Hari
Om
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by
which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality
and become more congruent within our personality.
KINDLE LIFE. We continue exploring points raised by HH Pujya
Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda-ji in the publication of this name. Remember, you
can purchase, (very economically!), the book from Chinmaya
Mission Publications or if you
prefer, the Amazon Link. Thus you can read
Gurudev's words directly and bring your own voice to the discussion.
We
now take up chapter five - The Dual Path.
We had seen last time that there is choice to be made when it comes to
the material side of living. It is not that the material is a 'bad' thing. Just as the inert has no inherent power of
joy, it equally has no inherent evil.
Only Man's perception of the objects is what creates these conditions.
Even the greatest prosperity does not guarantee anyone 'happiness'; often the
cry goes up "no, but it makes things easier!" Really?
Does it? The more that is obtained, the more which must be done to
maintain and protect. Being 'rich' can
be every bit as onerous as being 'poor'.
Conversely, it is found that there those who, regardless of their
financial standing, remain calm and content.
The
individual who has found a deeper meaning in life, who has worked on the
personality to bring about an appropriate attitude to the externals of living
by applying personal discipline and adhering to the teachings of the shruti, is
the one who lives happiest.
'Modern'
man, though, has lost sight of this. The
very idea of any form of 'shackle' upon the so-called freedoms of life is
repellent. With each passing generation, the teachings and examples of the
benefits are lost. The aptitude for deep
and intelligent appreciation is dulled from lack of use and often we hear only
scepticism and a recitation of the dogma of irreligiousness every bit is
negative in its effects upon the individual as misguided usage of religious
precepts is within the various faith systems.
Certainly
there are some practices and behaviours which have been (and continue to be)
put about by radical parts of different establishments which bring a poor name
to 'religion'. To condemn the whole on the basis of the fraction, however, is
akin to the hungry man rejecting a whole plateful of food due to only three
kernels of rice having been burned.
Religion
which pays proper and considered attention to the scriptures permits the
individual to reach an informed and full understanding of the laws which can help
that individual work on the inner personality, bringing inspiration, vision and
an upliftment beyond anything the material world can offer. In taking on the
disciplines prescribed, by following the guidance available, each individual
can make the choice to reject the lower values of life. There is that word again! CHOICE. All too
frequently, though, each will fall to the lesser. This has not changed throughout the
millennia. The Rsis, the visionaries of countless centuries past who passed
down the understandings of Vedanta, saw the condition of mankind and sought to
provide the guidance to lift the people.
They noted the tendency to take the choice of that which was most
pleasant, which seemed the easier path. This path is called as ą¤Ŗ्ą¤°ेą¤Æ/preya. They point out to us that there is a
path of good, called as ą¤¶्ą¤°ेą¤Æ/shreya, in
which we can make the choice to rise above ourselves and the shenanigans of
Maya.
Thus
it is that each of us is confronted with the choice of taking one or other of
these paths. Preya, full of its enticements and fascinations, keeping the mind
focused always to the external, and Shreya, providing solace, discipline,
balance and internal focus. The first provides immediate gratification. The second can seem to delay benefits, it
takes longer to ripen, as it were...and mankind is an impatient race.
There
are those, though, who develop the necessary inner requirements for a better
way of living. Such beings make the
choice of shreya. They become the
setters of the example of lasting peace and happiness. Each and every living
individual can make this choice. It is
never too late to change paths!