Suggestions
to handle desires efficiently
“There are two tragedies in life. One
is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it.”- George Bernard Shaw
It is so true. Often we loose
interest in what we have, and run after something which we do not have or
should not have. In both situations we are sad, unhappy and restless. Our
health, relationships, position, and prosperity - everything changes in due
course of time. To accept those obvious changes gracefully and with confidence,
we need to develop calmness and clarity of mind.
The diverse experiences of life make
us more alert. We learn to be mindful to see things with more clarity. It is
through the ups and downs of life that we get an opportunity to grow
spiritually and learn to take responsibility of our own destiny in our hands.
God has given us intelligence,
ability and freedom of choice. But often instead of actualizing those God given
virtues, we get stuck to one idea or another, and use all our senses to pursue it,
and eventually get entangled in many misfortunes. Also our careless behavior
can cause lot of pain among our dear ones. But just with mindful observation of
one’s tendencies, and by evaluating the consequences before we act, many
painful situations can be avoided.
We know our thoughts and actions create
permanent tendencies in our mind. These tendencies (vritti in Sanskrit spiritual literature) shape our path. As LaoTzu
says, if you live too much in the dark you become allergic to light, if you
live too much in impurity you become allergic to purity.
Tendencies that create imbalance, by
definition will bring temporary excitement, but will likely create lasting
damage to our mind, physical body, and energy (subtle body), and in effect, our
soul. When we lose a sense of balance, our
senses are excited and we often become aggressive. It is essential to train the
mind, even as a child, when the mind is in an impressionable mold and can be
shaped in positive way to have proper control over their senses, thoughts and
actions.
Contentment is a great virtue. But
often we set our targets based on others, and that makes us unhappy, frustrated
and jealous. We must remember everybody
reaches their own goal, according to his own physical and mental capabilities,
and the tendencies they have developed. As we all differ on the point of our
capabilities and tendencies, our achievements cannot be the same. We may
desire, put our best effort, and whatever is the outcome, we should learn to
accept that with a happy and contented mind, without feeling jealous of others.
Bringing simplicity, purity and sincerity in our thought, actions and effort,
we can surely create a happy balanced state in life.
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh says, “If
we suffer in the present moment, we should look deeply into the kind of desire
that has made us suffer…our notion of happiness may be responsible for our
suffering” (Ref: under the Banyan Tree,
page 30.)
Without being obsessed by only with
one idea, if we try to connect with the positive possibilities around us, we
may find some way to transform our pain in a meaningful direction.
The life of a great theosophist, Anne
Besant is one such example. She was greatly depressed to see her only child
suffering from an incurable disease. After learning about the “karmic law” of eastern
philosophy, she came to India and devoted her life working for the betterment
of women and children. She also adopted an orphan boy, named J. D.
Krishnamurthy, who became a great spiritual master, and also inspired many with
his writings and oratory. Perhaps if she had not faced such a misfortune, her
life might not have been as meaningful and consequential as it ended up and nor
would she have been an extraordinary mother to an extraordinary son.
Intense suffering awakens our natural
empathy. It makes us understand that suffering is not unique, it is being
shared by millions other beings. When we feel others’ pain as ours own, it is
the stepping stone to come out from self centeredness. And while it motivates
us to do some good for other suffering souls, it also helps us to achieve a
higher order of consciousness.
This natural empathy can also be
realized through meditation. By relaxing the body, and concentrating on the
breathing, or single pointedness - when mind calms down, and thoughts fall
away, we realize that the life force which is keeping us alive is precisely the
same life force also keeping everybody alive in this planet. That not just this
life force, but this conscious awareness is a single shared entity. With an awareness
of that divine spark in us and in all, we realize that though we have a separate
body and individual thoughts, but we are not just body and thoughts, but interconnected
spiritual beings. Behind the body-mind complex, behind the nervous system or
psychic system, there is one infinite spirit (Atman) which is ever pure
and ever free. And that is our true nature.
With realization of the Divine within,
we step out from our tiny ego, and feel one with all.
Shankaryacharya says in his Upanishad
commentary, “take away the Atman from the world, the world becomes a zero”, and
as soon as we put ‘one’ (Atman) before zero, everything becomes valuable. This
awareness of the Atman makes us capable to establish happy relations with
others, to be tolerant and to be compassionate.
Today’s high pressure world is
breaking our psychic and nervous system, but can be conquered only by the
strength of inner spirituality. But to achieve anything, effort is required,
and it is worth making that effort for this cause alone.
Edited by Prodeep Bose
