The Common Man's Goals

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Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

“The Goal of a common man is to obtain long life, perfect health and endless

wealth, believing that by obtaining them he will be happy. Poor man, he does

not know the misery and suffering inherent in them.

 

By getting a long lease of life, man will have to see the passing away of his

own kith and kin such as wife, children, grandchildren, relatives, etc., before

his very eyes and experience great grief.

 

By obtaining sound health - both of the gross body and the sense organs, -man

will become the victim of the six arch enemies, viz., Kama (lust), Krodha

(anger), Lobha (avarice), Moha (attachment), Mada (pride), and Matsarya

(jealousy), born of the wild vagaries of the turbulent sense organs and will be

propelled to do helplessly and unwilling though, all deeds knowing them to be

bad and wicked.

 

By obtaining limitless wealth, man, unwittingly, creates more and more enemies,

whose number grows in direct proportion to the growth of his wealth. Hoarding

of wealth will consume all his time to preserve it. He will be unable to think

of anything else.

 

Therefore, man should ponder deeply over the immense harm hidden behind what

appears to be pleasant. On realizing the transitoriness of life, health, and

wealth, man should give up his craving for them and try to obtain that which is

permanent 1.e. not affected by the passing of time and change of place. In this

ever-changing world of objects, feeling and thoughts, what is changeless and

eternal is the spirit that dwells within, and in whose presence the drama of

life gets enacted.

 

Sri Swamiji

Reprinted from Bhakti Mala, May 1983

Datta Swarupa, pp. 142-143

 

 

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

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