Peace, Happiness and the Perplexities of Life

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

Many times people are worried about their difficulties and despondency in life. Usually they winder how they can attain peace and happiness. Nowadays peace is a very rare commodity in the world. Everyone is looking for it, whether one is an individual, or a nation. On the individual level we find many people are experiencing turmoil and confusion from within, which prevents them from experiencing any happiness and peace.In the Bhagavad Gita we find that the great warrior Arjuna was also experiencing similar turmoil and despondency in life. Actually Arjuna was faced with a situation that none of us could bear or tolerate. He was the greatest warrior on the planet, yet he broke down in tears when he saw his relatives lined up for battle. Sanjaya describes the scene as follows:

tam tatha krpayavistamasru-purnakuleksanam

"Arjuna was filled with compassion, and his mind was depressed. His eyes were full of tears."This was not an ordinary person. This was the greatest fighter of the world, crying on the battlefield. What inner turmoil would it have taken to bring Arjuna to such a position? Arjuna describes his feelings at that time to Lord Krishna :

dristvemam sva-janam Krishnayuyutsum samupasthitamsidanti mama gatranimukham ca parisusyati

"My dear Krishna, seeing my friends and relatives present before me in such a fighting spirit, I feel the limbs of my body quivering and my mouth drying up."

vepathus ca sarire meroma-harsas ca jayategandivam sramsate hastattvak caiva paridahyate

"My whole body is trembling, my hair is standing on end, my bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning."

na ca saknomy avasthatumbhramativa ca me manahnimittani ca pasyamiviparitani keshava

"I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I see only causes of misfortune, O Krishna, killer of the Keshi demon."

na hi prapasyami mamapanudyadyac chokam ucchosanam indriyanamavapya bhumav asapatnam rddhamrajyam suranam api cadhipatyam

"I can find no means to drive away this grief which is drying up my senses. I will not be able to dispel it even if I win a prosperous, unrivaled kingdom on earth with sovereignty like the devatas in heaven."After speaking this, Arjuna threw aside his bow and decided, "I will not fight".

evam uktvarjunah sankhyerathopastha upavisatvisrjya sa-saram capamsoka-samvigna-manasah

"Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief."This is actually what the battle of Kurukshetra is about. It is not the external war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas that is important. What is important is the inner battle that took place within the mind of Arjuna. None of us will ever be put in a situation like the battle of Kurukshetra, but each and everyone of us will be put through an inner struggle just as Arjuna was.In the case of Arjuna, he was blessed by the direct guidance and association of Lord

Krishna. By the divine instructions of the Lord, Arjuna was internally transformed into a new person.After speaking Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, Lord Krishna asks him:

kaccid etac chrutam parthatvayaikagrena cetasakaccid ajnana-sammohahpranastas te dhananjaya

"O son of Pritha, O conqueror of wealth, have you heard this with an attentive mind? And are your ignorance and illusions now dispelled?"Arjuna answers:

nashto mohah smritir labdhatvat-prasadan mayacyutasthito 'smi gata-sandehahkarishye vacanam tava

"My dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions."Just see the transformation that took place in Arjuna. What happened to the tears? What happened to the burning sensation in his skin? What happened to his mental bewilderement? What happened to his confusion?At first Arjuna had told Krishna, na yotsya iti govindam. "Govinda, I will not fight." But in the end he is saying, karishye vacanam tava. "I will act according to Your instructions." What has caused such a change?In the first chapter of Gita, Arjuna says, "Let them kill me, standing here unarmed. I have no desire to live. Let me go to the forest and live by begging." This is quite different from his latter statement - "I will fight according to Your instructions!" Something has certainly transformed Arjuna, something has given him life.That is the power of Bhagavad Gita. It can transform one internally into a new person. We are all experiencing small Kurukshetra battles within our mind, we have all thrown down our Gandiva bows, and we have all told to our conscience, "I will not fight."Now it is time to seriously take the instructions of Bhagavad gita, and transform our selves like Arjuna. “Awake, arise and realize”. This is the message of Swami Shivananda of Rishikesh. “Do not wait till tomorrow, transform yourself today”. Just as Arjuna removed the covering of ignorance that was bewildering him, in the same way we can become free from the anxieties and miseries of conditioned existence.But wait! It isn't so simple. There was a very important step Arjuna took that qualified him to receive Bhagavad Gita. Why was Arjuna instructed Bhagavad Gita and not Duryodhana? Because Arjuna accepted

