Life can never be completely free of problems. Where only
one person lives, there will be no problem, but when there is more than one
person, problems become a given. The word ‘two’ in Sanskrit is ‘dwand’. I read
it somewhere in a book. It means both ‘two’ and ‘conflict’. This is because no
two people think alike, look alike or have similar tastes. So there are bound
to be differences and judgments born thereof. This creates disharmony and
tension. Then what is the solution to live a life of peace?
Perceive
truth at many levels is perhaps the most significant adjective to describe
truth, for truth also has so many perspectives. Through our eyes, we can see anything
as either this or that. As right or wrong, as black or white, as acceptable or
not acceptable. With the possibility of different perceptions, there is always
scope for difference of opinion and conflict.
It is
difficult for us to understand the truth. A person living in this world sees
primarily the gross world and when he has the practical perspective then truth
may hide itself from view. The greatest truth is truth of conduct. Do you know
what we all are afraid of? We all are scared of sorrow. Today there is a lot of
sorrow, fear and pain. Where there is a possession, there is fear. Where there
is no possession, there is no fear.
Equally
true is the fact that a householder cannot be without a possessions. There is a
solution to this also. If you cannot give up possessions, observe restraint. This
is the solution to today’s problems that stem mostly from avarice and jealousy.
The essence
to a fearless life, a peaceful life, is through restraint…we need to have
limits. The sky can be limitless but a human being cannot be… The human being
has to set limits to all activities, whether the activity pertains to eating,
housing, clothing, possessing ornaments and even money. Observe limits to
consumption and possession….herein lies the magic that will bring the required balance
in the consumerist culture of today. Limitless consumption is the reason for
our problems….consumption is consuming us.
We may
consider our life at present. Diseases of the mind that are born within, from
anger, delusion, ego and greed, are veiling the truth from our vision. All these
passions are born with the desire to possess beyond our limits. Let us try to
overcome our greed for possessions, then may be more of our ‘eyes’ will begin
to open, as do petals of lotus once flower faces the radiance of sun rays.
