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.
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.
The little prasaadam pushtaka we are purusing is
'Many Problems One Solution', from Guru-ji, Swami Tejoymayananda.
RIGHT
THINKING THE ONLY SOLUTION
Now, of course there are those who are now wondering,
'but the term "right thinking" depends on point of view', and this is
true. For those caught up in the current main conflict of the world, they truly
believe theirs is the 'right thinking'. We are not talking here, though, of
matters of doctrine, but of simple humanitarian principles. Those who have no
value for life, regardless of how 'right' they believe their doctrine to be,
fail to have the basic and universal human values about which we discuss here.
No matter your doctrine, these are fundamental to living a healthy and happy
life. Whilst each doctrine may place a different emphasis, or use different
terminology, the essence will be the same. Guru-ji has elucidated the basic
reason we have 'problems' in our life and now proceeds from the view of
Vedanta.
We have seen there are many kinds of problems which can be
faced on a daily basis, but Vedanta says that all problems a rise from lack of
right thinking alone. It remains the root cause of all our bondage, sorrow and
problems. It is said 'Aivcar
k&tae bnx> ivcaren invtRte /vichaara
kRto bandhaH vichaarena nivartate - bondage caused by lack of thinking is
removed by proper thinking.' The word vichaara means 'think', and the preceding
a- is the negation, 'not thinking'.
THREE
KINDS OF AVICHAARA
1:
Lack of Thinking; If you don't think, ignorance continues. Ignorance is not
bliss or joy, it is only suffering. Often we get into trouble because of lack
of thinking. A mother went on an errand leaving her child asleep. When she
returned, she saw a mongoose in the doorway with blood on its mouth. Presuming
the worse she killed the creature. Walking into the house, she found a dead
snake and her child unharmed. It dawned on her the mongoose had killed the
snake, saving her child. Her action had been thoughtless and merely an
instinct. Though would have said, 'the mongoose is outside, let me dash to my
child as she may need help.' This is a very Indian example, but you are sure to
have all sorts of experiences where you have reacted without giving thought a
chance first!
2:
Inadequate Thinking; some people think, but get tired of it and give up before
the completion of the process. The problem or challenge is then not only not
solved adequately - but may well be compounded. People are generally allergic
to serious or deep thinking it seems! There is a tendency always to look for
the easiest and quickest solution. This results in the 'bandaid' response… if
it is covered, one can't see the gaping gash. By not completing the
'treatment', by not flushing the 'wound' (problem) fully, then applying correct
'ointment' before applying the plaster, the wound will cause problems further
along in time to a greater or lesser degree. Another way to call this is lazy
thinking.
3:
Erroneous Thinking; as has been mentioned before, Sanskrit has multi-layered
qualities. The 'a' prefix can also - and perhaps more correctly - mean
'opposite to'. The opposite to correct thinking, then, is erroneous thinking.
Some are habituated to negative thinking and still others to wrong thinking,
two sub-categories of 'error'. Negative is not always wrong, but can become so
by its continued use. Wrong is wrong. Negative thinking is the 'glass half
empty' approach to life which not only means one is finding no joy anywhere and
is always suspicious of others' motives, but also that one becomes a drain on
the family and friends. Wrong thinking brings harm and makes crime and drags
the perpetrator and all around him or her into dark places. That doesn't mean
that we can't sometimes be wrong about any particular thing every now and then
- it may just be that we haven't learned sufficiently about something and once
corrected our thinking straightens out. Perpetual wrong thinking, though, leads
to wrong-doing or draws it towards us, and this is a major problem. Negative
thinking is dark and heavy and even if it is right about something, fails to
gain the most out of it. Wrong thinking is pure ignorance, whether it be a
simple thing such as 'let me poke my finger in the water to see if it is boiled
yet' right through to 'it is okay to kill that person because they don't
believe the same as I do'. Correction here is, in the first instance, by
experience and, secondly, education as to living peaceably whilst having
different views. The latter, of course is a much wider, social context and
outside the purview of this small discourse. Here, we are concerned with each
of our own selves and how we can tidy up our thinking in order to minimise the
problems which come before us each day.**
**Please note that the third paragraph has been
substantially edited by AV-blog.
