Q 9. Why is that the people today are in an eternal state of restlessness even with all the economic security and material comforts? What is your solution to all the unhappiness and misery in the world today? 

The tree visible above the ground has its roots under ground. The sorrows and conflicts that disturb your peace are the repercussions of your actions; the root is within you. What you really lack is peace within.

This was the solution Siddhartha (Buddha) obtained in his quest for peace. Many researches have been conducted since time immemorial on how to attain peace. A number of seers have clarified this issue. Yet this question has been rocking humanity, because people have never shown interest in implementing the solutions offered by wise men.

Mind is the reason for all discord. Thayumanavar (a Tamil seer) declares, ‘Divinity does not reveal itself to those who have not tamed their minds’. Thirumoolar (a Tamil prophet) states, ‘If the mind is mellowed, one need not practise yoga or chant mantras. If the mind is mellowed, the path to Divinity becomes clear’.

People confuse the mind with the heart. The mind is located in the middle of the forehead where the breath concentrates. Yogis discipline their breathing and achieve mind control. Gnanis (sages) discipline their minds and achieve breath-control.

A Gnani realizes the world is an illusion. This is the state of the Buddha. ‘The world is afflicted with miseries. The world is transient. The world is illusory.’ Gnanis advise us to overcome our desires that are the root cause of all miseries. That is the state glorified by the Azhwars (Vaishnavite saints), ‘Once you have overcome your desires, you are on the path to Divinity’.

What prevents you from becoming detached? - Your attachment to the world, materialistic pursuits, your family; your pre-occupation with name and fame. Until you overcome this attachment, you cannot attain peace. Arunagirinatha was a libertine; at one point of time, people avoided him because he was afflicted with a contagious disease. His sister went to the extent of offering her body to appease him and that marked the turning point in his life. He transformed himself, realizing that desires hampered his happiness, and then became a saint. He devoted his life to singing the glories of Lord Muruga (‘Kandar Anubhuthi’ verses). Pattinathar coveted wealth. Lord Siva presented Himself as Pattinathar’s son and wrote to him, ‘That needle without an eye and a man of wealth, both come to naught’.  Pattinathar embraced sanyas, thanks to his son.

Only when people fail in their repeated attempts to satiate their desires, do they realize that all these are transient, and then develop detachment.

No child has ever heeded its mother’s warning, ‘Do not touch fire; it will burn your fingers’. Only when the child gets hurt, does it realize the consequence of its action, and exercises care then onward.

Life consists of wisdom gained from experience, not knowledge gathered from books. In school lessons, you read that ‘desires are the root cause of all evil’. But you never imbibed the meaning of this statement. If you had, you would have followed it and would have never been disgruntled with life. People do not realize that it is worth discarding desires, instead of attempting to fulfill them. This is the problem society has been facing.

Economic security and material comforts can satisfy your physical needs, but they can never contribute to your inner peace and harmony. And unless you are at peace with yourself, external disturbances will continue to affect you. Inner peace will radiate only when you sweep away the desires that continue to plague your mind. You have not yet infused the interest to clean your mind of desires, but continue wondering why people’s minds are cluttered. Like you dust the trash outside, you need to sweep away the dirt of desires that cloud your mind. Then you will enjoy the peace of silence. The initiative has to come from you.

Every country talks of banning atomic missiles, quoting that as the reason for the present turbulence. Assume China, Russia and America do away with all the missiles they have. People will make use of some other weapons to fight. Even if they discard all these seventeenth century arms, they will fight with stones, the Neanderthal age weapons. Not weapons, but agitated minds, cause conflict.

No weapon can trouble a peaceful mind. Nothing can destroy the peace in the world then. You must focus on this angle.

At Samratchana, we are blessed with peace, seek the company of noble persons in the sathsangh, retire peacefully to bed, wake in the morning and get back to work. You enjoy peaceful sleep; you do not have any idle time. It is idle time that confuses a person.

When a person mingles with like-minded persons (sathsangh), he gets rid of any ill feelings that may have obstructed his peace. Psychologically, if a person is let alone, all sorts of negative thoughts invade the privacy of his mind. When he is in the company of good individuals, he is cured of this psychological illness. So, one remedy is to concentrate on positive thoughts and be with positive minded persons.

Think good. How can a restless mind find peace unless it is contented? And the initiative has to come from you. At Samratchana, we are peaceful. We are able to accomplish good. Here, you have chosen this as the right way of life for yourself, so you are at peace. When every person seeks contentment, the world attains the peace you are enjoying.

You sought peace, hoping to find it here. And so you have attained it. This is what Jesus said, ‘Ask and it shall be given to you. Knock and the doors shall open. Seek and you shall attain’.

People have not yet asked for peace. They sought the material comforts of car, bungalow and family, wherefrom can they attain peace? None of these can give you peace, because peace is not external. Only when individuals obtain all the material comforts they sought, will they realize that these really do not bring peace. You will not seek anything then; you will be happy receiving God’s grace. This contentment will guide you here; else you will continue searching for you do not know what.

(Continues next week....)

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