In his ignorance Man thinks that he will live for eve! This
body is called ‘deha’ and ‘sareera’—that which can be burnt and is liable for
decay. When our existence itself is not permanent where is the question of the
permanence of things associated with the body? ‘Vidyuth chalam jivitam’ says
the poet. Life is so transitory like the lightning that suddenly illuminates
the whole sky and immediately wraps it in pitch darkness! What, after all, is
permanent or everlasting in life? We have to think very seriously about this
aspect. The way in which humanity is progressing at present indicates that it
has not caught the meaning of life and the difference between the permanent and
the impermanent!
“Youth,
wealth, reputation, status, and authority—these are impermanent and subject to
ups and downs” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Out from the womb
of the mother, the child undergoes a number of changes. From being a toddler,
it changes into a boy full of fun and glee. Parents are thrilled at the
development of the child into a boy. The next stage is that of the youth when
he is tall, robust, strong and handsome. But that does not continue for long’ “All
the world’s a stage and all men and women merely players’ says the bard
Shakespeare. Marriage, family , children follow and the child and youth that he
was, he grows old and senile and reaches
the evening of his life. “ Pratyayanti gatah punar na divasa kalo jagad
bhakshakaha”—Days that have been spent can never return says the poet Time
swallows up everything! You can see your photo in the album and wonder how
handsome or beautiful you looked.
Is wealth
everlasting? This is another illusion on the part of man! “Lakshmis thoya
tharanga bhanga chapala”--- wealth is as fragile as the bubble on the wave says
the poet! It is inconstant! It moves
from one hand to the other. It creates more problems than it solves. But the
charm of wealth has brought many to their doom. “ arthana marjitham duhkam arjithanancha rakshane nase duhkam vyaye
duhkam ki martham duhka bhajanam? Cries the
poet! It is very difficult to earn money; very difficult to keep it safe; we
feel sad when we lose it; we feel sad when we spend it away; why this money the
root cause of sorrow? We understand the fate of those who have stashed away
Black Money in foreign banks Money does not provide happiness but increases
fear in holding it The latest revelation of Panama papers are stunning and many
politicians, business men and leaders are involved!
Like youth
and wealth your status is ever changing. If you are poor you have no status! If
you become rich you acquire status and are surrounded by sycophants! Like ants
attracted to a lump of sugar, they crowd around you and desert you soon after
you lose money like frogs that leave the tank
when it is empty! Your status
depends upon the money that you have! You may be stupid but if you are rich,
people praise you and approve whatever you do! Your authority depends on your
status. Or position in society! As the head of the family you exert your
authority on your family and children. As the head of a state or a nation you
wield authority on the people of the nation and it affects their well being.
But this authority can be undermined. The person in authority can be thrown
out! Many kings and emperors were thrown out of their authority, out of envy or
jealousy, in the past. The heads of many fathers and sons have rolled in
history for grabbing power and authority! The present day elections to the
assembly and the parliament are mini battles with ballots to decide who is
going to get the authority from the electorate to rule state or the center!
There is no certainty that the same party would win. This depends on the mood
and wave that sweeps during the election period.
Our
existence on earth is, therefore full of vicissitudes—ups and downs! We are
elated when we are up and dejected and disappointed when we are down. It is not
possible to develop equanimity in both success and defeat. We should learn to
take things as they visit us and be unruffled! When we understand the transitory
nature of everything connected to our life we grow philosophical and spiriitual.The
soul or Spirit or atma is the permanent factor in the body and not anything else!
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