Month: February 2023

“Man should device means to be in contact with nature as much and in as many ways as possible.

If you love Nature and are nourished by its magical touches, where is the need for smaller company and meagre solaces!”

– Pujya Swamiji Shri Ishwarananda Giriji Maharaj

What is my goal, your goal, everyone’s goal?

Without an exception, it is bound to be the pursuit of happiness.

Even the person who is subjecting himself to all kinds of bodily pain, or even he who smilingly goes up to the gallows to sacrifice his life for his country, are all seeking an inner happiness.

So is the pursuit of happiness the most important thing?

Yes and no.

Yes. Because the pursuit of ultimate happiness, everlasting happiness, is certainly of paramount importance.

Our rishis, called this ultimate happiness – Mukti. Moksh. Kaivalya. Salvation.

But reaching it is not easy. It is an arduous path. A person who is seeking short term pleasures would soon grow weary of this path and give up.

But if one continues on this path, one may not feel immediate pangs of pleasure. But one evolves. Slowly and surely, one evolves.

So to evolve is to get closer and closer to that ultimate happiness, for which one is striving for. To attain which, one is prepared to forego short term gratification.

So what is my goal? To be happy, or to evolve?

Do I prefer to be happy while not evolving, or to evolve even as feelings of happiness seem far away.

I go for the ultimate happiness. I go for the need to evolve.

And my steadfastness towards that need, will make the journey internally joyous, even if outwardly trying.

Om.

Our prime purpose of taking birth is to attain knowledge of our true self. To attain mukti.

If not to reach there, at least to evolve to the maximum extent possible in that direction.

We face a three-fold challenge as regards our spiritual evolution.

• Develop purity of mind. So that I am an ethical person in action, word and thought. So that I harbour feelings of मैत्री – करुणा – मुदिता – उपेक्षा towards one and all. So that I do not allow lustful thoughts to creep into my mind. This would involve कर्म योग। Also, अष्टांग योग of Patanjali. Especially यम – नियम। May I also add the भजन – वैष्णव जन तो तेने रे कहिए जे… Its lyrics beautifully spell the inner cleansing to strive for.
• Develop love for God. This is भक्ति योग। 
• Gain knowledge of scriptures. ज्ञान योग। 

We have to work on all of the above. Not in any particular order, as they are all complimentary and ‘feed on each other.’

As you strengthen one, the path becomes easier for you to progress onwards in the other two.

Om