The Path to Perfection

 The Path to Perfection

From the moment we are born we are constantly told that life should unfold in a certain way to attain success and happiness. At every stage we are told to meet certain expectations which are vital for our progress, right from taking our first steps to achieving all the goals society has set for us to obtain the certificate for a perfect life. The bucket list of accomplishments considered worthy to be given this certificate includes social etiquette, education, career, material assets, marriage, children, etc. Consequently everybody strives hard to attain the goal of a perfect life.

However, no matter how hard one tries, sometimes life just doesn't match up to fit the blueprint we create for ourselves. People fail to understand that there is no such thing as a perfect life.  Inevitably, unfavorable circumstances occur which compel one to confront the reality of what life actually is - a mixture of both joy and sorrow. In the pursuit of chasing success and happiness, some ardent desires remain unfulfilled, making one feel inadequate, frustrated, trapped and miserable, causing immense pain. This is the time when we introspect to find the root cause of our suffering and turn towards God, seeking answers for all the unresolved queries of life so that we can find the true meaning and purpose of life. 

Life Lesson

When God wants all our attention, He creates situations that put us on the path that leads to him. He brings us to the state where our false beliefs shatter and transform our perspective towards life. The concept of a ‘perfect life’ set by society is unrealistic for if life was perfect, nobody would seek the Divine. No one would look beyond the temporary nature of this mortal world. It is the imperfections of life that drive us towards seeking the absolute truth. The unresolved questions about life turn us into seekers and compel us to find Him.  We then realize that the ultimate goal of human life is to reach out to the supreme, know him and re-establish our eternal bond with Him. That is the real meaning of liberation and the rightful path that leads us to true perfection.

Like a mother longing for her child’s affection and attention, Bhagwan Shri Krishna says the following to Arjuna:

Bg. 9.34

मन्मना भव मद्भ‍क्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु । मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायण: ॥ ३४ ॥

Bg. 9.34

मन्मना भव मद्भ‍क्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु । मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायण: ॥ ३४ ॥

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisance to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to me.

Written by : Saraswathi M V

Mentor: Prof. Shalini R Pujari

Samavrtti-Embracing the Dualities of Life

 

Samavrtti-Embracing the Dualities of Life

SKY- the celestial sphere - is admired by all for its fabulous color, ethereal beauty and vast space of limitless quality. It is also the seat of cosmic power. Every living creature looks up to it, which makes it truly a magical part of our world. 

The most admirable quality of the sky is that it remains unperturbed whether birds and clouds glide past or thunder and lightning chase each other. It remains unfazed through day and night, embracing both darkness and light. Showing no preference it enhances the beauty of both the enchanting rainbow and the mesmerizing rain. The sky truly has no limits to its all- encompassing nature. 

LIFE LESSON

We humans have been bestowed with beauty and grace of the divine residing in each one of us as Paramatma and a powerful mind as vast as the celestial sphere, with its limitless capacity for rational thinking, imagination, creativity and understanding. We have been blessed with the ability to evolve as individuals, provided our thought process is channelized in the right direction. However, the biggest hindrance to our growth is our inability to embrace the dualities of life. We get so entangled in them that we forget our life purpose – to become the best version of ourselves. We can overcome this hindrance by bringing in stability in our nature. Meditation helps one to achieve stability of mind but in order to develop stability in nature we must learn to be equipoised. Equanimity can be achieved only when we develop detachment to the fruits of our actions and solely concern ourselves to doing our duty without yearning for the results of our actions. This is the nature of a true Karmayogi whose actions do not bind. When we perform our work selflessly as service to God, we then perceive both positive and negative fruits of our work as the ‘Will of God’, and joyfully accept both. 

The first step towards developing equanimity within ourselves is to practice MINDFULNESS. We need to live in the present moment with greater awareness of our thoughts and actions. We also need to learn to RESPOND and not REACT to situations… to focus on what is necessary and let go of all that disturbs our peace of mind. We need to stop taking everything personally, distance ourselves from situations so that we can analyze them from a neutral perspective for better understanding. Self awareness can help us control our thoughts, desires and emotions, for the art of true knowing lies in knowing what to ignore and what to focus on.

Bhagwan Shri Krishna says the following to Arjuna:

Bg. 4.22

यदृच्छालाभसंतुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः । समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते ॥ २२ ॥

yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭo dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ samaḥ siddhāv asiddhau ca kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate

Translation

He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions.

Written by: Saraswathi M V

Mentor: Prof. Shalini R Pujari