A genuine sense of security cannot be achieved through money or power. It lies in one’s faith in God, says AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
Who doesn’tIJ We, souls, know in our hearts that we are small and in many ways helpless and need security. What do most people doIJ They try to earn/have enough money. For this, people work very hard beginning with years of education/training. Yes, money gives security because money is a medium of exchange. It mostly gets us what we need. However, there are many pitfalls or can be in obtaining enough money. Some people forget that money is only a medium and not security in itself. Ignorant of this, many go on accumulating money. In the process, they forget the original purpose of gaining money. They turn making money into the sole purpose of living. Some even cheat to get that extra cash, which backfires sooner or later.
Money has severe limitations in giving us complete security. Can money prevent bad luck from visiting us by way of sickness, failure, accident, etcIJ No. Money can only bring us relief when something like this happens. Peace of mind — the most precious need of a human beings is not ensured by money. Many rich persons suffer from mental ailments and crave for peace.
let us take some other means through which we try to secure ourselves. Family comes next in order of priorities. Man being a social animal is meant to live in a family. Its members are supposed to cooperate with one another and give help for making both material and spiritual progress. Mutual trust goes a long way in making one feel secure. However, excessive dependence except when one is a child is not desirable, because ultimately, we are all helpless. We are severely limited in how much we can help ourselves, let alone help others. Still, family gives the feeling of security.
Then comes material knowledge. A knowledgeable person feels secure because he/she can earn his living and is also confident of managing his or her life well. This is true to a certain extent, but not wholly correct. At a higher level, where important decisions are to be taken, such as giving direction to life, material knowledge is insufficient. One is unable to become peaceful. Power is next. Those wielding power feel secure. But all power is based upon support of others. One will be always afraid of losing one’s support base. Similarly, physical health gives confidence but it is fickle. One can be stricken with some disease and we are all bound to age. Good looks, too, can make one feel secure but like physical strength, they are slowly lost.
Can, then, one never feel secureIJ Don’t we have something or someone who can make us feel secureIJ Yes, there is. He is God — the omnipotent, the omniscient and the omnipresent. He does not suffer from any of the infirmities mentioned earlier. let us begin with money. God can be a great help in tough times; if one is connected with Him. Peace of mind is entirely in His hands. I am not talking about being peaceful temporarily but genuine peace of mind that dominates one’s psyche. As regards family, God is not helpless in any way; linked to Him one can really feel secure. God also provides spiritual knowledge, which helps one live well. Unlike power, beauty, and physical health, God is permanent. He is not subject to any infirmity whatsoever. Therefore, a wise person takes shelter of God and gradually begins to really feel secure. What about youIJ
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com