Krishna as his Guru and surrendered to Krishna as His disciple. This was the most important thing Arjuna ever did.Arjuna said:

karpanya-doshopahata-svabhavahpricchami tvam dharma-sammudha-cetahyac chreyah syan nishcitam bruhi tan meshishyas te 'ham shadhi mam tvam prapannam

"Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me."This is where the Bhagavad Gita actually begins. Before this, it was a conversation between friends. Arjuna spoke many things, yet Lord Krishna did not reply. Arjuna had not accepted the position of disciple, therefore Lord Krishna did not take the position of Guru. Finally, after having given a lecture to Lord Krishna about what is right and what is wrong, Arjuna admits, "I am confused and do not know what is the solution to my problem."This is the first step in spiritual life. We must admit that we do not have the solution ourselves. We have tried for many lives to solve the problems of material existence, but each time we have failed. Now let us admit we can not solve these problems on our own, for we are confused about what should be done, and what should not be done. Arjuna was presenting many arguments, all based on scriptural codes and logic, yet ultimately it didn't help him.

Sometimes we may know many things, but that knowledge does not solve our practical difficulties.The system of material existence is full of perplexity for everyone. Our academic knowledge, whether material or religious, does not in any way help solve the perplexities of life. Therefore one must approach a spiritual master who can give one spiritual guidance. This is not due to weakness, but due to knowledge. Arjuna says, pricchami tvam dharma-sammudha-cetah, "I am asking you what is dharma because my mind is completely bewildered." When one comes to the point of admitting that our minds are bewildered by material existence, that is the first step of knowledge.Then Arjuna says, yac chreyah syan nishcitam bruhi tan me, "Please tell me clearly what will be for my ultimate welfare."And finally Arjuna surrenders: shishyas te 'ham shadhi mam tvam prapannam."I am your disciple. Please instruct me. I am surrendered to you."This is where Bhagavad Gita begins.We must all approach Lord Krishna to put an end to the perplexities of material existence. We are undergoing a Kurukshetra war within our minds, and we need Krishna to "clearly instruct

us what is for our ultimate welfare."One who realises Krishna is the most fortunate soul. For he will receive the divine guidance by which he can extinguish this forest fire of material existence. We must get Krishna’s grace. Simply knowing the Bhagavad Gita will not bring the ultimate benefit that we all need. Arjuna knew the dharma-shastras. He was not a fool. Yet, his religious knowledge did not help him when he was on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Transformation requires something much deeper than just "knowing" principles. Knowledge without complete application is just a useless burden on one's head. Lord Krishna is the one who guides us in the intricacies of applying spiritual knowledge to our daily lives. We are all looking for happiness, as that is the constitutional nature of the soul. Due to our false identification with the body, we are neglecting the inner happiness and looking externally to matter for satisfaction. This is the beginning of our mistake. And this mistake results in our endless suffering, confusion and bondage.In the Bhagavad Gita

Lord Krishna makes the following statement:

ashantasya kutah sukham

"Without peace, where is the question of happiness?"

Meditate on this statement for some time. It is the first clue to solving our problem. We want to be happy, but without peace, how can there be happiness? This seems quite simple. If we can become peaceful, then we can experience happiness.So try to make yourself peaceful. It isn't possible. Why? Because there is still another piece to this puzzle.

na cabhavayatah shantir

"Without a steady mind there can be no peace."

Our minds are uncontrolled and disturbed. We can see this for ourselves. Sit down in a room, close the door, and just let your mind flow on its own. Do not speak, do not move around. Try to do nothing. Just watch your own mind, as though you are a third person. See what thoughts come in to your mind. Then push the thought out, and again let another thought flow into your mind. After sometime, try to keep all of these thoughts out of your mind. If this is too difficult, try to concentrate on a single picture in front of

you without allowing other thoughts to enter. It won't be possible. Our minds are completely uncontrolled, undisciplined, and as a result they are dictating to us. This is not how it should be, but it is our sorry state of existence. So now we know that to experience happiness we need peace, and to develop peace we need a steady mind. But how do we make our mind steady?Lord Krishna gives us one more piece of the puzzle :

