कि आँखों में आंसू और माथे पर त्योरियां। 

Battles are not won with a broken spirit

"Battles are not won with a broken spirit
Nor is the mind conquered merely by winning battles.”

          (Atal Bihari Vajpaeyi - Former Prime Minister of India) 

Half-hearted minds do not succeed.
An already defeated mind cannot win the battlefield.

And hollow victories do not win hearts - 

Winning the battlefield does not necessarily mean winning the minds of the conquered. 

In any sphere of life, success can be achieved only by working with full commitment, full conviction, and a focused mind—not with a defeated or half-hearted mind and a divided intent.

At the same time, it points to another important truth: victories alone do not conquer minds.
Merely winning a battle or gaining victory in a debate or intellectual contest does not mean one has won people’s hearts.
Hearts are won only through compassion, love, and goodwill towards all.
                               " Rajan Sachdeva "

मन हारकर मैदान नहीं जीते जाते

"मन हारकर मैदान नहीं जीते जाते 

      और न ही मैदान जीतने से मन जीते जाते हैं "

                  (श्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी -पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री) 

जीवन के किसी भी क्षेत्र में आत्मविश्वास के साथ पूरी तरह मन लगा कर काम करने से ही सफलता प्राप्त की जा सकती है -

 - हारे हुए अथवा अधूरे मन से काम करने से नहीं।

दूसरी तरफ, इस बात की ओर भी संकेत है कि केवल युद्ध जीत लेने से - 

- या किसी बहस अथवा शास्त्रार्थ में विजय प्राप्त कर लेने से ही लोगों के मन को नहीं जीता जा सकता। 

मन तो केवल करुणा प्रेम और सद्भाव से ही जीते जा सकते हैं।  

                                             " राजन सचदेव "

जो बीत गया That which has passed

जो बीत गया 

उस का विषाद मत कीजिए 

जो बचा है 

उसे बर्बाद मत कीजिए 

     ~~~~~~~~~~~

Jo beet gayaa 

Us ka vishaad mat keejiye 

Jo bachaa hai

Us ko barbaad mat keejiye

     ~~~~~~~~~~~

Do not grieve over what has passed,

Do not waste the time that still remains.

सर्वेषां स्वस्तिर्भवतु (A Sanatan Vedic Prayer) May everyone be well & prosper

एक सनातन वैदिक प्रार्थना: 

सर्वेषां स्वस्तिर्भवतु ।

सर्वेषां शान्तिर्भवतु ।

सर्वेषां पूर्णं भवतु ।

सर्वेषां मंगलं भवतु ॥ 

 अर्थात:

सबका (हर प्राणी का) भला हो।

सबके जीवन में शांति बनी रहे।

सब के जीवन में पूर्णता हो।

सबके जीवन में आनंद मंगल हो।

                  A Sanatan Vedic Prayer: 

Sarvesham Svastirbhavatu 

Sarvesham Shantirbhavatu 

Sarvesham Poornam bhavatu 

Sarvesham Mangalam bhavatu 

Meaning: 

May everyone (every living being) be well.

May peace prevail in everyone's life.

May everyone's life be fulfilling and content.

May there be joy and prosperity in everyone's life.

जो नहीं समझते उन्हें मत समझाइए Don't explain if they don't understand you

जो आपको नहीं समझते उन्हें मत समझाइए

वो नहीं मानेंगे - चाहे कितना भी मनाइए 

समंदर खारा है और वो खारा ही रहेगा 

आप चाहे उसमें कितनी भी शक़्कर मिलाइए 

                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jo aap ko nahin samajhtay unhen mat samjhaaiye 

Vo nahin maanengay - chaahay kitna bhee manaaiye 

Samandar khaara hai - aur vo khaara hee rahega 

Aap chaahay us men kitni bhee shakkar milaaiye 

                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't try to explain yourself to those who don't understand you.

They won't listen, no matter how much you try to convince them.

The sea is salty, and it will remain salty 

No matter how much sugar you add to it.

