The answers to all the questions that keep complicating our lives have already been provided to us. They have been given to us in our ability to read the scriptures and have faith. But the ultimate responsibility of using it well is ours, writes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
We will get unlimited number of answers. But the one answer we are not likely to get from many is, “God”. This widespread ignorance is causing havoc to our lives. What do statistics tell usIJ That we are in serious trouble and will continue to go on a slippery path if we don’t wake up soon. Mental health problems, specifically depression, are spreading like an epidemic. Fifteen million Americans are reported to be on anti-depressant medicines for more than five years. Add those who will be taking sleeping pills and the number will be mind boggling. Even children are getting afflicted by this serious lifestyle disease. The present day icons are the richest, the most famous and the most powerful. Obviously, there is frustration in store for the youth because such excellence is the exception rather than the rule.
Earlier, parents who were good and hardworking people impressed their children. Now, social networking sites have hardly any mention of dads and moms. There is a mad rush to either ape someone or pretend to be better than what one actually is. This puts enormous pressure and surely that will have some lasting effect. One famous researcher advocated ten reasons why one should quit these sites now. But who is paying attention, busy as everyone is on his or her cellphone, etc.
Harvard University’s course on happiness has many takers. They have realized that with the material advancement, daily needs of most people are being met. Therefore, attention has shifted from the physical level to the mental level. From the child’s level of being happy when properly fed to being satisfied to being alive, most people have graduated to the mental level. However, not many know how to be peaceful or happy. But, they are too proud to enquire. Everyone is experimenting, trying to be happy.
Don’t we have detailed scriptures and competent preachers, from where and from whom we can get the right solutionsIJ We can, but instead, we reject them, being too proud of our material knowledge, which is very useful to earn our livelihood. Sadly, it leaves much to be desired in solving higher problems of the mental kind. Most people have pronounced bodily consciousness in spite of knowing about the concept of the soul. Such consciousness fuels attraction towards sense objects, which are now available in abundance. God is talked about but not sought.
little do they know about the cosmic design. God is there. He encompasses everything including us; we are in Him. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient and, most importantly, unmanifest and subtle. Then, there is the material nature, created by God, with its strict supervision of everything and a system of rewards and punishments. We, human beings, come next with our gross material bodies and subtle minds, intelligence and egos. When we come to the mental level, we must link with God, if we wish to be peaceful in the real sense and happy. God is there to help but we must use our freewill to get such help. God does not force us. If He did, we will all becomes exactly the same, i.e. like robots. The set-up is there, and it is up to us to take advantage of it. God can grant not only peace and happiness but whatever is desirable, we just need to follow His instructions.
What do we need to doIJ I am recommending 10 simple acts. To start with, thank God for whatever good we have been bestowed with; we all have something. Pray for sound intelligence, guidance and solutions to our problems. Pray for good health, especially mental. Take His shelter unconditionally. Request Him for taking our responsibility. Promise to be dutiful and follow dharma.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com