Lately I have been becoming increasingly conscious of the unhappiness (I am not talking about the biological depression here, but, the day to day discontentment that leads to so called "unhappiness" in the average population) that is prevalent in the society, in almost every individual’s life, no matter how blessed or how privileged they might be. This has been disturbing me for quite a while now and as I sit today with the quest, I can’t help but feel sorry for all those unhappy people out there. Don’t get me wrong. I am not merely saying that to prove some point. I have been there, done that. But, at the same time, I have always been aware of how blessed I am, no matter how tough it seems at any moment. That maintains my sanity and has led me to where I am today- happy with my "unhappiness" or discontentment, whatever you choose to call it! For, happiness is a relative term and happiness is for sure a state of mind and nothing else.
I have come to the realization that happiness doesn’t come to you, you have to bring it in. You have to create happiness. You have to learn to be happy. You have to want to be happy.
I have had my trials and tribulations in life and I am sure there are many more to come. I have also lived through it in every which way one can imagine. I have grieved over it, I have been in denial, I have bargained over it, and, finally, I have reached the stage wherein I have learned to embrace it and accept it as a part and parcel of life. I have realized that no matter how tough it seems, there is always room for sapping some happiness out of it. One should learn to live in the moment. The commonest cause of unhappiness is refusing to let go of the past, forgetting to live in the present and being unnecessarily anxious over what the future might bring. What is gone is gone, what is to come will come- we will cross the bridge when we get there. But, what is here and now is the only thing that we can control to some extent. Then why not steer it in a direction which leads to something beautiful and fruitful? Rather than fretting over what is missing or what could have been, why not see what is there and count the blessings? Also, if we stop having expectations, in life and from others, it will go a long way in expediting the road to happiness. Unhappy people tend to play the 'blame game' a lot and constantly reproach either the world or themselves for all the woes in their lives. One should try to let go and just be, living in the present and doing our best every moment of our life...Whatever will be, will be...at least, it will leave no room for regret if we have tried with all our might and that will further assist in maintaining the inner peace that is so needed to be happy and content.
Whenever I start to get bogged down by situations and fail to see the good, I compare myself to those who are lower down the scale of happiness and much more disadvantaged than I am. You just have to look around. You will find many. What seems to be excess for one, can seem to be not enough for the other. Let’s not forget the theory of relativity! Once we realize this, we will learn to see the positive and grab the opportunity to be happy. Create in your mind the happiness you want and, live it! You are only as happy or as sad as you believe yourself to be. Be determined that no matter what life throws at you, you will not let it affect your state of mind of being happy. Take everything with a pinch of salt and find humor whenever you can. If life seems bleak, be proactive. Think of ways to brighten things up. Let everything aside and find time for yourself and whatever brings you joy. Find reason for celebration in the littlest of things. Find happiness in the simple pleasures of life rather than constantly worrying about the bigger picture. Be creative in finding joy. Create happiness.
I refuse to believe that there can be a lack of things to be thankful for in anyone’s life. So, be humble and consider yourself privileged. Remember, there is someone out there who is praying and wishing for the good you have in your life. Life is not about greed. It is about contentment. Sometimes the term Contentment is misunderstood and it's believed that if you are content, you stagnate or stop growing. One needs to understand that contentment doesn't mean that you stop trying for more/better or stop giving your best..it simply means that no matter what the consequence of your efforts, you will be happy with what you already have and count your blessings. We have to constantly strive towards making the most of what we have. Again, it comes down to choice. You have to look for and pick happiness over the multitude of emotions life overwhelms you with. You choose the life you live. So, choose wisely…
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
'Enlightenment'
The other day I was watching one of the popular ‘Godmen’ giving sermons to the less enlightened and lowly souls seeking guidance. To be fair, I must acknowledge the oratorship abilities of the person in question. I was impressed. But, it also made me think. Are such men, who preach from a raised platform, untouched by the realities of everyday life of those leading a worldly existence, really the enlightened ones? Or, are the million other ‘lowly’ mortals, who lead their lives doing what they need to do routinely, yet, unbeknownst to them, practice what these Godmen preach, on a daily basis, trying their best, giving their all and striking a balance, the ones who should be sought after?