                             " Rajan Sachdeva "

जब नाव जल में छोड़ दी When launched the boat into water

जब नाव जल में छोड़ दी
तूफ़ान में ही मोड़ दी
दे दी चुनौती सिंधु को
फिर धार क्या मझधार क्या

कह मृत्यु को वरदान ही
मरना लिया जब ठान ही
फिर जीत क्या फिर हार क्या

जब छोड़ दी सुख की कामना
आरंभ कर दी साधना
संघर्ष पथ पर बढ़ चले
पिर फूल क्या अंगार क्या

संसार का पी पी गरल
जब कर लिया मन को सरल
भगवान शंकर हो गए
फिर राख क्या श्रृंगार क्या 

                 "हरिवंशराय बच्चन"

      Roman script

Jab naav jal mein chhod dee
Toofaan mein hee mod dee
day dee chunauti Sindhu ko
Phir dhaar kya majhadhaar kya

keh mrityu ko vardaan hee
Marnaa liya jab thaan hee
Phir jeet kya phir haar kya

Jab chhod dee sukh ki kaamnaa
Aarambh kar dee Saadhnaa
Sangharsh path par badh chalay
Phir phool kya Angaar kya

Sansaar ka pee pee garal
Jab kar liya man ko Saral
Bhagvaan Shankar ho gaye
Phir raakh kya shringaar kya
              "Harivansh Rai Bachchan"
Sindhu = Ocean
Garal = Poison
                 

                 English translation

When the boat was launched into the water
And it was steered right into the storm
When the vast ocean was thrown a challenge
Then the current or the whirlpool is all the same

When dying is considered a boon - a blessing
And embracing death has been resolved upon
Then victory or defeat is all the same 

When the desire for comfort was abandoned
And the path of spiritual discipline was chosen
When the journey on the path of struggle was undertaken
The flowers or embers are all the same

Having drunk the poison of the world 
When the mind became pure and simple
When one became like Lord Shankar himself
Then ash or adornment is all the same
             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          "Rajan Sachdeva 

Translated from original Hindi Poetry by: Harivansh Rai Bachchan 

Hesitant to Praise but Quick to Criticize

We are often too quick to criticize and too slow to appreciate.
When someone says something wise or does something good, we rarely take the time to acknowledge it and often hesitate to praise them by making some excuse.
We don't even want to discuss it or mention it to others.
And when we do feel like sharing something admirable, we hide the person’s name —
as if praising them might somehow diminish us and lower our dignity in front of them.

On the other hand, when someone says or does something we don't like, our response is immediate. We question, criticize, gossip, and amplify it.
As they say: Faults spread faster than virtues.

The New Testament reminds us:
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye,
and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
(New Testament - Luke 6:41)

The 15th-century Sant Sant Ren ji expressed the same truth with striking clarity:
"But Beej sum Par-Avgun Jin ko kar to man meru dikhaavay
Meru sum apno avagun Tin ko kar tu But-Beej janaavay
Eem Santan 'Ren' Kahay man syon Par-avagun dhaamp tab-hi Sukh Paavay."*

Meaning: 
"O mind, you magnify the faults of others and present to the world as a mountain even if they are as small as a mustard seed,
And your own faults, even if as large as a mountain, you make them seem as small as a mustard seed.
Thus says Sant ‘Ren’: Only by ignoring and concealing the faults of others can the mind attain peace and true joy."

This wisdom is timeless and universal.
We always magnify the shortcomings of others and minimize our own.
*He further said that the opposite is also true.
We magnify our qualities and good deeds while minimizing the virtues and good deeds of others.
However, peace does not come from reforming others or correcting the world—it comes from reforming ourselves.

Instead of constantly blaming and criticizing others, we should turn our attention inward. 

Our real work lies in observing our own thoughts, refining our own actions, and overcoming our own weaknesses.
Because in the end -
We are responsible only for ourselves, not for others.
                        " Rajan Sachdeva "