Swami ji said …
“मुझे पूरा विश्वास है कि भगवान हमारे साथ अच्छा करेंगे…” “ईश्वर जो भी करेंगे, अच्छे के लिए ही करेंगे…” Words such as these, spoken by many, ring out around us, expressing a deep conviction and abiding faith in God’s divine yet fascinatingly mysterious way of reflecting upon and planning out the minutest details of our lives- for us.
And, yet, we begin every new day of our lives feeling secure, as we do, in the warm comfort of having ‘planned’ out everything for the day — ‘ourselves’- “I will do this first… then that…” – we mutter— all the while feeling rather pleased with our meticulous planning and, most of all, with the heady sense of power it gives us: that we, too, are able to exercise ‘some’ control over ‘our’ lives.
But, if , we were genuinely wise— or even merely smart— it should not take us too long to understand that- “ऊपर बैठा वह नीली छतरीवाला मंद-मंद मुस्कुरा रहा होगा हमारा बचपना देखकर …” And, yet, with an indulgent smile, He allows us those little moments of conceit for a short while- before, almost mischievously, turning the day upside down in the most unexpected manner- making it abundantly clear to us as to ‘Who’ is truly in control.
The bleakest of days, filled with uncertainties and insecurities, can be sailed across by us when we are certain that, since He is our constant companion our’ कर्ता-धर्ता’ He alone will enable us to survive the stormy tide and make us witness, once again, the sunrise—filled with hope, promise and new beginnings.
Once we understand that God seeks nothing from us- except unswerving faith in His pure intent for us— as it is He who directs us, supports us and empowers us to attain the goal that ‘He Himself ‘ has set for us— we gradually develop a sense of complete surrender to His love.
The most difficult days, which we once thought would never see closure, soon appear to be nothing more than a distant memory when, all of a sudden, He seems to settle the dust and brings forth days that once again echo with smiles and the sounds of laughter.
On seeing His child stand firm— filled with faith and devotion towards Him— even through the most traumatic days of his life, He rewards him by opening a new path before him, one about which he had been completely clueless earlier. And, then, as he walks upon this unexpected path, he is left wondering at the marvels that His Grace can create for him.
The spiritual seeker must imbibe within himself this spirit of surrender to God. Every action must be performed with a sense of purpose, but, with the belief that however the day unfolds— and however life unfolds— is ultimately what is most suited to him. Even the bad, the supposed ‘worst’ that happens in life, may prove to be just as consequential and important as the ‘best’ of things that happen to us.
This is, of course, always easier said than done. But, as with most good habits, this way of life— this approach towards life— also needs to be developed through practice and patience. Life will keep challenging our faith and our belief in God. But it is important to hold on.
One must learn to face negative thoughts and feelings by simply acknowledging them for what they are— passing emotional states of the mind and heart that can be overcome. Thoughts and feelings are impermanent. One must not allow the soul to become embroiled in them, but, must instead observe them quietly and allow them to melt away.
Regular self-reflection and meditation are needed to develop the mental strength and inner steadiness required to withstand the great multitude of emotions that constantly seek to sway us away from a balanced and centred state of mind.
Practising gratitude for whatever we have today- drives away the feelings of ‘loss’ that so often haunt us and makes us realise that merely having been given this day is, in itself, a miracle.
By looking beyond ourselves and sympathising with, and relating to, the troubles of others, we are also able to develop a more balanced perspective of our own lives. We begin to realise that problems and troubles are a ‘feature’ of life— that they will always present themselves in one form or another, and that no one is left completely untouched by them.
Such an understanding gradually drives away the thought that we are somehow ‘unlucky’ or ‘unfavoured by God’.
It is only when we sincerely inculcate such practices in our lives- that we begin to realise the futility of worry and the immense power that comes from being able to live free from the fear of uncertainty.
And, perhaps that is the way He wishes us to live— placing all our worries at His feet, while continuing to perform our duties with sincerity; trusting His plan without demanding that we understand it; and going through life with a heart that remains lively, grateful and joyous. We need to always remember that- “दुनिया के सारे लोग चाहें हमारा साथ छोड़ दें, पर भगवान हमेशा हमारे पास रहते हैं, हमारे साथ रहते हैं…”
Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji 