“Man searches for happiness and shuns
pain. Even the most refined physical
existence cannot guarantee everlasting happiness or a life without pain. The root of all wellbeing lies in the mind. Once the root is cared for, each leaf of the
tree will grow.” Swami Sivadasananda.
For all of us pain is coming at different
stages of our lives and this can be in many shapes and forms, the mind can be
in a constant battle with the body and with our Intellect, our emotions in
constant battle with our wisdom. The
mind can be furiously quick to react to situations that occur around us without
giving our intellect the opportunity to think about how best to react or indeed
even to not react at all. Words form
quickly and sometimes we regret them coming out, the mind is buffeted by
agitations. To overcome our pains we
must learn to quiet the mind, to be able to be contented in all situations the
mind must be calm and peaceful, to find our true nature that of pure joy; the
mind has to be tamed. Many of us see
that all our problems are the fault of others or of situations that surround
us, thinking if only I lived in a different place things would be better, if
only I had a different job, things would be better etc., this is wrong
thinking. Outside situations and objects
will not bring lasting happiness only fleeting moments the real issue is with
our own minds, and if we can learn to deal with it then we can find what is
rightfully ours – lasting peace and contentment no matter what. That sounds all well and good but how do we
do that? Lord Krishna gives us values as
a means to this knowledge outlined within the Bhagavad Gita, a beautiful
scripture for all of humanity that gives us the solutions to all the problems
within this life. Analysis of each one
of these values shows that each one leads to the same – to attain a quiet,
abiding, and peaceful mind;
Absence of pride – if you are happy with
yourself then happiness does not depend on how others perceive you.
Unpretentiousness – presenting yourself as
other than what you are will only bring problems.
Non-injury – respecting all life forms and
causing no intentional injury to anything in deed, word and in our thoughts.
Accommodation – Accept and accommodate for your
situation and those that surround you, take people and places for what they
are, you will be disappointed if you want them to change.
Straightforwardness – bringing your hands,
heart and tongue into harmony with each other will make you straightforward
with no complications, simplicity can be so beautiful.
Service to your teachers – readiness to serve
creates space to reduce the ego and emptying oneself allows you fill yourself
with knowledge from a higher source. Knowledge brings light and peace.
Purity – having cleanliness both inwardly and
outwardly brings alertness, alertness enables us to watch our lower emotions
(jealousy etc.) and nip it in the bud!
Dispassion towards objects – not being a slave
to something, for example if you like to have a coffee, then ok, but don’t
become a slave to it.
Absence of Egoism – know that we never achieve
anything completely by ourselves, recognize this and we become more humble.
Equanimity – being equal in mind to both
success and failure, actually we could sometimes say that sometimes we have
success and sometimes we learn.
When problems arise around us then I think the
only way to resolve those problems is look within ourselves, or as Sadhguru
states ‘The only way out is the way in!’
Even if the problem is coming form another person, that person is not
going to change, but we can certainly change how we think and feel about that
person, place or situation. A wise man
looks at everything as an opportunity.
Wishing you all a beautiful festive season full
of happiness, joy, love and Peace, finding all the sparkles that lie within you
and that surround you.
Peace to all living entities and to Mother
Earth.
Always Shanti OM Shanti Shanti.
