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...........!!!
