“Dukh sukh”

Swamiji says ….

” ‘Jeevan’, life – is a kaleidoscope of colours – at times, vibrant, bright and luminous; but dull, dark and grey the very next. It periodically makes us taste flavours – both bitter and sweet ; intoxicates us with the sweet fragrance of pleasure and joy, and then wakes us up from utopia, by emitting pungent smells, disliked and undesired by us – in the form of difficult situations. Life is a book, the chapters of which have a title, but its pages are to be filled in by each one of us, bearing in mind the ‘fruit’ that – every word said by us, action made by us, thought cultivated by us – will bear ; and also mirror the consequences of the ‘karma’ of our previous lifetimes.”

” ‘Humari karmabhoomi – jeevan mein, alag alag adhyaay hote hain, aur ‘dukh – sukh’ bhi humare jeevan ka ek adhyay hai.’ Happiness and sadness are two completely opposite emotions and shades that accompany us throughout our life – form a very relevant and essential chapter of our life – and have to be accepted and tackled by us with equanimity, maturity and tenacity; by neither allowing unhappiness – ‘dukh’ – in particular, to gain an upper hand on us and hold us at its mercy, nor by permitting ourselves to fall into the illusion that ‘sukh’- material or physical happiness will always stay with us.”

“But, yes, that which is in a state of constant happiness – our soul – is unaffected by joy or gloom ! ”

“Life is a baggage of mixed emotions. Elation and excitement could make us deliriously happy one moment ; disenchantment and dejection could make us vulnerable, weak and helpless, the very next. Each moment brings with it something new – completely unexpected and unanticipated – something out of the blue, and we either bask in the warm glow of happiness or suffer silently – blanketed in layers of disappointment and sorrow when something contrary to our expectations takes place, leaving us shell- shocked and dismayed. ‘Aur tab humein dukh-sukh ka ehsaas hota hai !”

” ‘Dukh-sukh’…
Don’t these two words complement and complete each other perfectly ? One follows the other quietly, in a silent, tacit understanding; exhibiting mutual respect for the other, all the while aware that both will enter and exit, at varying intervals of our life. They make way and space for one another, in perfect synchronization, waltzing in and out of our life, at the destined time.”

“Dukh, sukh’ – dono ka ehsaas hona bahut zaroori hai, kyunki dono humein kuch sikha ke jatey hain. Dukh hai toh sukh bhi aaega… Dukh nahi aaega, toh sukh ka ehsaas kaise hoga…Thoda kasht, dukh bhi aana chahiye !”

“It is the stark contrast between ‘dukh’ and ‘sukh’ that has made us sensitive to the difference between them, and makes us rejoice when we are blessed with ‘sukh’ – peace and prosperity – ‘aur uss sukh mein humein anand praapt hota hai.’ At the same time, an overdose of ‘sukh’ also brings boredom as one’s platter spills over with too much of everything good in life. And, then ‘dukh’ brings along with it, new, unforeseen challenges. No one is spared from experiencing circumstances and situations related with both – ‘dukh-sukh’! Be it ‘a raja’ or ‘ a ‘runk’ – both, will see time and tide, either ‘rise in their favour’ or ‘set against them’, time and time again, during their lifetime. One who says that he will remain untouched by unhappiness or ‘dukh’ is living in a fool’s paradise …’ Woh andh – vishwas mein jee raha hai! ”

“Once we accept that ‘Dukh-sukh’ humare jeevan ke do kinare hain, jissey humein guzarna hai’ – are a part and parcel of our life, and grow familiar with the fact that the sky above us will not always remain overcast with ominous grey clouds that loom large and threateningly over us; but will move away and allow rays of sunshine and happiness to brighten our life once again – the journey of life becomes easier to traverse through…’ Har cheez badalti hai, aur dukh – sukh bhi badal jaate hai. ‘Dukh’ – unhappiness will make way for ‘sukh’ – happiness, and vice-versa !”

“But the moot question is – Why do we find it difficult to accept ‘dukh’ – a few obstacles and hardships? Why do we allow our problems to assume gargantuan proportions in our mind? Why do we blame God for the pain and suffering that we have to endure? Why do we rant and rave against everyone and everything possible? Why blame our ‘kismet’, our fate, and hold them responsible for the spate of problems which we feel we’ve been inundated with, for no fault of ours? Yet, it is the very same us who embrace ‘sukh’, happiness and everything that is associated with, our well – being and prosperity, without any hesitation – cling tightly to it, afraid, lest it slip away from our hands !”

“Give it a serious thought. Would not life plateau and become monotonous ‘agar sukh hi sukh hota’ – if everything was perfect and hunky dory with us ! Would we not miss out on facing challenges, rising to demanding issues, developing an iron-will and emerging triumphant, after overcoming all odds! How would we evolve and grow otherwise? ‘Jab ‘farishton’ aur ‘devon’ ko bhi kasht uthana pada hai prithvi par, toh insaan dukh – sukh se kaise untouched reh sakta hai!’ ”

“Remember, the few odd times when we were incapacitated, suffered with body ache and shivered with fever, wishing fervently that the worst was over ! We longed for those days of illness to pass by quickly, and couldn’t wait to feel strong and healthy once again…’Dukh-sukh jeevan ka ek hissa hai! Humein dukh – sukh ko, Bhagwaan ka diya hua prasad samajh kar grahan karlena chahiye !’ “