The core of our being is to be happy. Our conscious and subconscious efforts are always towards being content. Yet none around us is truly happy or content. Why? Because the notion of happiness has always been associated with attaining something, materialistic or non-materialistic. Nobody realizes that the continuous quest for happiness is what keeps them from being happy! Ironic right? People don't seem to realize that sometimes the awareness of not being in any quest of life is what causes happiness. The craving of water for a thirsty man, is what makes him restless and dissatisfied with what he already has. Attachment or desire of water is what makes him oblivious to the lows of life.
Things which men, to judge by their actions, deem the highest good are Riches, Fame or Sensual pleasure. Of these the last is followed by satiety and repentance, the other two are never satiated; the more we have, the more we want; while the love of fame compels us to order our lives by the opinions of others. But if a thing is not loved, no quarrels will arise concerning it, no sadness will be felt if it perishes, no envy if another has it, in short no disturbances of the mind. All these spring from the love of that which passes away. But the love of a thing eternal and infinite fills the mind wholly with joy, and is unmingled with sadness. Therefore it is greatly to be desired, and to be sought with all our strength.—Spinoza
We have the innate drive to find our likes, to find what makes us elated with joy, failing to see that this attachment will lead us nowhere.
No fetters exist for him who neither likes nor dislikes.From attachment arises grief; from attachment arises fear.There is no grief for one who is free from attachment.Whence, then, can there come fear? (Verses 211-12)
We are curious beings. When life confronts us with complex problems, we plunge in anxiety to discover their solutions, in a quest to attain peace of mind and contentment of having solved the problem. The constant struggle begins in some material direction, but then we realize no amount of money, no amount of wealth or riches can give us the true inner peace that we desire. That can only be gained through altruism, through inhibiting the thoughts that inculcate pessimism and through controlling our minds. Mind science has always been an area of interest for many, the reason as can easily be judged is the attainment of peace.
Many a times, material questions make us feel lost or have us doubt our conscience, then we must realize that time has the power to bend our knees and have us bow our heads, it can have us begging for mercy, but we should have the courage to fight back with whatever comes our way. Attachment to the result or the material essence of the happiness gained from the attainment of the result causes our defeat. Struggle towards the result without any greediness in mind gives us success.
karmanyevaadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachana |maa karmaphalaheturbhuu maatesangotsvakarmani ||A person has the right towards action alone and not towards the fruit of action. Let not the fruit of action be the motive for acting. Also, Let there not be any attachment to inaction.
Only unattached goals can be acquired, greediness of the goal will create a fear of not attaining it, hence making it unattainable. Of all the evils of human mind, fear is the most dangerous and the most destructive. And fear arises from attachment .
I have been studying about the human mind and consciousness for a while now. What I have gained from my research is astonishing! Through mindfulness , we can achieve contentment in any condition whatsoever!Why do people travel? Why do people play cricket or football? Why do people swim or read novels? It's all mindfulness !! Isn't the concept simply marvelous?! It's the key to all the mysteries of the mind !
Let us have a closer look at the concept. Mindfulness was originally a Buddhist religious practice, which gained popularity gradually all over the world. The teachings of mindfulness conceptualized moment by moment awareness of our being, of our existence and of our minds. Studies were done on Buddhist monks in the laboratory of neuroscience . The major area of research here was brain plasticity, that is the ability of the brain to mold itself constructively depending on our emotions, circumstances or behavior. It is also called neuroplasticity and has triggered massive experiments recently.
The true achievement of man is to achieve mental discipline, the ability to mold our mind the way we want. And mental discipline is attained through meditation, through self-consciousness and through mindfulness. So basically it's all in our heads!! Isn't it fascinating?! :D
