God must top our list of a sound support system. Money is undoubtedly important but not as important as a good connection with God, writes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
We all crave security. Rather throughout our lives, we are focused on this aspect. This being as important as it is, have you seriously analysed it scientificallyij If not, it is time to do so. This article will help in this regard. We must have a sound support system. Nobody will question this premise. Then who must top the listij God of course! It may surprise a few because adequate money is what most people consider to be the real security. Yes, money is important but not as important as a good connection with God, as will be clear from the following paragraphs. By the way, I know a lot of people who have plenty of money but are not secure.
logically speaking, God being omnipotent must be the one who can really protect. All others are just as limited as we are helpless in the ultimate sense. When we talk of protection, we must understand what this means. Does it mean to give us immunity against diseases, death or fateij No, even God does not provide such a protection. What God does if we surrender to Him is to bail us out of our troubles, which we have brought upon ourselves by faulty deeds or having placed ourselves in bad places like a terrorist infested area. And God does not interfere with death, except in very exceptional circumstances.
God promises such protection and help in the Gita. In the verse #9.22, lord Krishna states that He protects regular practitioners of yoga. And for getting out of trouble, God helps those with God consciousness in crossing all impediments. (18.58) In addition, God guides sitting our hearts. (10.11 and 15.15). He alerts us of likely troubles so we can take preventive action. Additionally, He warns if we are doing something which will harm us because God can see the big picture and we cannot.
Money is not the second best defence either; dharma is. Yes, dharma declines and God has to incarnate for the re-establishment of religious principles (4.7-4.8), but dharma is still powerful enough to protect those who follow it; dharma rakshati rakshitah. Sufficient money is the third line of defence. Why is money so importantij Because it is the karmaphala of the right kind. It can be exchanged for so many desirables.
A loving family is an excellent security, those one loves and they do likewise. love essentially means making sacrifices without seeking some material gain like a mother loves a child. Such love not only provides support but is an emotional bedrock. Competent, reliable doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc are crucial for feeling secure. One faces many health and other issues in life and their easy availability is highly comforting. Excellent friends, whom one can trust are in the same category; one needs them to exist well. Quality help like nurses, babysitters, even organisers are a part of the support system. One should have these in one’s go-to list.
Without good physical health, where is the sense of securityij Yes, one cannot entirely control it but all appropriate attempts must be made in this direction. (6.17) Mental health is still more important. Chanakya said that he is prepared to lose everything but not his mental faculty if he was given a choice. Mental strength is that crucial to feel secure. One can tolerate many health scares if one has atmabala or the strength of the soul. This comes from God. Peaceful disposition is similarly important because one will not so easily begin to feel insecure. Spiritual knowledge and a suitable spiritual mentor are extremely precious in one’s life and must be a part of one’s support system. lastly, what one must avoid at all costs are enmity and negative forces chasing one. These can spoil everything. This is a long list but feeling secure is not so simple; we need to have many kinds of supports. Take a piece of paper and make your own list.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com