“Why does a man give up easily, without putting up a fight when circumstances and situations get slightly difficult for him ? Why does he stop doing his ‘karma’?”

Swamiji says ….

Man should learn from the tenacity, determination and single-minded pursuit displayed by ants, insects and the tiniest organisms that exist … their ability to remain undaunted, fearless and calm during the most trying and demanding situations that are faced by them. They do not let a sense of hopelessness and despair engulf them as rather than quitting, they begin the uphill task of rebuilding their nest … place of shelter that is mercilessly destroyed by nature’s fury.

Man, on the other hand, magnifies his problems to such humungous proportions that he gets fatigued on merely thinking, visualising and imagining the severity of the difficulties that are created more by him ‘mentally’ … and he relents and succumbs willingly to weak thoughts of failure, pessimism and despondency and simply stops doing his ‘karma’ , blaming everthing else … his fate , destiny … but himself … for the ills and misfortune that are faced by him.

At times , he finds solace in blaming his self – realized ‘guru’ for having been inept at not making him wade smoothly through the vast and wide ocean of life and places the entire onus of his ‘unfortunate’ and ‘tragic’ state on his guru. He becomes idle, aimless and stationary … like a stagnant pool of water … that in time accumulates mud and grime in it. He forgets that he should be like an ever- flowing, gurgling, fresh spring of water that spreads cheer and refreshes everyone with its sweet water … and not aim at being like the vast ocean which, irrespective of its mammoth size, is of no use due to the saline water that it possesses in abundance.

When the tiniest organisms can put up a brave front and work on uphill tasks courageously, why can’t man be infused with enthusiasm and positive energy to confront the challenges that come his way … with the same vigour and faith and prove that he is worthy of being called God’s most intelligent and marvellous creation!