I observe the utter lack of practice in all fields of life around me while people only preach. We must understand that true power in words come not by speaking them eloquently but by the power of inner experience and conviction. And when we only preach and not practice, our words have no power or value. We also mislead others and inevitably we will get caught and are exposed as frauds. Each time we speak something, we are judged by all around us and when our behavior does not match our speech and advice, we are found wanting and criticized. Even a small two year old child has the intelligence to point out to its parent: But you do not do as you tell me to do!
When we are at study or home or at work etc, practicing what we preach is important. In the path of God, there is NO other way but to practice what we preach. Else we are mere talking texts which do not have the sweetness and flavour of Divinity. When we are a teacher or guide or a monk, we need to take special care in practicing what we preach so that we are above reproach. Any teaching is done ONLY by example of practice and not by mere words. And at some point of life or other, we also teach others by our example of practise. The following story set in times of Buddha speaks of the importance of practicing what we preach:
A buddhist monk was an eloquent preacher. He preached to others not to be greedy but be content with what they had even if it was less. But he did not practice what he preached. Once he went to a village monastery and gave extremely inspirational discourses. The villagers were so impressed that they asked the monk to stay at the village for the vassa – the three months of rains when monks stay in one place. He asked them how many robes would be gifted to him at the end of the vassa and was told only one. So he decided to find a more suitable place.
Before the monk set out for another monastery, he left a pair of his slipper behind ‘to book’ his place for the vassa. At the next monastery, he found out that the monks would get two robes for spending the vassa. So he left his staff there to book his place. At the third monastery, he understood that the monks would receive three robes. So he left his water bottle in this place. Finally he reached a rich monastery where he learnt that the monks would receive four robes each. He happily spent the vassa here and at the end of the three months collected the four new robes. Then he went to the earlier monasteries and collected his share of robes and his personal items which he had left there for booking his place. Then he returned to his own monastery.
On the way back, the greedy monk saw two other monks arguing about how to divide two robes and an expensive blanket between them. They were unable to find a solution and they were looking out for a third party to arbitrate and settle the matter between them. The monk said that he would willingly help them and render service unto Buddha by doing so. He distributed one robe to each monk and took the rich blanket for himself as payment for his trouble. The two monks who were cheated by the greedy monk were very unhappy and complained to Buddha about the first monk. Buddha sent for the monk and reprimanded him for his behaviour.
Buddha said: If you want to teach others, teach yourself first. Practice and experience what you preach and then teach. Establish yourself in what is right and proper and then teach others. Your character and behaviour should be clean and pure. None should complain about you. You should be a benchmark to all. So let us practice what we preach. Let us practise the SitaRam Mantra and Meditation daily and follow the teachings of the Guru. Then our words and example will have power to influence others in a positive manner.
