Please read Part-1 before proceeding with this post.
HOW CAN ONE SURVIVE WITHOUT DESIRES?
Our survival depends upon our actions, not upon desires. If you merely sit and desire to earn one million, you will never earn. But if you plan well and work hard, you may earn a million or even more. You do not need desires, rather actions.
WHY WOULD ONE ACT WITHOUT HAVING A MOTIVATING DESIRE?
That is the key question, and if we can remember the answer at all times, we will become highly productive and active. Lord Krishna has beautifully answered Arjun's question - "why should I act when I desire nothing?" Lord said - You must act for the following reasons -
(1) Man cannot truly give up actions without first performing them, neither does he attain peace MERELY by physically giving up actions. Performing actions (without insistence) is superior to staying idle, hence we must perform our individual duties which have been prescribed in our scriptures. Unless we perform actions, we cannot practice to remain equanimous in their outcomes, ie. we cannot practice to give up insistence (and even our liking) on the outcome. Eg. unless we eat food, we cannot practice to give up insistence upon eating our desired type of food, or our likes/dislikes towards various types of foods.
A man who merely gives up actions outwardly, but keeps desiring for (or thinking about) their fruits in his mind, he can never attain peace, because he can never get rid of his likes/dislikes. He is only cheating himself and others.
(2) Only actions other than one's prescribed duties, ie. actions done purely for self-interests are harmful, duties performed without insistence are not harmful, rather such actions are supremely beneficial.
The functioning of the entire creation is based upon performance of individual duties. All the elements of nature, all the beings are continuously performing their duties, and that ensures the sustenance and continuation of creation. A person who enjoys services from others without performing his own duties is a thief. But those who first perform their duties selflessly and then partakes of the leftover fruits get freed from all their sins, and they also attain the supreme-most benefit, ie liberation. God resides in the performance of one's prescribed duties.
It is a tried and tested fact that man can always remain equanimous in the outcomes of his duties, but he can never be completely equanimous in resuts of those actions which he does for some self-gain. So you must act for sake of others, your duties are their rights. Safeguard their rights by performing your duties towards them.
(3) No man can ever remain completely idle even for a second, because mankind is FORCED by Nature (his inherent tendencies) to act. Man cannot even survive without performing actions. Even the liberated soul performs his actions according to his inherent tendencies - "prakrit-er gyaan-vaan api" (gita 3/33). No one can forcefully sit idle. Therefore, when we are anyways bound to act, then instead of trying in vain to sit idle and then helplessly acting in wrong ways due to inherent tendencies, let us "choose" our actions wisely. The wise choice is to perform our individual duties as prescribed in the scriptures without insistence and to abstain from any wrong actions.
(4) Setting the right example - One must act in the righteous way and perform one's duties to set the right example. Common men typically follow great men. A man who has become perfectly free from desires does not have any duties to perform, but the other common men will not understand this difference between themselves and the liberated man, and will blindly follow him and sit idle, and this will lead to complete destruction of mankind.
King Janaka (Mother Sita's father) was a liberated soul, he had no desires, yet for setting the right example for masses, he perfectly performed all his duties of a king. Lord Krishna does not need to perform actions for anything, everything is readily available to him whenever he wishes, he does not even have any desires, yet he carefully followed all the duties that applied to him as per the scriptures, only for the sake of setting the right examples. Therefore, a person who is free of desires too should perform his duties just like actions are performed by common men who are attached to fruits of those actions, and he should inspire them too to perform their duties in the righteous manner.
Monday, January 30, 2012
How can we survive without having Desires - Part 1
।। Shri Paramatmane Namah ||
|| Shri Harih ||
A general misconception regarding the teachings of Gita is that Gita asks us to give up desires altogether, but how can one survive if one gives up all desires? After all, the very motivation to earn a living and sustain oneself comes from our desires, isn't it?
To understand this concept, we need to first understand the exact meaning or implication of the word "kaam" or "desire" as used in Gita.
Hence this Part-1 contains the following topics:
- What is the meaning of having desires
- Why to remove desires
Part -2 contains the topics:
- How can one survive without desires
- Why would one act without having a motivating desire
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF HAVING DESIRES?
A great Saint, Swamiji Shri Ramsukhdasji, whose practical guidance inspired thousands of people and improved their lives, said that for the purpose of practically following Gita in life, the explanation of "desire" that he arrived at after a lot of contemplation was "insistence". "Any thing should happen only in this particular way, and it must not happen in that particular way" - this is insistence.
Eg. "I must have this type of food, and not that", "My friends/family must treat me in this way, and they must not treat me in that way", "I must get this type of job/salary, and not that type", etc, these are all examples of insistence.
