Speaker 1:
Greetings, Gurudev. Greetings to all our friends. Friends, please subscribe to the YouTube channel "Guptasadhak Shyama Khapa.com." The more you subscribe, the better we will be able to bring Gurudev's insightful videos to you.
Speaker 2 (Interviewer):
Pranam (greetings), Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam.
Speaker 2:
Today, our topic of discussion is sin and virtue (Paap-Punya). Gurudev, please share your thoughts on this.
Gurudev:
Look, our scriptures say, when we sit down for worship, we say: "Papa-oham papa-karmaham." This means "I am sin, and I am always performing sinful acts." We must accept this because the "pot of sin" fills up very quickly, but the "pot of virtue" fills very slowly. Sin acts fast; virtue does not.
Gurudev:
Lies work very quickly, but truth takes time. However, when truth finally manifests, lies find no place to stand. It becomes devastating for the lie. When we transition from falsehood to truth, and truth is revealed where lies once prevailed, it is a powerful transformation.
Gurudev:
That is why we say: "Papa-oham papa-karmaham." We are telling God that we are sinners and are always committing sins. We need to accumulate virtue. You don't need to "accumulate" sin; one sin naturally leads to another, and then another.
Gurudev:
Truth is one. If a person commits a murder and admits it in court, the case is simple. There is no need for lawyers or lengthy arguments because the truth has been spoken. But if they deny it, many questions arise, and they must rely on many lies. Humans can go far using lies as a crutch, but when truth is spoken once—that is enough.
Gurudev:
Whether it's a bad deed or a mistake, if you admit it, the judgment ends there. If you deny it, the cross-examination becomes grueling. This is why I say: leave the judgment of sin and virtue to God. It is not for you to judge. God himself will judge. Whatever happens, offer it to God.
Gurudev:
Look, whenever there is great destruction, an even greater creation follows. A creation greater than the destruction. Within destruction lies the seed of creation. Without destruction, there can be no creation. When destruction happens on a massive scale, an even greater creation follows.
Gurudev:
This is why we say: "Anatha-daridro jara-roga-yukto mahaksina-dinah... gatis-tvam gatis-tvam tvam-eka bhavani." As humans, our duty is toward those who are orphaned, poor, aged, or diseased. We pray to God, "Lord, please provide them a path; you are their only refuge."
Gurudev:
One must always think: "I will not commit a sin." We accumulate very little virtue, but many sins, often due to circumstances. I won't say everything is a sin. For example, if a man steals a piece of bread to feed his hungry child, would you call that a sin or a virtue?
Gurudev:
You do not have the power to judge sin and virtue. Leave it to God. You might think that visiting four temples is a virtue. No, that's not necessarily it. True virtue is performed by those who stay and serve people.
Gurudev:
When you go to Amarnath, you see many Muslims and local shopkeepers serving you. They provide hot water, massage your feet, and take you to the hospital if you fall ill. That is virtue. Visiting the temple isn't the only virtue; serving the pilgrims in that holy place is the true virtue.
Gurudev:
You might think you earned virtue by visiting Amarnath, but those who served you—those who carried you when you couldn't walk—they are the ones earning the true virtue. They are taking your share of virtue because they are serving you.
Gurudev:
Service is virtue. Sages say: "Service is given, never taken." When you visit a great sage, they say the same. So, don't worry about judging sin and virtue; leave that to God. Focus on your work. The Gita says: "Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana"—perform your duty without desiring the fruits of your labor. God will provide the results. Your work will be great if God is with you and accepts your actions.
Gurudev:
If someone falls ill, don't worry about whether they will live or die; your duty is to take them to the hospital. That is the human spirit. Those who ignore a suffering person and walk away are missing the essence of humanity. As long as you have good deeds, good thoughts, and a good mindset, everything is well.
Gurudev:
Always remember: if you keep thinking "I am committing sins," you will naturally stay away from sinful acts. Valmiki chanted "Mara-Mara" (death) which eventually became "Rama-Rama." Sages chant "Tyagi-Tyagi" (one who renounces) and it becomes "Gita." If you are constantly mindful of your actions, you will avoid sin.
Gurudev (Chanting):
Om Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnat Purnamudachyate Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnamevavashishyate Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Spiritual Insight
Guru Shyama Khyapa reveals the asymmetric nature of sin and virtue: the pot of sin fills quickly while virtue accumulates slowly. Lies work fast, but truth—though slower—is ultimately devastating to falsehood. The key teaching is to leave the judgment of sin and virtue to God alone. True virtue lies not in ritual temple visits but in service to others—exemplified by those who serve pilgrims at holy sites like Amarnath. Following the Gita's instruction to perform duty without attachment to results, and maintaining constant mindfulness of one's actions, one naturally moves away from sin toward the divine.