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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Develop equanimity of mind

 

CHENNAI, JUNE 7. Joys and sorrows are intrinsic to worldly life

and every human being has to face both in his life. Human nature

is such that joys are accepted as one's right whereas the moment

one is confronted with setbacks the person bemoans his lot but he

also tries to alleviate his condition by turning to God.

 

There are exceptions to this general human behaviour like in the

case of devotees who accept vagaries of life with equanimity. In

fact they bear tragedies and misfortunes with a smiling face as

can be seen in the lives of saints and their hardships only

increase their faith in divine dispensation. Joy and sorrow are

only states of mind and what may appear as suffering to the

worldly may not affect a devotee whose faith in God enables him

to bear it.

 

In the life of an average worldly person it can be seen that his

worldly achievements are responsible for distancing him from God.

Wealth, position and power, for instance, make a person very

proud and licentious as he is able to command what he wants.

Likewise, learning can make one arrogant if it is not tempered

with humility. A person blessed with fortune in life must

constantly remember that he owes everything he enjoys to God.

 

In his discourse, Sri V. B. Damodara Dikshitar said that the

Bhagavata Purana in one of the opening episodes highlighted the

truth that it was only in adversity that man remembered God.

After the Mahabharata war Lord Krishna once again graced the

Pandava clan by protecting Uttara's unborn child when Ashwatthama

discharged a missile to wipe out the Pandava lineage. When

Krishna visited the Pandavas to take leave of them, Kunti

recalled with gratitude the innumerable instances when the Lord

had saved them during great calamities and also His reassuring

presence during the war.

 

Kunti's prayer to Lord Krishna is an eye-opener, as this lady who

had known nothing but suffering all her life prayed to Him, ``May

calamities befall us at every step through eternity for it is in

adversity alone that we are blessed with Your sight, which

eliminates the possibility of our seeing another birth. A man

whose birth, power, learning and affluence only serve to swell

his pride is unable even to utter Your name, You being open to

the perception of only those who have nothing to call their own.

You are the only wealth of those who have no sense of

possession.''

 

The scriptures remind at every juncture that human birth is

intended for realising the goal of liberation and hence one must

not fritter it away in materialistic pursuits. What is essential

is to keep the goal of liberation always in mind.

 

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