Four Sutras

Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

Swami Sivananda says, ‘Adapt, adjust accommodate,’ and to that we have added a fourth – accept. So, accept, adapt, adjust, accommodate are the four sutras. Think about each one of them. First is accept; accept who you are. If you are a lemon, realize that you are a lemon, not an orange or a zucchini. At least have that much of recognition about who I am, what my strengths are, what my flaws are, what my expectations and desires are. Get to know yourself and accept yourself: This is what I am.

Then comes adapt. In any situation where you are, adapt yourself to that situation, just as water when put into a vase of any form, shape or design, will take the shape and form of the vase. In the same manner, learn to adapt yourself to the environment.

Then accommodate and adjust. Give space to everyone. You are sitting on a seat for three people and a fourth person comes. You shift a little bit to make space for the fourth person to sit on the three seater. You are accommodating, you are shifting, you are using your wisdom to do the right thing. So, you adjust with everyone.

In this manner, if you look at accept, adapt, adjust, accommodate, and begin to apply them in your life, you will never have to worry about any problem. You will always remain free of every type of anxiety, tension, frustration and remain content.

29 September 2024, Ganga Darshan, Munger