Please note, it is human nature to have "likes" or "inclinations" (described as "Raag" in Gita) towards favorable things and "dislikes" or "repulsions" (termed as "dvesh" in Gita) from unfavorable things, and although having likes and dislikes too is a flaw according to Gita, yet a beginner cannot be expected to be free from them without practice, it can only come through practice of Gita. Hence, the difference between "inclinations" and "insistence" should be clear.
As a beginner, we may not be able to remove our likes/dislikes, but it is completely in our hands to see whether we insist upon fulfilling our "inclinations" or not.
For example, if you want something, but other people want something different, then politely explain to them your reasoning, but within your mind, do not have the insistence that they will listen to you.
For example, we sit down for dinner, but we do not like what has been prepared. In this case, if we insist upon having a particular type of food, then that will cause problems. Instead we may just request the person cooking to prepare something we like and leave it there. Therefore, even though we may have an inclination, we must not insist. Is there a rule that only others must listen to you? Why not you listen to them instead?
WHY TO REMOVE DESIRES
Desires give rise to other flaws such as worries, anger, hatred etc when we insist upon their fulfillment. Apply this to any situation in life and see. Immense peace comes through giving up insistence, try and see. I am writing out of my own experience and the experience of my family and close friends who too applied this philosophy in their life and testified for its effects. All worries spring only from insistence. A common phrase being used to explain this policy is "Let Go".
Further, as long as we insist upon fulfilling our likes/dislikes, we will never be able to remove them. Every time we fulfill our desire, it grows only bigger and stronger. Gita gives a great analogy -Desires are like fire. If you add ghee (clarified butter) to fire, the fire doesn't get extinguished, rather it grows even bigger and wants more fuel. To put out a fire, first we need to stop putting in the fuel. Same way, the only way to root out desires is to stop fulfilling them, or putting it in a more practical manner - stop insisting upon fulfilling your likes/dislikes.
However, "not insisting" does not mean "compromising even in the wrong place". When to insist and when not to shall be discussed in some other post. Here I want to elaborate on the view that we can indeed have a very satisfying and happy life even with zero desires.
Click Here to read the next part.
|| Shri Harih ||
A general misconception regarding the teachings of Gita is that Gita asks us to give up desires altogether, but how can one survive if one gives up all desires? After all, the very motivation to earn a living and sustain oneself comes from our desires, isn't it?
To understand this concept, we need to first understand the exact meaning or implication of the word "kaam" or "desire" as used in Gita.
Hence this Part-1 contains the following topics:
- What is the meaning of having desires
- Why to remove desires
Part -2 contains the topics:
- How can one survive without desires
- Why would one act without having a motivating desire
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF HAVING DESIRES?
A great Saint, Swamiji Shri Ramsukhdasji, whose practical guidance inspired thousands of people and improved their lives, said that for the purpose of practically following Gita in life, the explanation of "desire" that he arrived at after a lot of contemplation was "insistence". "Any thing should happen only in this particular way, and it must not happen in that particular way" - this is insistence.
Eg. "I must have this type of food, and not that", "My friends/family must treat me in this way, and they must not treat me in that way", "I must get this type of job/salary, and not that type", etc, these are all examples of insistence.
Please note, it is human nature to have "likes" or "inclinations" (described as "Raag" in Gita) towards favorable things and "dislikes" or "repulsions" (termed as "dvesh" in Gita) from unfavorable things, and although having likes and dislikes too is a flaw according to Gita, yet a beginner cannot be expected to be free from them without practice, it can only come through practice of Gita. Hence, the difference between "inclinations" and "insistence" should be clear.
As a beginner, we may not be able to remove our likes/dislikes, but it is completely in our hands to see whether we insist upon fulfilling our "inclinations" or not.
For example, if you want something, but other people want something different, then politely explain to them your reasoning, but within your mind, do not have the insistence that they will listen to you.
For example, we sit down for dinner, but we do not like what has been prepared. In this case, if we insist upon having a particular type of food, then that will cause problems. Instead we may just request the person cooking to prepare something we like and leave it there. Therefore, even though we may have an inclination, we must not insist. Is there a rule that only others must listen to you? Why not you listen to them instead?
WHY TO REMOVE DESIRES
Desires give rise to other flaws such as worries, anger, hatred etc when we insist upon their fulfillment. Apply this to any situation in life and see. Immense peace comes through giving up insistence, try and see. I am writing out of my own experience and the experience of my family and close friends who too applied this philosophy in their life and testified for its effects. All worries spring only from insistence. A common phrase being used to explain this policy is "Let Go".
