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……… Kathopanishad
says that every person will always get the option of treading the path of
that which is right & good – the Sreyas, or succumb to the path of
immediate pleasure – the Preyas. Those who choose the path of Sreyas will
make the best of their lives, while those to succumb to the latter will
have to pay the price destined for the deluded ones.
……… To say
that everything is predestined is to over simplify the matters of life, and
that also wrongly. We have to realize the nature of our freedom, and the
options which are available to us in every situation. Whatever situation is
got in the present moment is certainly the result of all past actions put
together, and to that extent we can certainly say that this present moment
was destined to come, but that does not mean that everything has already
been written by someone else sitting somewhere. Our real freedom is in the
nature of response we give. We have the freedom to respond, not to respond,
respond in the old way or try something new. It is this basic freedom about
which awareness should be brought about, and about which appropriate
preparations should be made.
……… While
responding to a situation there are various parameters in operation. What
is the ‘real’ goal for which we are working, and, what is the state of mind
with which we are disposed – are two very important aspects which play a
very very profound role to chalk out the nature of things to come. The term
‘real’ goal implies existence of an understanding that even though we
appear to be planning & working for different things we do have some
ultimate goal for which we are working. Lot of thought needs to be put for
this, because our whole life & efforts are guided by our goals.
Understanding of the real goal requires a great deal of understanding, and
that is when the necessity of philosophy is realized. To that extent every
one has to become a philosopher. Philosophy is not luxury of few, it is a necessity for one
& all. It stands for deep understanding of life in a very holistic
& thorough way. This understanding encompasses fundamental questions
about : Who am I ? What is this world ? How has it come about ? What is the
real problem of man – bondage ? What is the way to be free from it – the
liberation ? How is this world run ? How do situations come ? What is
really in the hands of a man ? What is the uniqueness or potential of man ?
Each of these questions directly effect our lives very profoundly, and
therefore should be gone into with due seriousness. Conscious or
unconscious all our perceptions and understanding effect us very
profoundly. Those who are conscious of them have to freedom to change them
– because they are basically their own understanding, and those who are not
conscious of these self-created power-points they keep on dancing to their tunes and suffer
- helplessly. Our understanding of life in fact draws a circle in which we
keep living for all times to come, till of course we change the diameter of
that circle or even remove these self-imposed boundaries all together. We
have the freedom to do all this, and that is what the compendium of the
knowledge of life - the Vedanta, is
all about.
……… The moment
we fix an extraneous goal for our self, then that very moment we accept
various fundamental facts of life. When we think that our fulfillment lies
in some object or achievement yonder then we in effect say that ‘I am
basically a lacking being’ and ‘I have to do something to be fulfilled’.
All these presumptions are completely baseless and do not stand any
enquiry. The fact is that – ‘that’ which constantly manifests as ‘I’ in our
bosoms is an infinite, transcendental, self-effulgent & blissful existence,
and the ‘means of knowledge’ of this is deep enquiry & contemplation of
the basis of Vedanta. Sravana, Manana & Niddidhyasana of Vedantic
scriptures is the Pramana of the knowledge of Truth of life. Vedanta not
only reveals truth about us but also about the whole perceptible world.
Everything thing which is perceptible is in the realm of time, and is
therefore changing & ephemeral. This is an extremely evident fact and
really speaking requires no logical validation. Thus when we keep an
extraneous goal then we simultaneously affirm our presumptions that I am a
limited & lacking person and the world outside is permanent and capable
of giving me that which I lack. When our life will be based on these
untruths then how can we ever expect to awake to a state of cherished
fulfillment & contentment.
………
The
ideal way to live has to be one which is based on the facts of life. The
fact is that I am fulfilled and the world has nothing to offer to me.
Action is only meant to help us serve & give. This alone should be our
fundamental motivation – lovingly serve everyone, selflessly, no
expectations even of gratitude. Our service should be as natural &
effortless as is the fragrance of a flower. There should be no doership
involved. This is what the path of Sreyas is all about. Let any situation
come, never let a sense of lack, craving or dependence enter your mind.
Even if you do not know these facts directly then also it is worth
believing. Holding your head high, with a loving heart, and an enthusiastic
disposition work on selflessly, for the good of all around. Love is a
strange thing : it increases only on giving. The path of Preyas, on the
other hand is one of delusion & untruths. We can certainly get an
object of our enjoyment and seem to get fulfilled, but soon enough the life
itself will start revealing that there has been a fundamental error
somewhere. Lord Krishna says in Bhagwad Gita that ‘Know that to be rajasic
joy where there is pleasure in the beginning and lots of pains thereafter’.
It is like a diabetic eating sweets. It will be pleasurable no doubt, but
the negative consequences will soon follow. To tread the path of Sreyas is
to remain awake all the time, then alone one will never stumble & get
hurt. So let us exercise our freedom and tread a path which may appear
slightly painful in the beginning but ultimately which alone is the way to
real fulfillment.
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