CHAPTER 20 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART V) – WALK THE TALK

 

CHAPTER 20 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART V) – WALK THE TALK

 

Rationalists, service oriented and devotion minded are the three ways to keep trying to control the organs and associated thoughts. So even if it is difficult to control senses, if every time we become aware of the need to control the senses, half the battle is won. The journey towards trying to control the senses physically and mentally is difficult but if we achieve through a medium of our bent of mind of being rationalists, service oriented or devotional then the same journey becomes joy filled and constructive. The attempts made to control the senses and attempts made to remain mentally unattached with the senses either by reasoning, or by indulging in serving or by devotion bears fruits which gives satisfaction, enhances mood and positivity, refurbishes self-esteem and brings in a state of happiness. Even the attempts in controlling give the satisfaction. 

 

All three mental makeups are capable of giving a person a direction so as to live a happy contended life. The paths chosen are equally good and give peace, joy and lasting happiness. What happens is either we falter in correctly identifying our mental makeup or we dither and don’t tread the chosen path sincerely. We don’t walk the talk. Consistency in approach is important.  There are no short cuts and there is no easier or difficult path. If we don’t choose path as per our mental makeup then we find difficulty in treading that path and we don’t get satisfaction.

 

Action leads to some kind of reaction. The after effect of action sticks and gives happy and sad moments. To avoid any happy or sad moments if action is shunned then also some kind of action takes place. If not anything the action needed to maintain day to day body needs such as taking food or having bath or even having daily ablutions is an action. Any physical activity can be termed as an action and it’s required to sustain our life. The minimum possible action brings along with it good and bad experiences making us happy or sad. The fact is one cannot shun action altogether. So instead face it in a different way by not getting emotionally attached to the action..........keep reading !!!!

CHAPTER 19 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART IV) – SADHANA

 

CHAPTER 19 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART IV) – SADHANA

 

The suffering starts with getting attracted to materialistic things and indulgence of sense organs. This desire then leads to an action with the intention of a favorable outcome. Action brings in contact with things which are external to self. Till the time the action leads to favorable outcomes we are happy and enjoy the outcome. When we don’t get what we desire makes us angry and frustrated. Anger is a side product of ego. Anger makes a person lose logic. Once the rational sense is lost, person gets into trouble. Trouble and unfavourable outcome makes the person sad and restless. This cycle keeps repeating. Every now and then the person hopes, he can get what he desires then tries to control things which are not in his control. He loses the sense of what he can control and what is not under his control. The truth is other than his mind to some extent, nothing is under his control. Actions emanating from the mind looking for a favorable outcome then end up in frustration as the outcome may not be to his likings. To lead a happy life there is no prior requirement of happy situations or conditions. A person can be happy in any situation. It is a choice and a state of mind rather than depending on external factors. Happiness is mind dependent and mind can be conditioned.

 

It is important to control our senses if we want everlasting happiness. We are under ignorance when we think we are happy by as a result of happenings in our lives which are external creations. Such kind of happiness won’t last long. In fact moments of happiness ends when the action ends and we start our craving for happiness and get more and more frustrated. Unless we control our sense organs our mind won’t be focused enough to see the happiness which is within.  Controlling sense organs is not easy. Even if physically we control them it is seen that thoughts about the indulgence of the sense organs and senses gives even more frustration and restlessness. Moreover action starts with appearing of thoughts and thoughts are the main drivers of sense organs. Actions are the result of thoughts driven fueling of organs with the aim of achieving some desired results. We have to control the senses, sense organs and the thoughts behind that. It is difficult but we have to keep trying it. This is called ‘sadhana साधना’...............keep reading...........!!!

CHAPTER 18 - START A BETTER LIFE - LESSON 3 - (PART III) - JOURNEY FROM DESIREFUL ACTION TO DESIRELESS ACTION

 

So even if a person who has achieved highest conscience don’t undertake any desireful action, the person still keeps carrying out righteous actions for the universal good. For one if he stops, the followers will stop carrying out actions. Ordinary people do what is done by the role models and leaders because it is seen that when a role model accepts a thing as correct, the same is followed by people.

 

As per mental makeup of the person, upbringing, experiences (bitter or good during growing up), influences and situations a person becomes a desireful action doer or desireless action doer. Desireful action results in suffering and desireless action results in mental peace. Although the desireless action is better as it takes a person on a higher conscience level, but majority of the persons are entangled in desireful actions for various reasons. They are either convinced or unknowingly follow that path. With desireful action the fruits are sweet as well as sour. Thereby making a person happy or sad depending upon the outcome.

 

A balanced person of higher conscience and a leader should not be in a hurry to change a person’s orientation from performing desireful action to desireless action. Let the person himself through the journey of life discover the futility of desireful action....... keep reading

CHAPTER 17 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART II) – ACTION OR NO ACTION

 

CHAPTER 17 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART II) – ACTION OR NO ACTION

 

 

A doubt arises that – if, a balanced mind is the only reason which results in a non-doing (desireless action) then why should there be an action at all. Only keeping a balanced mind is enough to attain higher conscience or salvation or release. A gyani/ jnanin is a person who has achieved a rational mind. Lokmanya Tilak in Gita Rahasya Book 2 pg 930 writes - “On a question asked by Arjuna to Krishna that - It is then not necessary for a person who has achieved a balanced mind (gyani/ jnanin) to personally perform any action; and it will be quite enough if he imparts knowledge to people thereby making them wiser. Imparting knowledge itself is an action! To this, the Blessed Lord replies that: ‘if knowledge is merely orally imparted to those persons, who have not got into the habit of righteous and desireless action, (most of the people belong to this category), cannot rise in attaining higher conscience nor can they experience bliss. Temporary happiness on favorable outcome and sadness on a setback is all that they get by listening to a spiritual discourse. Unless they walk the talk, joy is away and permanent bliss is unachievable. If a gyani/ Jnanin absolutely gives up all Action, that becomes an example or illustration for the Ajnanin or ignorant (A person who carries out action with attached mind) to remain idle. Therefore, the Gita has laid down the important doctrine that, it is an important duty of a man who is a gyani/ Janin, to remain himself in worldly life, for the purpose of ‘loksangraha’, that is, in order to make people wise, and put them in the righteous path of living a desireless action, leading to joy. Knowing the path and walking the path are two different things. A stable mind walks the path. keep reading .............