Further, as long as we insist upon fulfilling our likes/dislikes, we will never be able to remove them. Every time we fulfill our desire, it grows only bigger and stronger. Gita gives a great analogy -Desires are like fire. If you add ghee (clarified butter) to fire, the fire doesn't get extinguished, rather it grows even bigger and wants more fuel. To put out a fire, first we need to stop putting in the fuel. Same way, the only way to root out desires is to stop fulfilling them, or putting it in a more practical manner - stop insisting upon fulfilling your likes/dislikes.
However, "not insisting" does not mean "compromising even in the wrong place". When to insist and when not to shall be discussed in some other post. Here I want to elaborate on the view that we can indeed have a very satisfying and happy life even with zero desires.
Click Here to read the next part.
Why should you read Gita
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?
Have you ever thought what is the ultimate purpose of life? When we were children, our purpose was to top the school and college and get a very good education at the best possible institute. After that, the purpose was getting the best job at best company with good salary. Think beyond your short term purposes, because we are talking about your entire lifespan here, from the time of your birth to your death. You may say it is to save enough money for old age, have a great fun filled happy life, good health, great family, great kids, honor and respect etc. You may say – “Well, if I can get all of these, then whats the need for more? I can die happily after living a great life. “
However, think of a person whom you know well and who has all of these. If you cannot find such a person, think of someone who is working very hard for all of these. Say a big industrialist, a CEO, a President, or anyone you know who lives an ideal disciplined hard working life that you would like to follow yourself. Is he truly happy? Is his life better than yours? Do you think he will die happily? If you are not sure, do ask him if possible. NO ONE is totally happy with his life, and no one will tell you - “YES I have achieved the purpose of my life and I am going to die happily”. The purpose of life is actually to attain so much happiness that you get content with it, ie true happiness.
WHAT IS TRUE HAPPINESS
You are truly happy when you do not want any more happiness, “Content” or “Satisfied”. Do you know a single person who is content with the amount of happiness in his life and would not put in effort to attain more if it is possible? Contenment means you dont want any more even if it is available. Simply thinking “I am content” but actually desiring for better deep within is not really satisfaction. It will be like eating a mango (or any favourite thing of yours). Say you have unlimited mangoes and you can eat until you are totally satisfied. Now say you have only one mango and you eat it saying “I am content” but would eat one more if it was present, then that 1 is not enough. You would be really satisfied only when you DO NOT WANT TO EAT MORE even if it is available. This actualy is one of the major philosophies of Gita – Superficially stopping yourself but desiring for more deep within doesnot bring happiness at all, you are only cheating yourself that way.
CAN YOU ATTAIN THAT HAPPINESS?
You may say – why not, if I live a perfectly balanced disciplined life, I can, it is possible. Ok, lets say you do attain that level (which is practically impossible). Even then you cannot be truly happy. WHY? ….. FEAR OF LOSS.
There are just innumerable ways in which you can loose just one of the things – a loved one, your health, a property, your honor, just anything that is a factor of your happiness. Perfect happiness gone. The most successful people of the world are all working terribly hard just to maintain that success. And still maintaining it is beyond their control because of several factors. If you have fear, then how are you perfectly happy? Aren't you still worried about loss?
WHY ONLY “PERFECT” HAPPINESS?
Hearing all this, some people tell me that they do not want perfect happiness, that they will be content to just have a decent life, mixed with happiness and sorrow, because all the happiness is worth facing the sorrows and compensates for the pain. That is a good enough philosophy. It would have been perfectly workable if we all got only a single life. According to Gita, we go through innumerable lives, and our conditions in those lives depend upon all the karma (actions) we have done in all of our past lives. There is no guarantee that in some life you will not face any terrible pain. There are enough of such examples around us in the world who are having such terrible lives that we would rather die than have that kind of experience.
THE NEED FOR BHAGAVAD GITA
That perfect happiness is possible for all, this is what Shrimad Bhagavad Gita is all about, and that is why it is one of the biggest and best philosophies ever produced in the world. Those who follow or have even tried to follow the Bhagavad Gita have seen immediate effects (everyone I know who has tried can testify this, including myself).
Even if you just want a better life, not the perfect happiness, start following Gita, you will feel the change, its proven through experience.
The beauty of Gita is that it has something for seekers of every type, and simply by following it for any single purpose, Gita opens up doors for them for everything else as well.
Congratulations on taking this great step to a better life and several great lives ahead! :)
PS: If you have any suggestions, questions, or just an opinion, please feel free to comment.
