Insights of Wisdom
We are only here for a few years. So why should we hoard our energies all to ourselves? Let’s give ourselves away in devotion. The
state of non-action can only be attained by doing actions,
it can never be attained by inaction. The
state of effortlessness is only attained through intense effort, and never by
just waiting for ‘things to happen’. Dispassion
can never be attained by lack of concern or disinterestedness, but only by means
of deep compassion. Detachment
is never realized by avoidance, but only by caring very deeply without any thought
of oneself. The
state of well-being is never attained by just ‘leaving well enough alone’; it
can only be attained by knowing well the principles of sound health (of mind and
body), and putting those principles into practice. We
don’t need much to be happy, but we do need peace of mind.
If we give up our peace mind in pursuit of happiness, we will never find
it. Why
does the mind worry? Because it has too much to
think about. Why does the mind think
so much? Because it has
no peace. Why does the mind have
no peace? Because we have spent so much
time trying to appease our mind, and not enough time doing what needs to be done.
We haven’t disciplined our mind through
meditation and study of wisdom. We
have no peace of mind because we have accumulated so much junk.
After collecting so much stuff, we have to sort it out, maintain it, and
of course, if we bought it on credit we still have to pay for it! It is no wonder we have no peace of mind—we
are paying for our own greed. Non-stealing
and non-hoarding are two of the main pillars of Yoga (inner unity, ‘togetherness’). When we buy things that we cannot afford (when
we live beyond our means), it is a form of stealing, and when we buy things that
we do not need it is a form of greediness. These are the two main reasons we have no peace
of mind. Why
do we get so frustrated? Because we expect so much.
Why do we have so many expectations and desires? Because
we lack so much (in the way of inner peace and depth of being). Why do we lack so much? Because we have lost everything
running with our mind. Why do we
run with our mind? Because our ego wants company and attention, and compels our mind
to do its bidding. Why do we listen
to our ego? Because we haven’t listened
to the wisdom of the Wise: we might have heard, but we haven’t truly listened—we haven’t followed up with practice. A
Yogi is a good listener, but a Bhogi only wants sensual enjoyments and ego-comforts. Through practice, a Yogi realizes the state
of Yoga ( Nothing
in this life is free—everything cost something. Everyone pays for what they get
(though we don’t always get what we thought we were paying for!). The
outcome of our life is based strictly on what we are putting into it. If we are
wise, we will be careful about what we put into our mind and body, and we will
be very selective about the friends we make and keep.
We
should never underestimate our own worth—if we do, we are sure to suffer loss
in this life. Everything
that we do involves exchange. Those who short-change themselves always regret
later on. If
we realize the value and purpose of this life, we will never waste it, but will
spend it very carefully and intelligently. Wise
are those who spend their time and energy raising their consciousness. They do not get bogged down with the mundane
problems and pursuits of this world. The wise ‘keep it simple’ and stay clear,
and remain focussed on the real purpose of this life. Only
those who are wise find fulfillment, because they live in the fullness of Absolute Consciousness and do not base their lives on the limited
relationships born out of body, mind, and ego. Wise people relate only on the
highest level of Pure Consciousness, hence, their mind is never polluted with
jealousy, greed, envy, hate, and anger. All
mental problems are born out of the impurities of the mind, and the impure mind
is the result of lack of wisdom and practice. To
remove ignorance (of our True Nature) is the highest gift that anyone can give. Of course, you can only give what you have—you
cannot give what you do not have. We need
to remove our own ignorance first—and this we do by becoming humble and graciously
accepting good advice and acting upon it. Whenever
we are negative, it is proof-positive that we are in our ego. It
is not possible to be in the same moment both hateful and grateful.
We should be grateful every moment and have no space in our mind for hate. |