- Moksh
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- Life -
- -- Power of Knowledge Group. -
- - - - -- Published on: - 23-06-2023
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- - O - ur topic for today is life. When this topic arises, everyone's interpretation of it is likely to be - different. Kids may - think life is full of homework and play, teenagers may associate life with friends, enjoying a cup of - coffee, and - witnessing beautiful sunsets. Later on in life, it becomes about settling down, finding financial - security, and - eventually, it revolves around raising and ensuring the well-being of our children. So, life holds - different meanings - for each individual at different stages. However, if we look at life from a spiritual perspective, what - does it truly - mean? When we refer to life, we are referring to the entirety of it, as a series of changeable events. - Life is - constantly changing; it is not a singular thing, but rather a process that we must live through. - - -
-- If we compare a photograph of ourselves as a kid to our present selves, we will notice numerous physical - changes. We may - feel that the person we were back then and the person we are now are completely different. Life is a - continuous series - of constant changes; it is always evolving. Every minute, there is a new definition of life, always - presenting something - new for us to experience. During certain periods, we may feel that homework is important, while at other - times, family - or work takes priority. However, when we consider life as a whole, it is an ever-changing sequence of - events. Our - priorities, perspectives, and everything else in life are in a constant state of flux. - - -
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- - Let's take the example of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. The process of change may appear - painful, but - once it becomes a butterfly, it gains the ability to fly. Life presents similar changes that we may not - always be - prepared for, making us feel lost or stuck. During such times, having a guru or mentor becomes crucial. A - guru works - like Google Maps, guiding us and showing us the right direction in life. They also warn us when we are on - the wrong - path, constantly providing guidance and suggesting alternative routes. - - -
-- Whether we choose to follow the right path or not is ultimately our decision. As we discussed earlier, - life is - constantly changing, and the guru teaches us to adapt to these changes. Today may be beautiful, but - tomorrow will bring - something different. Situations around us are always changing, and if we become rigid and resist change, - we are like a - tree in a storm that falls first. On the other hand, grass is flexible and bends with the direction of the - wind. The - guru teaches us not to be rigid like a tree but to be like the grass—learning to adjust and bend ourselves - according to - the circumstances. - -
-- Often, we try to change the scenarios around us, but that is not always within our control. What we can - change is our - reaction to the situation. Our guru teaches us not to change our face but to face the change itself. When - something - changes in our life or doesn't go as planned, we may instantly feel upset, sad, extremely happy, or - express emotions - such as crying or anger through our facial expressions. However, in such situations, the guru advises us - to maintain - composure, face the change with courage, and remember that we have our "Google Maps" guiding us. With this - guidance, - there's no need to be afraid, as we know our destination. Life is meant to change, and we don't have to be - happy all the - time. Circumstances are always changing, and we need to adapt to these changes. - - -
-- To quote Charles Darwin, "It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but - the one most - responsive to change." - - - -
-- We cannot control the changes that are happening outside, but we can control the inner changes occurring - within us. We - can change our reactions and our way of speaking and living. We have control over our behavior and our - actions. All of - these things are within our power. So, instead of trying to change the external circumstances, we should - focus on - changing ourselves. Otherwise, we become increasingly sad and angry. - - -
-- One of the biggest fears that most of us have is the fear of aging or losing loved ones. These changes are - inevitable - and part of life. We are afraid of losing someone we depend on. However, it's important to realize that - nothing truly - dies. It's just a change in form. Our physical bodies may perish, but our essence continues to exist. - Understanding this - truth about death can help us find peace. - -
-- Death is simply a transformation of our physical form. If we comprehend this truth about life, we will be - able to live - life to the fullest without being affected by change. Therefore, having a Guru in our life is crucial for - living a - fulfilled life. Now that we have this precious human life, do we truly value it? - - - -
-- We could have been born as insects, dogs, or cockroaches. The reason we have received this human life is - far more - significant. Even animals drink, eat, produce offspring, and care for their young ones before eventually - dying. So, why - have we been granted this human life? It is considered the highest form of life. We have been given this - life to attain - inner peace. - -
-- As humans, we have the power of reasoning and the ability to find peace of mind through all the - circumstances that occur - in our lives. We can still be at peace, regardless of the external situations. What is your goal in life? - What is your - purpose? The purpose of life is peace of mind, not money. - -
-- Just like a fish finds peace in water and not in honey, even if you place the fish in the most expensive - alcohol, it - will only find peace in water. Similarly, in life, we chase after various things, constantly changing our - minds. - Sometimes we chase after money or other desires. However, we forget that we can only truly thrive in life - if we have - peace of mind. So, no matter where we are in life, our first priority should be to attain peace of mind. - Only then can - we go on to achieve whatever we desire, but always ensuring that we maintain that inner peace. With peace - of mind, we - can survive and thrive in any situation. - - - -
