The Hindu Article - Transcend likes and dislikes

[Guest guest]

Date:01/07/2003 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/01/stories/2003070100840900.htm

 

Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Transcend likes and dislikes

 

CHENNAI JULY 1 . For all living beings other than humans survival is

sufficient. In the case of human beings though survival is important

to live in the world it is not enough. Man can become conscious of

the higher dimensions of his personality only when he transcends his

survival instinct; otherwise he will remain just a biological entity.

 

Once survival is taken care of there is seeking for something else.

It is possible to realise the blissful facet of human nature through

Yoga. Generally most people function well below their potential and

if it is possible to realise the full potential within the

limitations set by nature human life will be fulfilled.

 

It is essential then to know what the limitations are. Likes and

dislikes limit man's involvement with life. Spirituality is being

involved with life totally. By disliking or liking something a person

is actually closing himself to all those situations presented to him,

which he does not like.

 

Thus man's bondage amounts to his likes and dislikes. If he can do

what is needed in a particular situation that is freedom. For this he

must stop defining something as good or bad and develop the capacity

to look at life as it is. Every situation could be made into heaven

or hell according to the way an individual looked at it, said Sri

Jaggi Vasudev in his lecture.

 

Ego is responsible for man's preferences as he is comfortable with

someone who boosts his ego and dislikes those who puncture his ego.

Hence an individual has to learn to transcend his likes and dislikes.

Anyone who creates misery for himself is unintelligent because the

very basis of life is pursuit of happiness. All that man tries to

acquire or pursue are to realise joy. Paradoxically he forsakes the

capacity to make himself joyous in his life. What is needed then?

Just play the game of life without choosing and stop deciding what is

good and bad.

 

Yoga is a ladder to divinity. It empowers man to become divine and

hence he must use every dimension in his personality to experience

this. Every misery he inflicts on himself is an insult to the Creator

because he refuses to accept His creation and instead wallows in his

own mental creation. If man learns to manage himself then he can

manage life situations well because he will then be in tune with any

situation.

 

© Copyright 2000 - 2002 The Hindu