Have you ever thought what is the ultimate purpose of life? When we were children, our purpose was to top the school and college and get a very good education at the best possible institute. After that, the purpose was getting the best job at best company with good salary. Think beyond your short term purposes, because we are talking about your entire lifespan here, from the time of your birth to your death. You may say it is to save enough money for old age, have a great fun filled happy life, good health, great family, great kids, honor and respect etc. You may say – “Well, if I can get all of these, then whats the need for more? I can die happily after living a great life. “
However, think of a person whom you know well and who has all of these. If you cannot find such a person, think of someone who is working very hard for all of these. Say a big industrialist, a CEO, a President, or anyone you know who lives an ideal disciplined hard working life that you would like to follow yourself. Is he truly happy? Is his life better than yours? Do you think he will die happily? If you are not sure, do ask him if possible. NO ONE is totally happy with his life, and no one will tell you - “YES I have achieved the purpose of my life and I am going to die happily”. The purpose of life is actually to attain so much happiness that you get content with it, ie true happiness.
WHAT IS TRUE HAPPINESS
You are truly happy when you do not want any more happiness, “Content” or “Satisfied”. Do you know a single person who is content with the amount of happiness in his life and would not put in effort to attain more if it is possible? Contenment means you dont want any more even if it is available. Simply thinking “I am content” but actually desiring for better deep within is not really satisfaction. It will be like eating a mango (or any favourite thing of yours). Say you have unlimited mangoes and you can eat until you are totally satisfied. Now say you have only one mango and you eat it saying “I am content” but would eat one more if it was present, then that 1 is not enough. You would be really satisfied only when you DO NOT WANT TO EAT MORE even if it is available. This actualy is one of the major philosophies of Gita – Superficially stopping yourself but desiring for more deep within doesnot bring happiness at all, you are only cheating yourself that way.
CAN YOU ATTAIN THAT HAPPINESS?
You may say – why not, if I live a perfectly balanced disciplined life, I can, it is possible. Ok, lets say you do attain that level (which is practically impossible). Even then you cannot be truly happy. WHY? ….. FEAR OF LOSS.
There are just innumerable ways in which you can loose just one of the things – a loved one, your health, a property, your honor, just anything that is a factor of your happiness. Perfect happiness gone. The most successful people of the world are all working terribly hard just to maintain that success. And still maintaining it is beyond their control because of several factors. If you have fear, then how are you perfectly happy? Aren't you still worried about loss?
WHY ONLY “PERFECT” HAPPINESS?
Hearing all this, some people tell me that they do not want perfect happiness, that they will be content to just have a decent life, mixed with happiness and sorrow, because all the happiness is worth facing the sorrows and compensates for the pain. That is a good enough philosophy. It would have been perfectly workable if we all got only a single life. According to Gita, we go through innumerable lives, and our conditions in those lives depend upon all the karma (actions) we have done in all of our past lives. There is no guarantee that in some life you will not face any terrible pain. There are enough of such examples around us in the world who are having such terrible lives that we would rather die than have that kind of experience.
THE NEED FOR BHAGAVAD GITA
That perfect happiness is possible for all, this is what Shrimad Bhagavad Gita is all about, and that is why it is one of the biggest and best philosophies ever produced in the world. Those who follow or have even tried to follow the Bhagavad Gita have seen immediate effects (everyone I know who has tried can testify this, including myself).
Even if you just want a better life, not the perfect happiness, start following Gita, you will feel the change, its proven through experience.
The beauty of Gita is that it has something for seekers of every type, and simply by following it for any single purpose, Gita opens up doors for them for everything else as well.
Congratulations on taking this great step to a better life and several great lives ahead! :)
PS: If you have any suggestions, questions, or just an opinion, please feel free to comment.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Gita Jayanti
|| Shri Paramatmane Namah ||
HAPPY GITA JAYANTI TO ALL
Since long I had been thinking that I would start posting here, but perhaps Krishna was waiting for this auspicious day. No wonder, there can be no better day than Gita Jayanti itself to start the posts for "Gita for beginners".
Its Ekadashi today, if possible, keep a fast. Even if you are unable to keep a fast, atleast you can eat in moderation, with the feeling of fast and self-control. The Inner Feeling matters the most in one's spiritual progress.
People read or recite the entire 18 chapters of Gitaji on this day. Some even sing the arati for Gita mata. Yes! she is called Gita mata, or Mother Gita. Quoting Swami Chinmayananda: "Bhagavad Gita is addressed and approached as a Mother-The Gita Mother, the Divine Womb that gave birth to the Universal Religion, is the one to whom the children of any age can always confidently turn, expecting but total forgiveness and complete love, even after they have committed a million outrageous acts."
