If there is one thing which everyone
without exception desires in one’s life, it is ‘happiness’. Whoever it be, of whatever type one may be,
none would wish to be unhappy, even though not clear as to how to achieve
it. However, it is often seen that
everyone is faced with unhappiness at some stage or other, whatever be one’s
station in life, whether well-placed or ill-placed. Even one overflowing with
riches, or wielding power, is no exception.
The question arises as to why even the affluent tend to be unhappy. The
common diagnosis is: ‘Emotional imbalances and disturbances’, which lead to
lack of patience and composure, lack of self-control, and, becoming a victim to
impulsiveness. All these to generalize mean, when negative qualities take over
the person. Now, what are the basic
negative qualities that torment one’s happiness ? Indian scriptures have identified six of them
as : ‘Kaama, Kroadha, Loabha, Moaha,
Mada and Maatsarya’ i.e., passion, wrath, miserliness, lust, pride and envy
respectively. These polluting tendencies have been dubbed as ‘demonic’ in the
commencing prayer of a Vedic hymn, chanted in a dawn/dusk ritual :
“
Uttishtantu Bhoota Pisaachaaha
Aytaay
Bhoomi Bhaarakaha
Aytayshaam Aviroadhayna
Brahma Karma
Samaarabhay”
The inference is that the abominable
qualities listed above, are a burden to this planet, it is said, and need to be
discarded from one’s mind. The problem
however is that they are very powerful too.
See what Bhagavad Geeta says in
this regard:
When Arjuna asks the Lord: “ By what force doth man go to his ill,
unwilling, as though pushed towards that evil path?”, pat comes the reply :
“ Kaama it is, passion it is, born of
darkness, mighty of appetite, sinful and
strong is this man’s enemy ….. The world
of things is foiled, soiled and enclosed in this desire of flesh. The wise fall
caught in it. The un-resting foe it is
of wisdom, wearing countless forms, fair but deceitful, subtle as a flame.
Sense, mind and reason are the booty for it.
In its play with these, it maddens man, beguiling, blinding him.” (Bhagavad Geeta)
Such is the power of Kaama (passion)
over the human mind !
The other consuming quality, wrath
(anger), is equally potent and harmful : A person sizzling with anger, is like
a burning candle that goes on consuming itself as it burns…… Anger is a self-inflicted curse. …. A termite that eats up into one’s very
vitals. …. A blast that shatters all composure. …. A swirling whirlpool that
sucks into itself all energy and vigor, leaving one debilitated. …. A flash
flood that dislodges all moorings of attachment and love. … A volcanic eruption
that throws out nothing but the lava of hatred, revenge and malice all around,
rendering one bereft of sanity.
The other negative qualities that have been
listed, are no less devastating in their own way.
In Bhagavad Geeta there is also a
forewarning enunciation :
“ The doors of hell are threefold,
whereby men to ruin pass: The door of
lust, the door of wrath, and the door of avarice. Let a man shun these three. He who shall turn
aside from entering these three gates of narak, wendeth straight to find his
peace, and comes to Swarga’s gate”.
Thus, all that has been said above,
is a clear pointer to the
‘satanic’, discardable, negative,
yet powerful qualities that result in emotional imbalances and disturbances,
and lead to the most undesirable consequences.
Now that the diagnosis has been done,
our attention then needs to be directed towards the treatment of the ailment.
It is easy to understand that the seat of , the launching pad for, all
emotions, good or bad, is the mind. It
is that equipment alone that leads one to either happiness or sorrow, or either
to heaven or hell. Thus it is evident
that the only cure to the ailment, the only way to counter the emotional
imbalances and disturbances is, to purify the mind, exercise control over it,
and endeavor to purge out of it the negative qualities that have been listed earlier. However, every individual whosoever it be,
has the potential, has the capability of achieving success in this, if only
with a strong will and determination, perseveres in the march forward, unnerved
by any lurking doubts and spurts of pessimism that may raise their heads. For,
there is a Higher Power that gives life to mind, and, has the commanding
potential to ensure that the mind behaves properly.
However, know that it is not that all
emotions are bad. There are good and bad
ones. Good emotions like love, compassion, kindness, mercy, sympathy, concern
etc., are good and desirable, and conducive to happiness. But, bad ones like
lust, wrath, avarice, revenge, arrogance, envy, hatred etc., are undesirable ,
and, harm others and even oneself. Of
course, it may not be possible not to have even traces of the latter type. Emotions like passion, anger, jealousy etc.,
often raise their heads, but they should not be allowed to jump over and
overpower you. They must be under check and control. They should not totally possess you to the
extent of eradication of the good ones. Imbalances arise when the undesirable
emotions heavily outnumber the desirable ones, as also, when the former cross
the limit, and become excessive and harmful.
A sort of equanimity and moderation has to prevail. Now to the purging and purifying process of
the mind.
The ancient Sages of India have
realized and chartered out prescriptions
to achieve the desired objective :
(a)
Aspire for peace of mind thru an assiduous practice of self-restraint
and self-control, besides orienting the mind to a higher and subtler plane, by
study and listening to the wise counsels of a Preceptor.
(b)
Exercise control over the activities of the sense-organs, and organs of
action.
(c)
Learn to perform acts without nurturing a sense of doer-ship, and
renouncing undue concern for the fruits of action ( in the Bhagavad Geeta
designated as ‘Nishkaama Karma’).
(d)
Cultivate an attitude of equanimity towards ‘pairs of opposites’ e.g.,
joy and sorrow, success and failure, pleasure and pain, love and hatred etc.
Apart from the above, counsels were
prescribed for a proper body-mind upkeep thru practices like ‘Pranayama’
(breath-control and breathing exercises), as also ‘Yoga Asana-s’ which are
exercises involving physical postures that keep not only body in good shape,
but also have a salutary effect on the mind as well. Besides these, is the
ancient practice of Transcendental
Meditation that calms, purifies and enlightens the mind, to such a level that
it gets immune to the polluting effects, negative tendencies, and emotional
disturbances.
Besides the above counsels rendered
by ancient Indian scriptures, the following down-to-earth practical guidelines
for our day-to-day life and activities, can also be considered and implemented,
for the mitigation of emotional imbalances and disturbances :
(i)
Realize that the world is a place where often things do not happen the
way you wish, and, people do not think, speak, act and behave the way you
presume.
(ii)
Expect not that the world is just exclusively cut out for YOU, to
suit YOUR needs, and to fulfill YOUR
desires.
(iii)
Realize and understand the implications of the five chief
characteristics of creation:
Uncertainty,
Unpredictability, Imperfection, Impermanence,
and Diversity.
(iv)
I may not live the way you like, and, you may not the way I like. But there will be less problems if we both
realize that no two in this world are alike.
(v)
Happy is the person who does not search for the causes of
happiness. Know that a person’s basic needs are few; but desires are many and
unending.
(vi)
Realize that failures, disappointments and sufferings, are as much parts
of life, as successes, fulfillments and joys. Take them
all with equal grace or nonchalance.
If a sincere and earnest attempt be
made to assimilate and implement all that has been stated above, there can be
less scope for emotional imbalances and disturbances, and, more likelihood of
gaining composure, an outlook of
equanimity on life , and greater scope for peace of mind and happiness.
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