Ajit Kumar Bishnoi cites examples of how we all seek to attain peace but are looking in the wrong places

All our lives we are looking for ways and means to make ourselves happy and secure, but we don’t succeed in either of them. Why is thatIJ Because we are looking for them in wrong places. let us see where we look for them.

Money: This is first on the list. Yes, money does provide comforts, pleasures and necessities of life, but it does not give us peace by itself, without which there is no happiness. (The Bhagavad Gita, 2.66) If money could give peace, very rich people will never commit suicide; some of them do. There is some sense of security when money is available in plenty, but no real security.

Power or position: Yes, they give some benefits but happiness or security is far cry from them. There will be always fear that these would be snatched away any time.

Fame: We try so hard for gaining attention, recognition, fame, etc but they do not satisfy. Yes, they do please, but we hanker for more endlessly. Where is peace thenIJ

Beauty or good physique: We all know that they are transitory. How can they, then, give us permanent peace or sense of securityIJ

Knowledge: Yes, this is good to gain, but it has to be spiritual knowledge. Material knowledge is only good enough for earning a living. This cannot give either peace or sense of security. Even spiritual knowledge is not sufficient in itself; it must be practised.

Renunciation: Even this does not ensure peace or happiness unless one is solidly linked with God. That alone can ensure everything: peace, happiness and a sense of security.

Good friends or contacts: Are they themselves not limitedIJ How can they, then give us what they don’t possessIJ

Good family: This is conducive to peace and a sense of security, but even a good family is also limited in the ultimate sense.

Sense pleasures, including sensuous pleasures: They do please but leave us unsatisfied. We want more. That is the reason we crave for more sense enjoyment and even harm ourselves in the process like overeating or indulging in illicit sex.

Having a spiritual guru: This is good if the guru is genuine, that is, practises what he or she preaches. But then here also one needs to practise what the guru tells us. He or she cannot do it for us; we need to implement what he or she teaches. Only then peace and a sense of security will prevail.

Therefore, we are left with only one viable choice, that is, God. Unfortunately, most of us realise this fact by the time it is too late; our precious human lives are already almost over. What, then, is the conclusionIJ Is it not obviousIJ We must begin as of this moment to develop a loving relationship with God by doing some spiritual practises, as suit our natures. There are plenty of options, we just need to take them up. I welcome your comments.

Bishnoi is a spiritual writer. He can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com