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.
The next text which will guide the
Choose-day posts is "Tips for Happy Living - jIvnsUÇai[
/jiivanasuutraani", by Swami Tejomayananda (Guru-ji). Choose-days writings
are here to prompt deeper thinking on the choices made on a daily basis and
seek to provide prompts for raising the standard of one's thinking and living.
This text composed in format of Sanskrit traditional teachings, speaks directly
to this purpose. As ever, the full text may be obtained from CM Publications - or your local centre
(see sidebar).
Perhaps,
in some exceptional cases, this is appropriate; but it is rare. The human
critter, even if compromised physically, mentally or emotionally, will always
have an individual awareness and that individual awareness must live its life
according to its praarabdha.
Does
this mean that others can play no role in our lives, or we in theirs?
prSpr<
sahaYy< tu s<_avit.5.
Parasparam
saahaayyam tu sambhavati ||5||
Mutual help, however, is possible.
Guru-ji
goes on to say in this suutra that there is nothing wrong in assisting each
other. The difference is, unlike the disempowerment which comes from seeking to
direct and control the lives of another, or be controlled ourselves, with
appropriate help, empowerment comes. Empowerment means that we/others can still
act from our/their own volition, but have the security of knowing there is
somewhere to turn in difficulty.
Indeed,
socially, it is often the case that we can play an important role in others
lives, or have others leave a strong and positive impression on ours. The key
point, however, is that in providing assistance and guidance, we do not take
the final decision or action for that other person or have it taken for us. The
empowerment comes in gleaning all the knowledge we can from others, adding it
to our own understanding and, if we have it, experience, then moving forward
with a decision that we alone have made. Simple example might be that of an
examination for, say, geography. We and we alone can sit at that desk and write
that paper. How we do that, as well as what our results show, will depend how
well we have listened to those in the know (our teachers), what research/study
we did for ourselves and whether we carried out the exercises to provide
experience in relevant sections. We also know that cheating can provide good
paper results, but if we get work in that field, we will be found out for our lack
of knowledge and create problems for ourselves and our employers.
Another
factor to be aware of is that everybody, at one point or another, will be
tested. If we have surrendered our power for whatever reason, that test will be
so much the harder to pass. It is not advisable to become dependent. Even the
most trustworthy colleague cannot be 100%
'there' at all events. We must be sure to have learned sufficiently
well, and empowered ourselves in a
suitable manner, such that we can cope, no matter what comes our way.
This
also means that we need to minimise obligations and favours. Those things are
fine, in small doses, but if we are locked in a web of 'you owe me' or 'look
what I did for you', we are again disempowered. Very often 'help' is given or
taken when it is not actually required and this builds these webs. Always
assess the need for help in an objective manner.
Do
not, however, withhold the giving of help or refuse to receive help in cases
where it is truly warranted. Genuine needs must always be addressed and this is
the mutuality being referred to in the suutra.
