Swamiji says ….
” We love the world in which we live as we look upon it as our home…Love its dynamic nature, the ever- changing element of surprise that it stumps us with … its colours , the fragrances that it exudes , the different seasons that it makes us experience…the people we meet as we grow and evolve…and we love to live in it. “
” However, at the same time, it would do us good to remember that it is this very world that is the cause…the reason … for the moments of disquiet , turbulence and unhappiness that come our way. When Nature and Mother Earth too accept the changes that The Creator has designed for them … one moment the Earth is all still and silent …the very next moment tremors of a roaring earthquake can cause unbelievable destruction … one minute the placid ocean invites us to swim and surf on it … the very next moment , gigantic killer waves rise from the ocean and devour everything that stand in their way. Can we mere mortals then, feign ignorance to the reality that we will remain untouched , unscathed… by the ‘changing times’ that we will undoubtedly face… as we wade through our journey of life. The ever -changing world … the ‘not in our control’ circumstances… successful or failed relationships with people we live with and meet …
untimely death of loved ones… intrinsic and extrinsic changes…
worsening nature and temperament … physical infirmities of old age …become a major cause of grief, sorrow and unhappiness for us.”
” It is possible that , today , one could be at the peak of his career … climbing the ladder of success with sure footedness. He has a beautiful family … and shares moments of pure joy and laughter with them and is living a wonderful life … enjoying all comforts of life… when all of a sudden life takes an unexpected turn … for the worse and he ends up losing all that was precious to him. He is devastated and breaks down completely as he sees no sign of getting his life back on track ever again. Believe me, this is not the case! Time can never remain the same for any one of us. If you meet happiness… moments of unhappiness too will visit you, simultaneously. One day , sorrow will be replaced by joy. It is if, and when, you are faced with a situation like this that you must remember … the traumatic phase that you are facing will not last forever. It will be an event of the past after some time. It has to pass. It will pass. Never forget the words…’The world in which we live is an ocean of turbulence … and we must learn to face ‘dukh’ … ‘unhappiness’…
and ‘sukh’…’happiness’ with equanimity …not wallow and submerge in grief … and although it could be difficult , you must have enduring faith … remain undaunted… certain and sure that you will not give up hope… that things will work out fine once again…and you will see things happening that way shortly.”
” A poor , wretched man living in abysmal conditions could one day be awakened with the good tidings that he is the winner of a million dollar lottery. Such things do happen. Doesn’t everything change for him overnight…his condition , his position !”
” Why didn’t Lord Mahavir and other true saints …’sachche sant’ … continue to live here ? They gave up this ‘world’ in order to attain enlightenment. Didn’t Lord Buddha renounce the ‘world’ on seeing people die and suffer with sickness ? Life becomes simpler to understand … when we learn to receive both …’dukh’ and ‘sukh’ as ‘prasad’ given to us by Him… with a sense of acceptance and thankfulness .”
Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji 