This realisation will help us mend our ways, achieve the highest goal for which God has made a provision, and rid us of false expectations, says AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
If we have a contrary view, we will repeatedly face disappointment because earth is a place of misery. It is not my conjecture or even experience. lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita, “Great souls do not take rebirth in this impermanent place of miseries.” (8.15) There are other planets, which are places of enjoyment. Yes, our scientists have not located them, but by their own admission there are unlimited possibilities. Right now they are looking for earth like planets, where life can be sustained. There is mention of heaven in scriptures. That is a place of fun, not this earth. I am not even for a moment suggesting that the earth has nothing but miseries. No, there is enjoyment also as experienced by all of us, but mostly it is miserable existence; the proportion of fun is small.
The simile of a jail will illustrate what has been stated. A newly married woman visits her husband in jail, where he is spending time after being convicted of killing a man, though accidentally. That is the reason for his reduced sentence. He complained to her about the living conditions in jail. His wife then went to the jailor and complained. The jailor was a patient man, as he was used to listening to similar complaints. He heard her out and laughed loudly. He said: “What did you or your husband expectIJ Is this jail a fun placeIJ If it was, what is the punishmentIJ If there is no difference between living conditions at someone’s home and here, what will be the deterrence for doing criminal actsIJ People are given punishment so that they are reformed and are more careful in dealing with others. I accept that your husband killed someone without intending to, but he did. Are you aware that in some countries he would have been executed under the rule death for deathIJ” Feeling miserable, the woman left.
She then went to a spiritualist and told him the story. She enquired from him, “How is God mercifulIJ Does he not know that my husband did not kill in a premeditated wayIJ” The spiritualist replied: “Do you have any idea what your husband or us have done in our past livesIJ For offences such as hating and cruelty, souls are sent to lower species. (16.19) We are here in human bodies because our sins must not have been as bad. Therefore, God has put us on earth to reform ourselves. Is that not being mercifulIJ Not only have we been provided human bodies, which are superior to all other species, we can also achieve the highest goal of getting freed from the cycle of birth and death. We are even better placed than the residents of heaven, which is mainly to enjoy one’s pious deeds, which ultimately run out.
“Do you realise that God is not responsible for anyone’s impious deeds; we are (5.15), just as he does not take credit for anyone’s pious deeds. (5.15) God knows our past. You are feeling bad about your husband without knowing the big picture; God knows why your husband is in such a sorry situation. These matters are not decided on the basis of our present lives alone. That is the reason God does not shed any tears for our misfortunes. God is incredibly merciful, more merciful than you and I can ever be. Go home and patiently wait for your husband’s sentence to be over.”
So, accept the reality of this world and thekarmaphala principle. Our expectation that there should be no misery on earth is flawed. It is certainly not a fun place. If we realise this, we will be better off because we will mend our ways, have no false expectations, and achieve the highest goal for which God has made a provision.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com