Problems in Action

Health and Happiness - Dr Dwarakanath

Shankara a very bold Guru, as the entire Guru Parampara- culture must really be! He can swing his poem into ‘self’, money, lust, charity, all in a single strong yet beautiful swipe. He says, by attuning our ‘self’ with the sacred names of the lord, we the devotee try to elevate our ‘self’ to those noble qualities of the lord. All these efforts at study and worship of us, the devotee can be washed down in a single moment's passion, desire or lust, as it has such a power that it torpedoes the strong walls of will power. It is, therefore, essential to keep the company of noble and holy souls, so as to get encouragement and strengthen the will power. Charity being made with true feeling will make us understand that the needs and requirements of others are as important as one's own. The charity must flow from our own abundance and it should be done without any pomp and show, with a sense of brotherhood. Equanimity of mind is the true joy. By renouncing the fruits of action, i.e., attachment, but not the action, which is the duty, itself, is the only possible path to lead a life free from sensual pleasures and selfishness. We have to learn to do every action as a form of worship to god, according to Bhagavad Gita. So, what have to be renounced sincerely are the desire and the attachment. The intention and spirit of dedication to god is to be retained. To achieve this is, we should turn the intentions behind all actions towards positive or spiritual channels, at times, and it may be difficult to by-pass or change the native and in-born tendencies. 

The lust or craving for sex, is the greatest undoing for both male and female sadhakas- aspirers. This animal and momentary impulse is like fire, which can be used for good and bad, it will serve or destroy us completely. Though the sex is a natural phenomenon, if controlled, it is good for the home and the society at large. We should master the art of forgetting the sex of other person. This way we can turn away the mind from the impulses of the flesh and body-consciousness. We should enjoy nature and channelize our energy like painting, humour, singing, reading, etc. We have to make every effort not to allow the mind to stray even for a little while into forbidden grounds. Unfortunately, even the staring death into one's own face will not stop the human being from getting over such a shameful desire. The Maya of lust is so strong that in spite of realising that the ultimate destination is death, we find it difficult to overcome this temptation. 

Like any evil, amassing wealth also leads to unassuming problems. With the accumulation of wealth, the desires too increase, which breed pain and misery. It is also difficult to keep the accumulated wealth safe, even own son or kith and kin may become enemy. The so-called source of strength will become a source of fear for the miserable person, who amasses wealth. Natural love disappears due to fear and ego. Everything has a limit and anything beyond will become a cause for concern, anxiety and unhappiness. Unfortunately, in the present day world, most of us are under the false belief that wealth will bring us happiness. Thus, we become its slaves. At death, all of us have to go as ashes or dust and the amassed wealth will not accompany us even though we have sacrificed our life to accumulate it. It invites the grip of Maya, which is so strong and powerful in us that we never give different aspects of life their right and appropriate value for enrichment. 

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