MIND AND SERENITY - SWAMI TATWANANDA

[Guest guest]

""But the self-controlled man, moving amongst objects (of the world) with his

senses under control, free from likes and dislikes, attains peace."

In that peace, all pains are destroyed for the intellect of the tranquil

minded one soon becomes steady."

(Chap.2-Verses.64 & 65)

 

 

Success in life is measured by the amount of peace we enjoy. The efforts

taken should confirm the amount of tranquility that one owns, or brings in

the peace that one longs to own. These are the two aspects of success and

growth.

 

Every one of us had at least a few moments of happiness and has declared that

"during that period I was happy, but now life is different." The reasons for

this may be due to the fact that what brought us joy is not available at

present or what made one happy is present but has changed and lost the

capacity to make one happy anymore. That means in time, things change in

space and quality without consideration for one's likes and dislikes In

short, time, space and quality govern the essence of our relative lives.

 

Time is the instrument, which informs one of the limitations of pursuits in

the realm of time, space and quality, as well as one's purpose. If one's aim

is to gain permanent happiness, it cannot be the result of one's actions

(Gati/becoming) because actions are limited in their nature by time.

Time-bound products have a time-bound existence. As such, it is not possible

for one to gain by actions that which is permanent.

 

It is here that our scriptures and sages repeatedly declare, that which you

seek - "That time-free Joy - THAT THOU ART."(Sthiti/Being). The enlightened

one sees the "Eternal Silence" as his nature, while the ignorant one misses

it. The gnani, however, does not remain free of individuality (ego), which is

the result of the creation. What we see existing in this creation, free of

our efforts, is essential to this creation. We have no right to destroy

anything (we cannot in reality), but we have the necessity to understand

their nature and accommodate them, true to their reality and utility, in the

scheme of our lives.

 

To have an ego is a blessing but to be egotistical is proof of ignorance. The

ego, which stands for the limited conscious, being - capable of thinking and

feeling and motivated to work - need not be a source of demands and

frustrations. It can remain appreciative and a vessel of that immeasurable

Peace that is one's inner essence.

 

You can grow appreciative and understand the relative usefulness of this

creation, only when your intellect is enlightened to admit the three natural

limitations in your life that condition your expectations, ambitions, and

results of actions. All that you enjoy as a result of action in life is given

by the operation or active presence of the following three factors. (1) Your

effort, (2) The situation - physical world, and (3) Time.

 

Time is the instrument with which Esvara/Creator informs of the "laws of

nature" that governs all actions. It is called the "law of karma." You have

the freedom to act, not act, or wait for an opportune moment to act. But

having acted upon a situation or for a particular result, your freedom is

over. The results may be immediate or delayed and the results may or may not

be as you expected. Life has only these two varieties - expected results or

unexpected results.

 

However, in a seeker of Truth, the understanding that one's true nature is

Satchitananda and it is to be recognized by a pure mind brings in awareness

about the time bound actions/results. He accepts the natural limitations of

jivatvam (individuality) and the relative roles in life, which are according

to the "law of karma." His actions are not impelled by desires but are

governed by discrimination and he accepts all results with tranquility -

prasada buddhi (as Esvara's gift). As this attitude (prasada buddhi) of the

intellect increases, it guards the mind against the onslaught of desires.

This is the initial attainment of spiritual values - the "mind control"

extolled as sadhana in our scriptures.

 

(Excerpted from Swamiji's talks - published in Mind and Serenity-1984)