Swami ji’s Sandesh… “हमारे लिए भगवान की योजना हमेशा सबसे अच्छी होती है…”

Swami ji said…

The varied experiences of life, the endless emotional upheavals, the ups and downs of our personal journey – they are akin to the endless waves in an ocean. Waves that are sometimes gentle and a joy to swim in, and, at other times so huge and terrifyingly stormy – that on being filled with dread – one promises never to set his foot in water again.

One cannot change the tide of the ocean, and, similarly one cannot change the typical ‘nature’ of life – which cannot be understood by anyone. So the question that remains is – “Do we let the waves drown us, carry us as they please? Or, do we strive to put our foot down and stand firm like a rocky headland in a bay – undisturbed by the waves crashing against it, withstand their fury and tame them by our resolve?”

We are, mostly, in our every day lives, surrounded by such waves. Sometimes it is some issue at work; sometimes it is a concern related with family or friends, at other times it is purely our thoughts – that continuously rise and fall in our mind. There is always some matter or another that can cause us to panic, to feel agitated and anxious. That is the way life is.

These upheavals, these changes – all cause us to react. That is the nature of the mind. Whether it is fear, exuberance, excitement, nervousness – all these do elicit a reaction from us in a certain manner. Ultimately, the untamed mind, becomes a slave to these emotions, attached to them completely – and thereby to the tidings of life.

That is what the spiritual seeker must resist. The mind is very powerful, and reining it in is even tougher. The only way out is to seek ‘spiritual wisdom’. And, to use and exercise that spiritual knowledge to its fullest. The best way to begin is to develop a process of restraint. With meditation and reflection, one can begin to identify and understand the triggers of the mind.
For example, when we receive startling news, or, have an idea that alarms us – we are immediately possessed by fear. That is natural. And it is also natural that we have an urge to find an immediate release from this fear. Sometimes this comes out in the form of panicked actions, and other times in the form of anger.

Those engaged in spiritual practice, are able to detach themselves mentally from these turbulent moments – observe their emotions and maintain a cool, calm head. They have mastered the art of resisting
the fleeting urge to react immediately and instead keep a balanced view of the situation at hand – which helps them travel through life – sensibly and rationally. They let logic and reason prevail over emotional distress.

This is also the key to maintaining good ‘karma’. Good ‘karma’ can only be borne of good thoughts and good intentions.
It is also important to keep in mind that these experiences of life – and how we react to them – shape our character. All our experiences in life – good and bad – are temporary, but, how we react to them, how we bear them – is what develops our attitude, our mental fortitude and thereby the likelihood of success in our spiritual endeavours.

In praise or in blame, in suffering or in enjoyment, in success or in failure, in abundance or scarcity – strive to maintain stillness of the mind. True joy is experienced in observing how life unfolds before us, and participating in it in a detached manner. Such a way of living life – brings untold peace of mind and happiness – as absolute surrender to ‘God’s will’- will make us understand that we have to witness and go through every moment of life – the way it is supposed to unravel before us – whether it is to our liking or not – as we have risen above ‘like’ and ‘dislike’ – and doubting God’s plans for us is the last thing that we should ever think of doing.