-- There will be a lot of duality in life, encompassing aspects such as death, happiness, sadness, comfort, - insult, and - praise. All of these qualities are part of life, so it is important to maintain a balance amidst this - duality. We should - remain the same whether experiencing sadness or happiness, birth or death, discomfort or comfort. Guruji - and teachers - guide us on how not to become excessively happy or too sad. Now, we must follow the neutral path, as - learning to balance - in life is crucial for achieving our desired direction. We must let go of the past and embrace neutrality - and balance. - You are the captain of your life, with control over the direction it takes. Guruji can provide guidance if - we are headed - in the wrong direction, but ultimately, the decision to change rests with us. Think of your life as a boat - with you as - the captain; your decisions determine the direction you sail. Similarly, your body is like another - metaphorical boat, - separate from your true self. Sometimes, life's challenges come in strong waves, and Guruji teaches us how - to navigate - them. Remember, you are the captain of your ship, and you should row gently, not forcefully. There will - always be two - paths in front of us, and whichever path we choose may involve depression or sadness. It is essential to - learn how to - face these challenges with consciousness and awareness. - - -
-- Our Guruji's mantra is "shukrana" and "muskurana," which means that we need to be genuinely happy and - thankful to God at - all times. We should find joy in life and not burden ourselves with unnecessary stress. No matter what the - external - circumstances are, our Guruji always tells us to thank God because He has a better plan for all of us. - Even in the - Bhagavad Gita, it is written, "Prasannchit Wale Ko main shighra hi Darshan deta hun," which means that - when you are - truly happy, God is present. We should strive to be genuinely happy, regardless of the situation. Although - we cannot - change the outer circumstances, we can change our reactions to them. We should not fear the future because - our God is - with us, and with faith, we can find strength and happiness in every situation. - - - -
-- Life is like a dream, an illusion. Our Guruji always emphasizes "Jagat mithya, Brahma Satya," meaning that - the world is - like an illusion, constantly changing, while the truth remains constant. When we are dreaming, we believe - the dream to - be real, but upon waking up, we realize it was just a dream. Similarly, when we live our lives, we - perceive them as real - and happening to us. However, Guruji comes and wakes us up, reminding us that life is like a dream. - -
-- "Arise, awake, and stop not till your goal is achieved." Don't perceive life as real; it is akin to a - dream. If I were - to ask you about your life, you would introduce yourself and perhaps share a brief overview of your - childhood, which - would take a few minutes at most. Despite living for 30 or 40 years, you can summarize your life in just a - few hours. - Life is like a play; observe and experience it. - - -
- -- Whatever situation there is in our life, whether good or bad, it will always pass. You will not always - have happy - scenarios, nor will you always be in sad situations. This is another thing that Guruji says: "This too - shall pass." Life - is just a passing show. What we need to do is watch it like a spectator without getting attached to it. We - need to - realize that we are the creators of the dream play and not get stuck in this illusion. Life is like a - dream. - -
- -- Our Guruji tells the story of Raja Janak, a king who had a dream. Despite living a life of riches and - luxury, one day he - dreamed of being a beggar, hungry and desperately begging for food. After a great struggle, he finally - managed to get a - little porridge, but just as he was about to eat it, a dog came and took it away. Raja Janak woke up in - turmoil and - called all the saints and learned men of his kingdom. He didn't tell them what he had seen, but simply - asked, "Is this - the truth or that the truth?" No one could answer this question except for one child, Ashtavakra, a - 12-year-old boy with - eight twists in his body. He said, "This is not true, and that is also not true." He meant that the dream - was not true, - and neither was reality. Both were just illusions. In conclusion, a true Guru comes and wakes us up from - the dreamy - state. When we believe that our life is real and everything happening around us is real, in reality life - is an illusion. - It is a passing show. - -
- -- If you adopt the behavior of accepting everything in your life, you will live life to the fullest. There - are two - principles to live life to the fullest. First, live your life as if today is your last day. If today were - your last day, - would you waste it or hold grudges? Would you be rude to anyone? No, you would be kind and nice and not - waste time. The - second principle is to live as if you are going to live forever. Would you be scared of living if you were - going to live - forever? Any problem that comes in your life would seem insignificant because you are going to live - forever. These two - principles may seem contradictory, but they make great sense. We have to think about it. Live as if it's - your last day, - meaning live in the present moment and don't dwell on the past or future. Live happily in this moment. The - second - principle is to live as if you will live forever, so don't waste time worrying about future challenges and - problems. - Face them with a positive attitude and behavior towards life. Don't hold on to fears or be scared of the - future, and all - your problems will seem insignificant and small because you know you are going to live on forever. - -
- -- We often think that we are human beings going through a spiritual experience, but the truth is that we are - spiritual - beings going through a human experience. Whatever problems we face are insignificant and small. If we keep - these two - principles in mind, we need to value this human form of life. Life, in general, is very rare, and not - everyone gets it. - If we have a Guru in our life, we should make the most of it and value this human life. Don't waste it. - -
-- Sometimes we say we are killing time or we are bored, but we don't realize that time is actually killing - us. We waste - our lives on trivial and insignificant things, burdening ourselves with the weight of life. Instead, - accept whatever - comes and move forward. With the grace of God, we will reach a beautiful destination. -
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