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.
We are reading "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).
Why
does it seem as if those who have noble goals and great ideals have
troubles follow them around?
ïeya<is
bhuiv¸nanIit àisÏm!.5.
Shreyaamsi
bahu-vighnaaniiti prasiddham ||5||
It is well know that great goals have many impediments.
We
so often see or comment "oh that person is so good, why are they plagued with such problems in life?" It can appear that noble endeavours have to
face many hurdles… but is it really so? Do not those who are not making an
obvious mark in life face the same difficulties? Can it also not be that those
we consider to be charlatans or rogues or lacking in morality appear to have no
such difficulties and sail through life untouched?
The
truth is there in all cases. Everybody will have their share according to
their praarabdha, this is an inescapable fact. We care more about the effects
when we think someone is rather more worthy, in the social context. This is a judgement call we make; if someone wishes to set up a community farm in a struggling village but has to deal with local councils and regulations, we feel a greater sympathy for them than we would for, say, the street thief who has his finger broken by someone trying to defend themselves. The thief is not known to us, but the philanthropist is. A harsh, but everyday fact. However,
what makes the difference, regardless of nobility, is the handling of the troubles. Are they allowed to overwhelm? In the case of the thief we might think in terms of a lesson being taught and the chance being there to ponder his/her poor ways and taking a chance to change for the better. In the context of this verse though, we are looking at those who are doing the right thing. People deal with similar situations in many different ways. There are certainly some people who
buckle under the pressure of troubles; some of them when the troubles seem to others as
mere hiccups, others when the load has gone way beyond what many other folk
would have considered manageable. There are some who fear even to begin their
work out of fear of what might come in their way… a noble idea which is not
followed up because of fear loses that nobility.
Then
there are those who simply never give up. The goal is more to them than any obstacle and whilst they may be delayed, they will keep on keeping on.
Sometimes this is at the cost of relationships and security. If one believes in
something enough, there can be a cost. The belief is important. It doesn't have
to be so great that we do in fact compromise our family or friendships, but to
keep going is very important to the joy we will get from life. We can only get
as much return as we are willing to invest, even if there is some risk.
