Positive Aids to Peace of Mind-1 By Sri. N. Ananthanarayan

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Dear Members,IntroductionIt is common knowledge that good health and economicsecurity are a " must " for peace of mind. But havingboth, many are still in a state of perpetual mentalrestlessness. Do you belong to this category? If you say " Yes, " then read on. The chances are that yourtrouble is mostly of your own making and thereforeavoidable. Let us see how.Do Not Criticize Anybody or AnythingDo you interfere too often in the affairs of others? May be they are wrong. But why should you be disturbedon that account? Do not criticize anybody or anything.God has not delegated to you the authority to sit injudgment over others. All men act the way they do because they are prompted that way by the God withinthem. It is a good rule to mind your own business tokeep your peace.Mind your own business. An excellent dictum to followfor the man who prizes peace of mind above everything else. Nothing in this world requires your attention.There is a God to look after everything in fact. Helooks after you as well. Do not forget this fact.Let me repeat: Mind your own business. Do not

criticize anybody or anything. Criticism is tantamountto blasphemy. Why? Because whatever happens happens bythe Will of God. Nothing can happen without theconcurrence of God. The fact that something hashappened—no matter whether it is good or bad from your point of view—is in itself proof positive that it hasGod's approval. And if you criticize the happening,you are questioning the Will of God, the Wisdom ofGod, the justice of God. Do not do that. You will keep your peace.Be HumbleGod sees things by the whole. Man sees things byparts. God sees happenings over the three periods oftime. Man sees events only in the present, isolatedfrom the past and the future. That is why man sees discord where God sees harmony. Man sees lack of logicwhere God finds perfect logic. Put yourself in theplace of God. Feel you are God. Feel that the entireuniverse is your creation and operates by your will. At once you will feel tremendous peace and strengthsurging within you.You say others insult you without reason, injure youwithout cause. Even if that is true, do not getagitated. Face the situation calmly. You will find that calmness can be a powerful weapon to overcomedifficult situations. Shut your eyes to insults. Letothers think what they like, say what they like. Thisis a world of ignorant people. You be wise. Be humble before everybody. Be humble in every situation. Thiswill be possible if you give up the idea ofinferiority and superiority and learn to see God ineverybody and everything " God wills it so. So be it. " : Say that to yourself and keep quiet in the face ofinsults. Be unruffled. If you put up with insults, youwill grow in humility and purity. You will growspiritually rich.Forget and ForgiveDo not develop ill-feeling inside your heart for the man who has insulted you or injured you. This is worsethan open anger. This is mental cancer. Do not nourishgrievances. Forget and forgive. This is not just anidealistic maxim. This is the only way to retain your peace. The habit of nurturing grievances is highlyinjurious to one's own self. You will lose sleep. Youwill poison your blood. You will develop bloodpressure and neurasthenia. After all, the injury or

insult was done to you once. Now it is past. It is all over. It is spilt milk. Why do you want to perpetuatethe misery of that injury or insult by constantlyremembering it? Why do you want to feed the dying

embers of hatred and ill-will? Is it not highfoolishness? The span of human life is so short that you cannot afford to waste time and life in suchtrifles. Get over the bad habit. The best way to do sois to keep yourself ever busy in any work which

absorbs your interest. You can gain peace of mind ifyou actively follow a calling or profession, or evenhobby, which holds your interest. You will then have asense of fulfillment, of achievement. Remember the

proverb: Man does not live by bread alone. If you can afford it, and if you value peace of mind more thanmoney, you would even do well to take to a calling orjob which you like but which is monetarily less

rewarding than one which you dislike all the time butmonetarily more rewarding.Do Not Aspire for Worldly ThingsDo not aspire for worldly glory, worldly recognition.This is the surest way to mental and physical

restlessness. Why do you crave for recognition by others? The " others " are mostly ignorant people. Themost successful men of the world are often men oflittle real wisdom. Why do you place so much value on

their recognition? Instead, aspire for God's blessings, the blessings of wise men of saintly souls.That is worth earning, worth striving for.Do not attach much importance to public opinion.Public opinion is often wrong. Attach importance to

moral values, codes of conduct, scriptural teachings, opinion of saints and holy men. You can never gowrong.Never Be JealousJealousy often disturbs peace of mind. Are you jealousof somebody? Jealousy is a canker. It is incorrect to

imagine that A has blocked your promotion in office or that B has ruined you by competing in the samebusiness. Again and again remember: no one can make ormar your career. Your career and your life are shaped

by your previous Karma. If you are destined to rise, not all the world can stop it. If you are not sodestined, not all the world can help you to come upeither. Each man is governed by his own destiny. Each

man's life is independent, though seeminglyinterdependent with the lives of others. Remember this. Understand this point well. Never again bejealous of others or blame others for your misfortune.

Purify YourselfMay be, you are fed up with your environment whichdisturbs your peace. Instead of trying to change the environment—the chances are you may fail—changeyourself for the better. Purify yourself. As you do

this, even the environment which has remained bad foryou, may be for years, will mysteriously begin todance and change for the better. The more you grow in purity, the more congenial and harmonious the

environment will become. Do not ask. " How? " . Try andexperience. Try and experience, friend.Put up with things. What cannot be cured has to beendured. Endure cheerfully. Learn to live with a hundred inconveniences, annoyances, irritations from

morn till midnight. You will gain in patience, ininner strength, in will-power. You will turndisadvantage into an advantage.Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Regards!!! Will Continue !!!-- ! Jai Gurudev !