Article published in the Special Issue of "Sadguru's Blessings" - a spiritual magazine published from Hariharapura - October, 2013.
Simple living and high
thinking :
KAVI SURESH, Shimoga
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No
other animal in this earth is more cruel, greedy and selfish than man! Man is
perhaps the only specie who store or preserve things for tomorrow. With rapid
advancements in all spheres coupled with weakening of the family system, this
tendency has become more pervasive today. Concern for the elderly, concern for
the helpless and the needy in society, concern for upholding moral values etc.,
have all taken the back seat. The deteriorating ethical standards of life in
all walks of life, without exception, are indeed a matter of concern to all
right thinking people.
The
causes for this sorry state of affairs are many. Today, the focus of all our efforts
and activities is towards earning money and amassing wealth at all costs.
Mahatma Gandhi had once said: Our goal should not only be good, but the means
to achieve that goal should also be good. But today, people do not hesitate to
adopt any means to achieve the above objective. Our educational system,
mind-set of our parents, the demands of our present day life-style, increasing
influence of urbanization, influence of western life styles, wide-spread
consumerism, least concern for ethical values etc., all make man a
‘money-making machine’! Yes, money is an inevitable and indispensable tool to
eke out a reasonably good living. But, certainly it is not the end in itself.
Many of us are under the illusion that money can provide anything and
everything. It may bestow a special status in society also, though temporarily.
We believe that what we possess in terms of material things will provide us
with all comforts and happiness. But the real question is: What is happiness
and comfort?
This,
indeed, is a very difficult question. The concept of happiness and comfort
varies from man to man. “One man’s food is another man’s poison”! A Writer may find pleasure in writing poems,
stories, novels etc.,; a Painter may find happiness by painting beautiful
paintings; another man may feel comfortable and happy by daily performing his
religious duties; someone may find bliss in daily meditation and so on. No
doubt, there are some people who take pleasure in troubling and teasing others
also! In fact, man has been in the pursuit of happiness and bliss since
eternity. All preaching of our Sanatana Dharma and great saints over the years
and our holy epics Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Bhagavadgeeta – are an invaluable
guide to everyone in this direction.
The
problem with all of us today is that we do not know what we exactly want? Our
mind aspires for everything that comes to its notice. But we do not think even
once whether we really need it or whether we can do without it. The result is
accumulation of several unnecessary things which we hardly use one or two
times. Next, most of the time, energy and also additional money are spent in
maintaining or safeguarding the same. With the slightest of problems in the
process, like theft, fire etc., man loses his cool. Worry and anxiety overcomes
him. Hence, the vicious circle continues to revolve around him incessantly.
It
is high time that we realise that material and worldly comforts are all
illusory and temporary. They may wane or vanish anytime causing unbearable
heart-burn. Ensuring one’s and his dependent’s comfortable and decent living is
everybody’s basic duty. But when once that is ensured, it is time to seek
happiness and bliss within ourselves. Bliss or total happiness is there
well-settled and firmly seated in everybody’s hearts. It is up to us to
identify it first, find ways to activate it and permanently pursue it. Leading
a simple, straight-forward and righteous life, without in any way, harming
others, is the first step in this direction. Living in total harmony with nature,
without exploiting it aimlessly, will improve individual health besides
igniting positive energy from within leading to bliss.
Hence,
the need of the hour is to put a ‘full-stop’ to our wants (of course, relating
to material things)! Our *Sanatana Dharma, great Maharshis, the divine
knowledge (Bhagavadgeeta), life-stories of many exalted persons, holy
scriptures etc., have left behind us innumerable proven and definite paths to
accomplish the ultimate aim of life i.e., bliss and salvation. Most of the so
called elite people today spend (waste) most of their time and intelligence in
debating or criticizing the preaching of our ancestors or our time-tested
traditions. However, the paths left behind by our ancestors are wide, clear and
proven. When we are unable to find for ourselves a suitable path, a wise and
prudent person should straight-way follow one of these paths shown by our
ancestors. To that extent, he is safe, secure and certain! The need of the hour
for everyone is to tread a similar path and attain internal bliss and total
emancipation in life. “Simple living, high thinking” – sums up this discussion.
*Sanatana Dharma means: Eternal Path, Never beginning
nor Ending Way, Perennial Philosophy, Universal Tradition, All-Pervading Truth,
Natural Flow
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