na cayuktasya bhavana

"Without spiritual intelligence one cannot have a steady mind."We must develop spiritual intelligence, by which to control the mind. The Vedic scriptures give the following analogy:The body is like a chariot. The senses are like five horses which pull the chariot. The reigns which control the horses are like the mind. The driver who holds the reigns is like the intelligence. And the passenger who instructs the driver is the spirit soul (the actual self). If the driver (the intelligence) holds the reigns (the mind) tightly and controls the five horses (the senses), then it is possible to attain one's proper destination. But if the driver (the intelligence) lets go of the reigns (the mind) then each of the five horses (the senses) will run off in a different direction pulling the reigns (the mind) with them, causing the chariot to be broken into many pieces.In the Gita we find the following statement:

vyavasayatmika buddhirekeha kuru-nandanabahu-shaka hy anantash cabuddhayo 'vyavasayinam

"Those on the path of spiritual advancement are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. The intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched."

We must focus our intelligence on one aim, otherwise all of our endeavours will result in failure. One whose mind is branched in many directions fails to concentrate on anything and is simply left in confusion. The nature of the mind is to drift. We must learn to control the mind with our spiritual intelligence, otherwise the mind will be the cause of our own bondage. In the Gita Krishna describes that the mind can either be our best friend or our worst enemy:

bandhur atmatmanas tasyayenatmaivatmana jitahanatmanas tu satrutvevartetatmaiva satru-vat

"For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy."The mind is the repository of all sensual perception. Through our five knowledge acquiring senses we experience the world, and the resultant experience is transmitted to the mind, where it is classified as either enjoyment or distress. The uncontrolled mind begins to dwell on the desires and fears created by these experiences. The result is a whirlpool of thoughts making it

unable for us to think, concentrate, and focus our selves.To control the mind, we need to utilize spiritual intelligence. A controlled mind will keep the senses in check. When the senses are in check, the push of lust and desire stops and we become peaceful. When there is peace, the natural happiness of the soul becomes visible.But how do we get spiritual intelligence?Lord Krishna provides us with another piece to this puzzle:

nasti buddhir ayuktasya

"Without a connection to the Paramatma one cannot have spiritual intelligence."We need to link ourselves to the Paramatma in order to develop spiritual intelligence. With that spiritual intelligence we can control our mind. With a controlled mind, the senses can be kept in check. When the senses are kept in check, we will experience peace. When we are peaceful, the happiness of the soul will be seen.The puzzle is almost solved. But there is one more question. How do will link to the Paramatma?Krishna answers this as follows:

tesam satata-yuktanambhajatam priti-purvakamdadami buddhi-yogam tamyena mam upayanti te

"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the spiritual intelligence by which they can link with Me."If a person sincerely worships the Lord with love and devotion, then Lord Krishna from within his heart gives him instructions so that he may ultimately come to Him without difficulty. This is spiritual intelligence. Material intelligence may depend on many external factors, but spiritual intelligence is inherent in the soul. It is simply

covered like a mirror covered by dust. As we clean the mirror of the mind, the shining reflection gradually becomes visible to us.To accomplish this linking with the Paramatma we must take up a serious sadhana, or daily spiritual practice. The scriptures recommend hari-nama japa as the most effective sadhana in the present age of Kali. As one chants the names of the Lord, there will be a transformation in one's heart.

The first experience of one who is on this path of perfection is described as "ceto-darpana marjanam", or cleansing the mirror of the mind. Due to our contact with the material energy from time immemorial our original pure consciousness has been covered by many layers of contamination. It is like a mirror that has been covered by dust. In such a mirror one cannot see his reflection. Only when the dust has been wiped away is it possible to see clearly in the mirror. In the

same manner our mind has been contaminated with so many thoughts, desires, and activities from countless lives. We are all very careful to filter the water we drink, but how many of us filter what we see, what we hear, and what we do? Day after day, life after life, this pollution enters into our heart through our senses and acts as a poison. As a result our mind becomes uncontrollable, dominated only by lust (kama), anger (krodha) and greed (lobha).The first transformation that one will experience on the path of self-realization is purification of the mind. The influence of