These so called ‘holy’ men, have seemingly sacrificed all that is materialistic and have devoted their lives to one common goal of attaining enlightenment and wisdom. Well, the extent of the materialistic renouncement by some can be clearly seen by the wealth they have accumulated in the name of God. HA! But, I am not talking of that aspect here. I am merely talking about the ‘profound' teachings they render to the others in ‘need’. They talk about stuff without really leading normal lives as ‘normal’ people do. It is easy to practice all the idealism in the world, if you can do away with all the duties and responsibilities that go hand in hand with a ‘normal’ worldly existence!
It is not their fault really. I am sure that they genuinely feel that they have something to offer that is lacking in the rest of mankind. I also acknowledge that most of the things they say might be very pertinent and profound sounding. But, I do not, for sure, think that they are the only ‘enlightened’ ones. In fact, I do not really hold them any higher than the other lesser mortals. With all due respect, if I had to, I would put them a bit lower on the rung, because, they have failed to lead a life ordained for them - the life of a human being, carrying out the duties, with all the complexities and responsibilities notwithstanding. How can one forgo the means that lead to the end? Why does one have to detach oneself from all that is ‘worldly’, to begin with, to attain that ‘enlightenment’?
I hold the belief that detachment is a consequence of, and, not means to enlightenment. It is not supposed to be forced upon oneself, but, should naturally come to us, which will be the case if we do manage to reach that stage of wisdom. Many people confuse detachment with self-restraint. You don't have to make an effort to become detached and if you have to do that, it is called self-restraint. Detachment is living alongside of the temptations without getting tempted, and, at the same time, not condemning the same. Detachment doesn't necessarily mean that you give up all that is worldly. It is being indifferent to the presence or absence of it all. And, it promotes respect for everything(object, subject or idea) in this world, however small or inconsequential, and, not abhorrence for them. To be considered above the rest, you have to do a little extra than the others. Not shun life as we know it and then come to all those conclusions about what’s best for the rest! Would you venture out with a person (however great a driver he is in his own world where there is minimal traffic), if he chooses to drive with his eyes closed? Exactly!
I know of people who lead their lives as they are supposed to, and, yet, they have incorporated all that is ‘wise’ and ‘ideal’ into it. They didn’t shun life, but, lived every moment of it, while practicing that. I would rather go to them if need be and learn some lessons, than seek the guidance of these ‘holy’ men who know hardly anything about life as we earthlings know it! Remember? They had renounced it way back when?!! I, also, hold the belief that every human being has been endowed with the ‘higher’ knowledge. In fact, many are practicing and incorporating it into their daily lives, as we speak, without even knowing it. And, even those who are seemingly lost, need only to be honest with themselves and I am sure that the immense wisdom that lies within them will reveal itself in no time. One can reach that stage by mere reflection of what’s within and without. We can for sure use the others who seem to know better by engaging them in discourses which can help us bring forth the dormant truth that lies within. Communication always helps us grow! But, eventually, we have to find it for ourselves. No amount of sermons or preaching can do that for us.
Then, there will be no need to run from pillar to post seeking ‘enlightenment’ from people who claim to have attained it without getting involved in the same process. They might sound deep, but, it is much easier said than done. The ultimate truth might be similar, but, the ways to reach it has to be different from each other. Both follow very different paths in their life’s journey and one can’t quite comprehend the other. There’s no doubt that people (not necessarily these much highlighted ‘Godmen’) have attained wisdom following the other path (and, believe me, it’s much easier their way) and I do not question that for one moment….To each his Own! What I am saying is, to reach the destination we might have to take certain detours which these men can’t ever decipher or teach. Their world is different from ours and so are their means and ends. We must use our own judgment and reasoning as to what to take and what to leave, from their experience.
To put it differently, it’s like the difference between having a perfect plan in your mind and actually executing it. Don’t we have to modify the plan when we start to play it out in real life situations? We have to find our own way around life and following these ‘prophets’ blindly is going to disorient us and lead to more chaos within. Every question has the same answer in my book- Oneself. There are immense possibilities within. The only thing we have to do is to be honest with ourselves. We all already know the truths, but, are just not aware of it yet. Seek thyself and thou shalt find it!
