Addition to Summing up first 18 lessons of Kindle Life
Krishnan Iyer
SPECIFIC POINTS
1. The correct understanding of the Goals .
A Hindu’s pursuit operates at Two Planes :
There is generally a wrong belief that Happiness that we all seek is available post Mortem, because of which there our objective seem to operate at Two planes - One is a decided and major goal of Happiness and secondly, leading a life happily.
Any major objective tends to control all minor goals that are framed for achievement of the major one if they are in tune with the ultimate objective and truly sub goals .
However , lack of understanding of the Ultimate goal and its component results in pursuing various other goals which may actually run contrary to the major goal. Please note that these minor goals are pursued on account of the priority given to the operating at the second plane – that of leading happy life –without caring for the fact whether they truly are the sub goals of the ultimate objective.
This not only leads to unhappiness in day to day living but also disrupts whatever efforts put forth in the direction of the ultimate objective.
That is why Swami Chinmayananda said ‘ We tend to focus on the standard of Living rather than the standard of Life’ ( and are thrown into disarray )
However , if the minor goals - including worldly pursuits - are framed in accordance with the Major objective there is no dissonance ever. This is what is called leading life in accordance with Dharma. Then our Philosophy is seen to have been understood well and as Sri Radhakrishnan Ji said ‘ Hinduism is a way of Life’
2. Happiness as the measure of tranquility of mind :
It has been that the Happiness do not lie in the object itself , but how the objects satisfy our desires. Desire thus becomes the central driver ( and not the objects themselves). Satiation is achieved when the objects ( since the mind becomes calm with the agitation slowed down ) give us Suka on account of our understanding that such an end is amicable to us – ‘ Anukoolam Vedhaneeyam ‘
In the process the happiness is associated with the objects because of the experiences. The desires are reinforced .Thus both the situational variable & Time are discounted in labeling the objects as desirable and the association stays. When the same objects are not achievable or do not meet with our expectations at a later stage ,dissonance arises.
Hence , the satiation once achieved are missed by us . Here begin the process of agitation and ultimate fall from grace. …’ Dhayaayatho Vishyaan Punshah…’
Looking for tranquility of mind and subsequently happiness from objects is thus futile.
Tranquility , however can be achieved bereft of the objects and is more certain .
Satiation is achieved by way of being content ( not at the pursuit stage but at the receipt stage)
and accepting the result gracefully.
In such a transformation the mind has played a key role. Hence the emphasis on mind
MIND :
However , there is a perennial agitation as this mind dos not accept the above fact easily.
So one has to work on the mind – that is control the mind . I would like to use the phrase’ Train the Mind ‘ .
Fortunately we are endowed with intelligence and that can actually guide the mind – as the banks of the river.
The mind can to be trained …
- to discern what is true happiness
- not to associate satiation with the objects permanently…
- …thus direct the desires towards what will satiate given the situation
- .. thus neither reinforce passion , nor hatred
- ….thus reinforce desire nor avoidance unduly.
Purushaartha : Purushaartha is thus exercised fully . Past Impressions (Vaasanas) are
eliminated , paving way for Pure mind ( Nirmal).
It is not to be forgotten that it is the same entity that acts mind as well as the Intellect.
When the mind is trained the intellect gets reinforced and the mind ultimately becomes subservient to the stronger intellect .
The stronger intellect results in integration of the various aspects of the personality and snaps the divergent understanding w.r.t. the world and worldly objects. The Goals and sub goals are not cutting each other . Such a situation leads to inner harmony
Harmony – Inner & Universal ( samashti )
The mind , when trained thus and having gained better understanding, learns automatically to live in harmony with the universal – by giving the right input externally and thus receiving favouable output from it. Both inner and external harmony results in the mind that is truly blissful .This Harmonious situation is the what is the concept of Dharma , for that is what is bound to protect us – individually and as a group. All dictates of Dharma ( Niti ) ensure such a situation ultimately.
Nivritti :
The entire process began with the rejection of the external objects in pursuit of happiness
and results in being content and living in harmony with the self and the environment .
This attitude towards the externality followed by directing the mind inwards and the resultant
Tranquility and happiness , in totality is termed as nivritti .
--
Regards
P.G.KRISHNAN