lust, anger and greed will be overcome and one will be able to control his mind with spiritual intelligence. As the dust covering the mirror of the mind is removed, the natural qualities of the self (atma) begin to shine forth. One gives up false identification with the body and its possessions and realizes the spiritual qualitative oneness of everything and everyone. The eternality of the self and the temporal nature of matter are established within oneself as irrevocable facts. All that is troublesome within the heart will be removed, and one will be situated above material desire. One's external nature will change as one's natural qualities begin to manifest :Humility; pridelessness; nonviolence; tolerance; simplicity; cleanliness; steadiness; self-control; renunciation of the objects of sense gratification; absence of false ego; detachment; freedom from entanglement ; even-mindedness amid pleasant and unpleasant events; and constant unalloyed devotion to Lord Krishna.The second transformation that occurs is described as "bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam"

, or extinguishing the great forest fire of birth and death. Sometimes in the forest a fire will start when the wind causes two bamboo trees to rub against each other. Simply by the rubbing of two small bamboo trees hundreds of miles of forest are burnt to ash. In such a huge forest fire, it is impossible to trace out the original cause of the fire. It almost seems as though it has no cause. The origin of our conditioned existence is similar in that it is impossible to trace out what was the cause. And just as in the forest fire, we are constantly being burnt by the various sufferings inherent in matter. Birth, death, old age and disease are our constant enemies in life, and they are insurmountable. The scriptures describe this world as dukhalayam, or "the abode of suffering". Why such a negative description? Because the soul is constitutionally eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. To have our natural spiritual qualities covered by illusion, and replaced with a temporal body full of ignorance and suffering is certainly a negative change.As one purifies his consciousness, the false identification with the body is removed, and the true qualities of the soul become visible internally. The sufferings of the external body are caste aside as nothing more than the interaction of material elements, the nature. Due to false identification with the body we identify with

the sufferings of the body. If we become free from bodily identification, the sufferings of that body are also left. Thus this great forest fire of birth, death, old age and disease - and all the sufferings inherent in a matterial body - are extinguished. The example is given that Lord Krishna is like a cloud who receives water from the ocean of mercy and pours this mercy on the forest fire of samsara, the cycle of birth and death, to extinguish our sufferings.The third transformation that takes place for one on the path of self-realization is described as "anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam". There is an ocean, not of water but of bliss (ananda). The liberated soul is able to always experience this ocean of bliss, for it is inherent within the soul. And this ocean of bliss is not static, it is constantly increasing (vardhanam) at every moment (prati-padam). This unlimited bliss experienced by the liberated soul is the aim of all living entities. It is the driving force behind the entire manifestation.The conditioned souls are looking for this same unlimited happiness, but they look externally towards matter for it. They fail in their search because happiness is not something external to us, it is our very nature, which is now covered by illusion (maya). One who has

attained to this state of purified consciousness has nothing else to attain, for he has everything. He is living on the spiritual realm of existence even while being situated within the external body. Such a saint is constantly seeing God face to face: premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hridayeshu vilokayanti .This process does not depend on faith or belief. The results are directly experienced by the sadhaka. That is the driving force behind one's determination. Krishna says:

pratyakshavagamam dharmyamsu-sukham kartum avyayam

"One who takes to this spiritual path will directly experience the results. While performing sadhana he will experience ever-lasting happiness."The word Lord Krishna uses is pratyaksha, or directly by the eye. The results are factually seen, establishing the presence of the Lord as an irrevocable and concrete fact.Those who do not undertake sadhana cannot understand the reality of Lord Krishna. For them God is just a mental concept, the Bhagavad Gita is just a historical

poem, and Krishna is just a common man. They like to claim that nothing can be proven regarding the existence of God. Their study of Bhagavad Gita brings no result. The scriptures describe such acts as being like an ant licking a bottle of honey from the outside. They have no experience of the spiritual reality.In conclusion, we need to take up a spiritual sadhana of hari-nama japa very seriously. As we purify ourselves through sadhana, Lord Krishna will guide us. By the mercy of Krishna, we will be liberated from the perplexities of material life. Surrendering at the Lotus feet of Lord Krishna is the ultimate necessity of us all. Do not delay in this endeavour.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!

Bhaktasevak

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Note : The above is excerpts from a discourse

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