AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI suggests one must indulge in spiritual practices such as meditation, chanting, worshipping God, studying scriptures, praying, and interacting with realised souls
This is a serious problem when the onset of problems or their anticipation sends us in the mode of worrying. Why does this happenIJ There are several reasons but the main reason is a past bad experience, which has left a deep impression on the psyche. This experience could be from the previous life also. For example, a person gets stricken by a terminal disease. Instead of accepting it as a punishment for his past acts, he laments it. This makes his condition worse. As the disease advances, this person gets into worse and worse mood. In that consciousness, he leaves the body, which gets transferred to the next life, because we carry the mind with us to the next body. (Bhagavad Gita 15.8)
He comes to the new body with a damaged psyche. Such a person is a fit candidate for being a habitual worrier. He should have realised in the previous life that neither the material nature nor God have anything against anyone. The material nature simply administers the law ofkarma as set out by God. Divine forces do not single out anyone for harsh treatment; they just do their duty. This can be understood by an example of a judge. No judge leaves his home with a preconceived notion of sending someone to the gallows. However, if a fit case comes before him, he is duty-bound to sentence the convicted person to death.
If a person wishes to be rid of such emotional weakness, what should he doIJ He should take help of past-life regression technique without the help of someone else. He should realise that he had allowed some terrible happening to damage his psyche, which he should not have done. Major diseases are not chance phenomenon like a cold one suffers; these visit us due to some terrible act/acts done by us. And by suffering such misfortune, one has exhausted the same and there is no need to be fearful of something like that happening again, unless there is a fresh reason for the same.
Even in that case, it does not help to be fearful. There is clear guidance in our scriptures for dealing with such terrible fate. Firstly, one must develop a strong link with God, who has promised to help cross this bad destiny. (18.58) Faith in God also helps keep the mental faculty intact. Secondly, one must treat diseases as normal for a material body in the material world. No one is exempt from it. Yes, the magnitude of suffering varies, but no one else is responsible other than the person concerned. Thirdly, this human body is very versatile. It can be made good use of, no matter what afflicts it. Be determined to do exactly that while doing all duties towards the body. Fourthly, acceptance gives a lot less suffering than what is feared or experienced.
There are other reasons as well, which cause mental problems. The first one is death of someone close. Even separation causes mental problems. Suffering is another cause, especially if it is prolonged. Health problems are another cause. Failure or loss or possibility of loss of material objects disturb us. Injustice also hurts.
If we allow ourselves to be mentally disturbed, we do a lot of harm to ourselves. We should do everything to prevent this from happening.
The following will help greatly. Doing spiritual practices like meditation, chanting, worshipping God, studying scriptures, praying, interacting with realised souls etc help a lot. Then, one must have faith in God and his justice, otherwise it is not possible to prevent emotional disturbance. One must also accept the fundamental nature of this world and the basis on which it functions — karmaphala principle. One must value peace as if nothing is more desirable than it. For this, one must control one’s mind and senses.
If we can do all these and what is stated earlier, we will be able to get over the sick habit of worrying and fearing, and can lead a quality life, otherwise life is going to be one painful experience.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com