The beauty of Spirituality is that the most Important things are the simplest ones to perform. So even if you are unable to do any of the above mentioned things, most importantly, just take refuge of Gitaji on this day. In your mind, say with a true heart -
"Oh Mother Gita! I take refuge in you. Protect me, guide me, teach me, give me knowledge and devotion to God, and make me yours. I am incapable of doing anything, so I take your refuge out of helplessness, do what is best for me."
Once again, HAPPY GITA JAYANTI!
With love,
Ram Ram
HAPPY GITA JAYANTI TO ALL
Since long I had been thinking that I would start posting here, but perhaps Krishna was waiting for this auspicious day. No wonder, there can be no better day than Gita Jayanti itself to start the posts for "Gita for beginners".
Its Ekadashi today, if possible, keep a fast. Even if you are unable to keep a fast, atleast you can eat in moderation, with the feeling of fast and self-control. The Inner Feeling matters the most in one's spiritual progress.
People read or recite the entire 18 chapters of Gitaji on this day. Some even sing the arati for Gita mata. Yes! she is called Gita mata, or Mother Gita. Quoting Swami Chinmayananda: "Bhagavad Gita is addressed and approached as a Mother-The Gita Mother, the Divine Womb that gave birth to the Universal Religion, is the one to whom the children of any age can always confidently turn, expecting but total forgiveness and complete love, even after they have committed a million outrageous acts."
The beauty of Spirituality is that the most Important things are the simplest ones to perform. So even if you are unable to do any of the above mentioned things, most importantly, just take refuge of Gitaji on this day. In your mind, say with a true heart -
"Oh Mother Gita! I take refuge in you. Protect me, guide me, teach me, give me knowledge and devotion to God, and make me yours. I am incapable of doing anything, so I take your refuge out of helplessness, do what is best for me."
Once again, HAPPY GITA JAYANTI!
With love,
Ram Ram
Saturday, December 20, 2008
JUST A SMILE
What is the best gift that any human being can give to anyone at any time and at any place? The most simple, effective and loving – A Smile.
When you smile to someone, you pass on your Warmth and even your happiness to that person. Just imagine a day when everyone welcomes you with a Smile. A Warm Smile. And then, this is something which you always get in return immediately as you give it.
Smile is like a Beam of Light, coz its both – Warm and Bright. It not only makes u feel warm, but also brightens up your face. In short, it is a Priceless thing that adds VALUE to your face.
Smile not only makes others feel positive about you, but also makes you feel positive and happier. It not only rejuvenates you but also the people who surround you. No wonder, you make more and better friends.
Once a small boy named Joe was returning from school when he saw a group of boys teasing and bullying another boy. They pushed him and went away. He fell on the ground. Joe went up to him, helped him get up and dust himself, and gave a warm smile to him and went away. Later they became friends. After several years, Joe came to know that his friend, whose name was Harry, had decided to end his life that day because he thought himself to be worthless and unloved by everyone. That one smile of Joe had made him feel that there were people who would care for him also, and had changed his life.
This was a very condensed version of a real story, but it proves what our little gestures can do for others.
So smile, because you never know when your smile can make someone’s day.
And remember that
Just like HAPPINESS results in a SMILE,
Similarly
SMILE too results in HAPPINESS
When you smile to someone, you pass on your Warmth and even your happiness to that person. Just imagine a day when everyone welcomes you with a Smile. A Warm Smile. And then, this is something which you always get in return immediately as you give it.
Smile is like a Beam of Light, coz its both – Warm and Bright. It not only makes u feel warm, but also brightens up your face. In short, it is a Priceless thing that adds VALUE to your face.
Smile not only makes others feel positive about you, but also makes you feel positive and happier. It not only rejuvenates you but also the people who surround you. No wonder, you make more and better friends.
Once a small boy named Joe was returning from school when he saw a group of boys teasing and bullying another boy. They pushed him and went away. He fell on the ground. Joe went up to him, helped him get up and dust himself, and gave a warm smile to him and went away. Later they became friends. After several years, Joe came to know that his friend, whose name was Harry, had decided to end his life that day because he thought himself to be worthless and unloved by everyone. That one smile of Joe had made him feel that there were people who would care for him also, and had changed his life.
This was a very condensed version of a real story, but it proves what our little gestures can do for others.
So smile, because you never know when your smile can make someone’s day.
And remember that
Just like HAPPINESS results in a SMILE,
Similarly
SMILE too results in HAPPINESS
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