Are You the Sculptor?* Of your own life…

*You are the sculptor of your own life.*

This was the great mantra given by *Sadguru Shri Wamanrao Pai.*

With these words, he guided humanity away from the darkness of fatalism and onto the luminous path of effort — the true road to peace and fulfillment.

The sentence sounds simple to repeat, yet its depth is profound. Unless one grasps its essence, the journey of shaping life cannot truly begin.

A disciple once asked his Guru: *Master, who are you?*

The Guru smiled and said:

*Aham Brahmasmi* — I am Brahman.”

The disciple paused and asked:

*Then who am I?*

The Guru calmly replied:

*Tat Tvam Asi*

— You too are That.”

The search begins here: Who am I?

When tied to the body, “I” changes;

when tied to the mind, it wavers;

when tied to relationships, it gets confused.

The true “I” is the witness consciousness.

The world changes, but the one who perceives does not.

The Gita says:

“Ūrdhvamūlam adhaḥśākham aśvattham prāhur avyayam,

Chandāṁsi yasya parṇāni, yas taṁ veda sa vedavit.” (Gita 15.1)

*To be entangled in branches is to be lost; the answer lies at the root.*

“Pointing the finger outward is to get lost;

Turning it inward is the true beginning of the search.”

*Forces of Life and the Bridge of Gratitude*

Life is shaped by many forces —

Nature grants us the body,

Society shapes relationships and culture,

Time opens opportunities,

Karma brings forth seeds of past actions,

and Chance offers unexpected turns.

But these external forces help only when inner forces — wisdom, faith, willpower, and love — are awake.

The bridge that connects the outer and the inner is gratitude.

Gratitude melts ego, dissolves blame, softens the heart — and then life begins to uplift rather than pull down.

*Sculpture — Not Creation but Revelation*

A sculptor does not build an idol; he only removes what is unnecessary.

The form already exists within the stone.

So too with life.

Ego, fear, ignorance, desire, selfishness — these layers hide the beauty within.

When they fall away, the inner sculpture shines forth.

*Responsibility and the Path of Effort*

People often say: “It was not in my destiny.”

But in truth, it is not the event —

it is your response that shapes your experience.

And upon that response, your future is built.

Sadguru Wamanrao Pai said:

*Wisdom is to accept reality and give the situation the right direction.*

Taking responsibility for karma means:

• Doing what is in your hands,

• Accepting what is not,

• And consciously shaping your inner experience.

This is the essence of the path of effort.

*The Chisel’s Touch: Small Practices*

A sculpture takes form through strong strikes,

but its beauty emerges through delicate touches of the chisel.

Life is no different.

Daily self-observation, awareness of breath, pausing before reacting, keeping a gratitude journal, or even a weekly digital fast — such small, steady practices awaken the inner sculptor.

*Remove the Veil*

The sculpture already stands, yet it is hidden by the veil of ignorance.

When that veil is lifted, the radiant “I” is revealed.

The Guru said: “Aham Brahmasmi.”

To the disciple he said: “Tat Tvam Asi.”

And Sadguru Wamanrao Pai affirmed with clarity:

*You are the sculptor of your own life.*

To reveal this inner sculpture, one must tear away the veil of fatalism and step onto the path of effort.

In essence —

To be the sculptor of life is to take responsibility,

to continuously refine oneself,

to live with gratitude,

and to transform within rather than demand change outside.

So, the question remains —

Will you still stand in the shadow of blame,

or will you take the chisel and carve out the radiant sculpture of your life?

*The sculpture is already there…*

*You only need to reveal it.*

A Reflection by

*Jayant Joshi*