These so called ‘holy’ men, have seemingly sacrificed all that is materialistic and have devoted their lives to one common goal of attaining enlightenment and wisdom. Well, the extent of the materialistic renouncement by some can be clearly seen by the wealth they have accumulated in the name of God. HA! But, I am not talking of that aspect here. I am merely talking about the ‘profound' teachings they render to the others in ‘need’. They talk about stuff without really leading normal lives as ‘normal’ people do. It is easy to practice all the idealism in the world, if you can do away with all the duties and responsibilities that go hand in hand with a ‘normal’ worldly existence!
It is not their fault really. I am sure that they genuinely feel that they have something to offer that is lacking in the rest of mankind. I also acknowledge that most of the things they say might be very pertinent and profound sounding. But, I do not, for sure, think that they are the only ‘enlightened’ ones. In fact, I do not really hold them any higher than the other lesser mortals. With all due respect, if I had to, I would put them a bit lower on the rung, because, they have failed to lead a life ordained for them - the life of a human being, carrying out the duties, with all the complexities and responsibilities notwithstanding. How can one forgo the means that lead to the end? Why does one have to detach oneself from all that is ‘worldly’, to begin with, to attain that ‘enlightenment’?
I hold the belief that detachment is a consequence of, and, not means to enlightenment. It is not supposed to be forced upon oneself, but, should naturally come to us, which will be the case if we do manage to reach that stage of wisdom. Many people confuse detachment with self-restraint. You don't have to make an effort to become detached and if you have to do that, it is called self-restraint. Detachment is living alongside of the temptations without getting tempted, and, at the same time, not condemning the same. Detachment doesn't necessarily mean that you give up all that is worldly. It is being indifferent to the presence or absence of it all. And, it promotes respect for everything(object, subject or idea) in this world, however small or inconsequential, and, not abhorrence for them. To be considered above the rest, you have to do a little extra than the others. Not shun life as we know it and then come to all those conclusions about what’s best for the rest! Would you venture out with a person (however great a driver he is in his own world where there is minimal traffic), if he chooses to drive with his eyes closed? Exactly!
I know of people who lead their lives as they are supposed to, and, yet, they have incorporated all that is ‘wise’ and ‘ideal’ into it. They didn’t shun life, but, lived every moment of it, while practicing that. I would rather go to them if need be and learn some lessons, than seek the guidance of these ‘holy’ men who know hardly anything about life as we earthlings know it! Remember? They had renounced it way back when?!! I, also, hold the belief that every human being has been endowed with the ‘higher’ knowledge. In fact, many are practicing and incorporating it into their daily lives, as we speak, without even knowing it. And, even those who are seemingly lost, need only to be honest with themselves and I am sure that the immense wisdom that lies within them will reveal itself in no time. One can reach that stage by mere reflection of what’s within and without. We can for sure use the others who seem to know better by engaging them in discourses which can help us bring forth the dormant truth that lies within. Communication always helps us grow! But, eventually, we have to find it for ourselves. No amount of sermons or preaching can do that for us.
Then, there will be no need to run from pillar to post seeking ‘enlightenment’ from people who claim to have attained it without getting involved in the same process. They might sound deep, but, it is much easier said than done. The ultimate truth might be similar, but, the ways to reach it has to be different from each other. Both follow very different paths in their life’s journey and one can’t quite comprehend the other. There’s no doubt that people (not necessarily these much highlighted ‘Godmen’) have attained wisdom following the other path (and, believe me, it’s much easier their way) and I do not question that for one moment….To each his Own! What I am saying is, to reach the destination we might have to take certain detours which these men can’t ever decipher or teach. Their world is different from ours and so are their means and ends. We must use our own judgment and reasoning as to what to take and what to leave, from their experience.
To put it differently, it’s like the difference between having a perfect plan in your mind and actually executing it. Don’t we have to modify the plan when we start to play it out in real life situations? We have to find our own way around life and following these ‘prophets’ blindly is going to disorient us and lead to more chaos within. Every question has the same answer in my book- Oneself. There are immense possibilities within. The only thing we have to do is to be honest with ourselves. We all already know the truths, but, are just not aware of it yet. Seek thyself and thou shalt find it!
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