Day: May 23, 2026

Swami ji said…

” What will happen tomorrow?” ” What will happen a week from now?” “What will happen a year from now ?” “How will it affect me if that happens?” “Should I be concerned?” “What can I do to safeguard myself?” “Maybe it will be best only if this happens.” “Perhaps I should make sure that this happens.”
Each one of us, at some time or another, is plagued by such thoughts — a feeling of helplessness against uncertainty, followed by a desperation to somehow control the various outcomes of life.

That is the struggle we all go through- most of the time. If we are not focused on the present – the mind often wanders into the future, trying to ‘ensure’ that things turn out exactly the way it deems fit.

In such a state, the mind is restless, fatigued, and filled with fleeting thoughts. It sees a million possibilities, and is frightened by the fact that it can never zero in on one. There is no doubt that one must try to foresee what the future might hold, or how something may unfold, and take action accordingly. That is a wise and practical way to live a successful life.

But, to be obsessed with knowing and controlling everything beforehand — that is to live in hell. Because life was never meant to be placed in man’s hands in its entirety.
His effort? Yes.
His intention? Yes.
His actions? Yes.
But not the outcomes of his life. That was never meant to be in his control. And yet, man cannot seem to accept this- and finds it difficult to understand- that it is only the acceptance of this simple fact of life- that can make a marked difference in the way he perceives life and lives it. We cannot control every outcome. We can only choose how we respond to it.

Don’t the leaves and flowers sway and dance in strong, stormy winds- although the leaves know that they will break from the branches and fall; and the flowers too know that their petals will be torn apart from them and scatter- they still accept all that is happening with them- as they know that they have no control over the climate and weather? Just as a tree bends during a storm instead of resisting it with pride- we too must learn to accept the way our life unfolds- without complaining.
We must not resist all that is happening to us, with us- endlessly. We must learn to flow with it- with gratitude and humility- thankful to be alive. Panicking and over- thinking about any undesirable development in our life- will not take away the problem- rather it will lead to further complications- that would only add to our burden.

The spiritual seeker must understand this deeply. The shock and surprises of today and tomorrow- are not to be frowned upon and scowled at. They are not always roadblocks. Many times, they are signposts, quietly telling us which way to walk in the journey of life. One must learn to observe them carefully, and, be wise enough to understand their importance.

The uncertainty of life may seem cruel, but, to be honest- it is not. It is a reminder that surrender to God is supreme. No amount of intellect, no amount of effort, no amount of planning, and, no amount of hard work can place our entire fate under our control.
What is decided by Him must be accepted.
What comes must be faced. What goes must be released. And what remains in our hands- must be attended to with sincerity, patience, faith and with a clear understanding that – ” जीवन की हर परिस्थिति को हम नियंत्रित नहीं कर सकते हैं…हर स्थिति पर हम काबू नहीं पा सकते हैं…”