Hari OM
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality.
This month we are looking more closely at SHREYAS and PREYAS. Today, let us concentrate on the first of these words.
As with many words in Sanskrit, this is often used as a name for a son. If you were to look at a list of boy's names meanings, you would see such things as 'Excellent, Superior, Handsome, Fortunate,' and so on. These are not necessarily 'wrong', but they can be misleading.
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| from the shabdkosh (dictionary) |
One translation for shreyas is 'prosperity' and thus people pray for 'shreyas' when what they are looking for is a material gain. What we know about prosperity, a simple rule of economics, is that if one person is becoming wealthy it is because somebody else has had to spend. Prosperity comes at the cost of another's impoverishment. Our current state of affluence in the world (yes, even in '3rd world' countries) belies the fact that there is only so much wealth available to us. There is one global account from which each has to obtain their individual accounts. Some are more successful at this than others, but there can be no denying that the more one has, then less another must have.
Just think of the cake on the table. Everybody must get some. However, there will be those determined to get more than an equal share and there will be those who are left only with the crumbs.
Shreyas, then, is not to be translated as material prosperity. Such a thing can come to us but is not what is intended by this word. The prosperity which relates here is more that of improved well-being. The welfare of the community. By looking after ourselves properly and ensuring good health, correct foods, right behaviour and so on, we will not only be doing the best for ourselves but for those with whom we live and for the wider society. It is quite likely that the person applying for work who is showing signs of these things will attract the attention of the prospective employer, over one who shows signs of slovenliness, poor lifestyle or foul language. We know this instinctively and even if we tend to a lazy life at home, we will often make better efforts when outside our front door!
In the case of the spiritual seeker, though, shreyas means maintaining this 'appearance' at all times. That it must not be a mask, but an actual part of the fabric of life. Life is so much easier if one keeps it simple. Even if, at times, it can be a challenge. Particularly when we are constantly bombarded with consumerism in the form of advertising, social comparison, competitiveness for always having more.
Shreyas is to be understood as something which can be chosen. By choosing that which is for the general good - and which is not always something we would desire - the overall effect is going to be auspicious, fortunate and, yes, quite possibly prosperous.
