Many of us reading this post may have already achieved a fair degree of material, educational and career success. Yet happiness and 'peace of mind' remain elusive. If we have a million dollars , we need another five to make us feel secure and happy. If we have a house , we still need a larger one ....and we are never quite satisfied and happy with what we have !
The following excerpts are from the writings of Acharya Shriram Sharma (who was Ramkrishna Paramhansa , Kabir and Samarth Guru RamDass in his former lives) that nudge us to PAUSE and THINK! They tell us that apart from securing a basic living for ourselves and our family, real happiness does not lie with career or material success. Then where does real happiness lie? How do we reduce stress and achieve peace of mind? The following excerpts from the short, simple and succinct book "Pause and Think" help us find some pointers towards this direction .
Quoted Text -How to achieve individual happiness and ensure collective progress of society :
Thirst for wealth and leaving a monetary inheritance for children:
Thirst for wealth and leaving a monetary inheritance for children:
"The thirst for wealth, like lust and anger, produces insensitivity and makes us hard -hearted. Humanity, therefore does not lie in looting the goods of others, stealing from others and insufficient payment for work done by others. Man be-gets severe downfall through such acts.
Do you wish to make your children lazy and useless by leaving such sinful earnings as their inheritance? Why do you wish to collect that wealth which is not going to accompany you to your next life? Why do you come within its grip? If you forget your soul and the goal of life by becoming a victim of greed, how will such wealth benefit you ? Just leave it. Joy lies only in the income earned through hard and honest work.
Do you wish to make your children lazy and useless by leaving such sinful earnings as their inheritance? Why do you wish to collect that wealth which is not going to accompany you to your next life? Why do you come within its grip? If you forget your soul and the goal of life by becoming a victim of greed, how will such wealth benefit you ? Just leave it. Joy lies only in the income earned through hard and honest work.
Feelings of jealousy while witnessing others progress:
The feeling of jealousy is another reason for a man's downfall. One progresses according to his capacity and circumstances. When one's capacity is developed with humaneness, nobody's interest is hurt. However, when one develops jealousy and-malice on seeing the prosperity of others, that ensures the person's personal downfall and there starts the collective downfall of society..
Man's life is not for burning away in malice and jealousy. God has given us this human body for developing within us the attitudes of service, warmth, love,compassion, justice etc. We should imbibe these for developing excellence of character-to make for a purposeful life, to make people happy and contribute towards spreading-happiness in society.
Man's life is not for burning away in malice and jealousy. God has given us this human body for developing within us the attitudes of service, warmth, love,compassion, justice etc. We should imbibe these for developing excellence of character-to make for a purposeful life, to make people happy and contribute towards spreading-happiness in society.
The aim of spirituality:
The aim of spiritualism is to
save men from the damage of sins and bad thoughts and lead them to peace and
happiness through truth and religion. It is wrong to assume that we will be at
a loss by adopting a religious life. That "religion" which causes
loss and harm to society cannot be called religion, because the practice of a
religious life teaches good behaviour should bring peace.
The hypocrisy practised by certain Gurus or Baba's or other self proclaimed prophets is not religion and joining such sects always causes harm. Real religion gives correct guidelines of moral conduct and leads to progress both in this as well as outer worlds. In ancient India when religious atmosphere prevailed in every household, there was wealth, strength, knowledge, love, warmth and joy. Today when most of us have adopted immoral, irreligious thinking and behaviour, we find hell dominating the households.
The hypocrisy practised by certain Gurus or Baba's or other self proclaimed prophets is not religion and joining such sects always causes harm. Real religion gives correct guidelines of moral conduct and leads to progress both in this as well as outer worlds. In ancient India when religious atmosphere prevailed in every household, there was wealth, strength, knowledge, love, warmth and joy. Today when most of us have adopted immoral, irreligious thinking and behaviour, we find hell dominating the households.
Today we find ourselves
surrounded by demoniacal tendencies. Our individual lives are also seen to be
filled with them. As a result, despite getting the gift of human life, we are
living a despicable life. Similarly the social system is also dominated by corruption and greed ,
because of which, troubles have taken hold of our health, economy, society,
political life, mutual relations, morality, ability, industrial production etc.
Thus there is turmoil in every section of the society.
There is only one solution for
individual happiness and peace in the society -the development of good
tendencies and defeat of demoniacal tendencies. Unless and until the demoniacal
tendencies are defeated, the restless atmosphere cannot be ruled out.
Lord Buddha on self interest and selfishness :
Who is the smallest one in the
world?” asked a child. Lord Buddha became serious and said, “One who thinks of
himself alone and thinks only his self interest as most important”. In these
few and simple words he drew the outlines of practical spiritualism. The aim of
soul's uplift or development is that man should come out of his narrow
mindedness for personal pleasures and become broad -minded and generous towards
society.
Joy does not lie in taking from others, but in giving to others. As long as man has the ambition and keen desire of only collecting and storing away for himself , he remains small, lowly, helpless, and useless. But the moment he uses his mind, body, intelligence and his capacities for the greater good of humanity, his greatness also starts spreading its fragrance all round.
Source and credits :
The above are excerpts from the writings of Acharya Shriram Sharma aggregated in a book titled "Pause and Think". Acharya Shriram Sharma wrote in Hindi and the English translations have been done by his readers and followers.Joy does not lie in taking from others, but in giving to others. As long as man has the ambition and keen desire of only collecting and storing away for himself , he remains small, lowly, helpless, and useless. But the moment he uses his mind, body, intelligence and his capacities for the greater good of humanity, his greatness also starts spreading its fragrance all round.
Source and credits :
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