Satyopanisad

[Guest guest]

Swami! We are engrossed in worldly, problems and responsibilities. We get deeply

involved in self­centred activities. Yet, we pray to God. In a sense, our minds

are fully occupied with mundane thoughts. What is to be done?

 

The Mahabharata explains this aspect clearly. The righteous Pandavas, the five

brothers who spent their time in exile never lost their devotion. Everything in

life depends on priorities. They kept God first, others next and they considered

themselves the last. Therefore, they were successful and are remembered till

this day. On the contrary, for the Kauravas, their cousins, their priorities

were different. They kept their comfort and selfish interests in the first

place, others next and God last. What happened? They lost the battle and got a

bad name. Since they placed God last in their priorities, they `lost.' the

battle. If you have God with you, you don't need to worry. You will be

successful in all fields. After all, in this world nothing is permanent. All are

passing clouds. Not even one is permanent. Know that whatever happens in life,

it is for your own good.

 

A human being walks on his two legs. So he is erect, unlike the four-legged

animals: After marriage, man loses some of his freedom with increasing

responsibility and becomes " four-legged " and his walking pace slows down. With a

child born to him he has " six legs " like those of a scorpion, and with another

child he turns eight-legged like a cockroach and his movement further slows

down. All this bondage and attachment is of your own making. No one made it for

you.

 

In spite of all your riches and positions, remember that true happiness lies in

the company of and nearness to God. You may keep a fish in a gem studded golden

vessel; it will never feel comfortable there. It freely swims only in water.

Bliss lies in your true self. The rest, however valuable it is, leads only to

unhappiness.

 

A simple example for you, here is a glass with water, and sugar at the bottom.

If you taste the water on the top, it is tasteless and the water in the middle

of the glass is equally tasteless. But, get a spoon, stir the water in the

bottom well until the sugar gets totally dissolved in the water. Now you taste

it, either at the top or in the middle of the glass, the water is sweet. So also

in your life, `the glass' is your `body', `water' is your life', the `spoon' is

your `intellect' and `sugar' is `divinity'. If you exercise your intellect in

the right direction, you will experience the sweetness of divinity everywhere.

What you need are peace and happiness. You should pray to God for these two

essentials. You worship Him and serve Him. You aspire to be happy and peaceful,

no doubt. But, your prayers to God are for worldly possessions. So, aspirations

and prayers are at variance with each other. This is your weakness.