Monday, 06 April 2020
The Role of Fate
quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta
The scriptures say that
only one who has a strong body, powerful sense organs and meditative mind is
fit for Vedic learning. Where is such a person to be found today? We see in
India such a lot of inactivity on the pretext of “fate” Do you think that it is
the result of faith in God? Not at all. The chief reasons for it are weakness
and inertia. It is true that unless fate or divine intervention is favourable no
work can be accomplished. but Sri Krishna says that divine intervention happens
to be just one of the five causes needed to make any work a success . Along
with that there must also be;
The scripture say that without divine intervention
nothing can be achieved. Holding on to this idea strongly we sit tight. We refuse
to notice and listen even after seeing and hearing that the scriptures also say
“Be strong, don’t be lazy, continue to make efforts , go on doing work” And
this is because we don’t possess even a little of these qualities immersed as
we are in great inertia.
There should be desire to work and along with
it there should be divine intervention. Both are essential for success. It is
in our hands to be energetic and active. Over the result we have no control,
nor is it necessary for us to bother about it. Our concern should be to see
that we have been faithful to the ideal. This is what Sri Krishna asks us to do
while practicing Karma Yoga.
Karma
Yoga has one more goal and that is to prevent the loss of energy. yoga is the
art of doing work. It is a technique for work through which we employ just
enough energy, neither less nor more . This becomes possible only if there si no
desire for the result. Suppose we desire the result and the work is
unsuccessful. Then how much energy we lose in mental depression! Then how much
energy we lose in mental depression! Karma Yoga says. Don’t fritter away your
energy. Accumulate it and transform the best part of your physical energy into
mental and spiritual energies. This is the teaching of Karma Yoga and of
self-control. Employ only as much energy as is called for . Always see whether
you have worked to the limits of your capacity. But don’t break down in dismay
and waste your energy over matters not under your control. Those immersed in
enjoyment and seeking fruits of action always lose their energy is this way. Naturally
their capacity to work also diminishes day by day. So we must always focus only
on the ideal and continue to work.
Shh, Be Still, Be Calm
The Speaking Tree | Lifestyle | ET
By Denise Mihalik
It was the day of my senior undergraduate voice
recital. I was both terrified and excited, as I wasn’t used to performing in
public as a soloist. When I stepped on to the stage, I looked out and saw an
audience full of friends and family.
My heart beat strongly as my accompanist began
to play. I don’t remember many details except for the special encore surprise
that I had planned. My dad was a closet song writer and one of his songs
touched my heart deeply. “Today I will change, but I don’t know where to start.
It is my wish the Lord will calm my heart. Days
of silence and obsession, nights of trouble and despair, me on my knees asking
simply please, dear God, do you care? And the answer came… Shh, be still, shh,
be still and listen to your heart.”
These words, 30 years later, still float
through my mind. As I bring meditation to those who are either new or
struggling with the practice, I hear about the fear, unease and trouble with
being still. How do we find that stillness? Simply by beginning a practice. And
doing it the next day and the day after that.
For, with as much activity that we have in our
mind and system, how can we expect that just a few minutes of trying to be
still, will be enough? But it starts with that one conscious breath. And moves
to a second one. And when the mind wanders, we simply bring it back to the next
conscious breath. Today, as we are being thrust out of our familiar routine and
feelings of safety into the unknown, it’s almost as if we are being deeply
encouraged to find a place of stillness and reflection.
DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the
author's own.
