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

 

Orient all actions to the spiritual goal

 

CHENNAI, FEB. 8. In worldly life human beings mistake the absence

of sorrow as joy and even these pleasures they enjoy are

fleeting. If we pause to consider anything which is a source of

joy it will become apparent that there is nothing which can give

us unadulterated happiness. That which gives joy at one time may

turn out to be sorrowful at another time. This fact should make

one realise the evanescence of worldly pleasures and pursue that

will bestow eternal joy - realisation of one's spiritual nature.

 

Spiritual life involves only a reorientation of one's actions to

God and hence it is not divorced from worldly life. The transient

nature of human life must further spur a person to strive for

realising the spiritual goal without postponing it to one's old

age as there is no guarantee about anything we enjoy in this

world like one's health, wealth and mental and intellectual

capabilities.

 

The transcient nature of human life has been tellingly portrayed

in the Mahabharata couched in Yudishtra's reply to the god of

death, Yama, who had come disguised as a Yaksha to the question,

``What is the most wonderful thing in the world?'' He replied,

``Day after day there enter into the temple of death countless

lives. Looking at this spectacle, the rest of them, those who

remain, believe themselves to be permanent, immortal. Can

anything be more wonderful than this?''

 

In his discourse, Sri B. Sundar Kumar said that uncertainty of

human life must not remain at the level of understanding but must

transform into positive action in an individual's life so that

every possible moment was devoted to spiritual pursuit. This

conviction will further put a stop to craving for worldly

pleasures as they only distance one from spiritual practices by

diverting the mind.

 

So it becomes imperative that spiritual pursuit be made the pivot

of human life by orienting all activities to realisation of God.

This needs only a shift in one's priorities as the same day-to-

day pursuits can be focussed towards this goal. The three

practices of listening to God's glory, chanting the Divine names

and remembering God while engaged in any activity have been

enjoined in the scriptures for enhancing one's devotion to God

and they do not have any rigid procedures for adoption. They can

be practised by one and all at any place or any time.

 

Adi Sankara opens his hymn, Bhaja Govindam, with the refrain

``Sing the glory of Govinda'' which has a tone of anguish perhaps

to indicate to those who are engrossed in worldly pursuits that

they are wasting the precious time at their disposal without

engaging in devotional activities.

 

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