WORLDLYWISE MAN

We are living in a society which is highly materialistic! The aim of every Individual is to earn money by hook or crook! Man spares no effort to amass property and wealth. He is not bothered about the means in earning money! He doesn't understand that earning money is not the be all and end all of human existence! He is under the illusion that he is happy with his family, children and property! He has mistaken the small pleasures that life affords as real happiness! He has strayed far away from the real purpose for which God has created him! He has become a slave of desire which can never be quenched. He has no idea of what religion is! He has become an atheist and questions the very existence of God! The tragedy is that he considers himself as God! His knowledge is only of material things! He is a cipher in spirituality! The inner enemies have totally enslaved him! It is all because of the environment in which he lives! Our ancient generations in Krutha, Treta, and Dwapara yugas were totally different from us in all respects because of the times in which they lived! We are in KaliYuga noted for all evil qualities that one can imagine!

After all man is social animal! He is also a rational animal! Society and rationalism exert a very  powerful influence on him. That is why his thoughts and actions are according to social trends. His rationalism has led him to question everything religious and spiritual! He does not know what faith is!  Above all he is a victim of his own knowledge and rationalism! He will be a fish out of water in an ambience of religion, faith and spirituality! He cannot exist in that company for long! He will be suffocated and would like to escape from that atmosphere as early as possible!

A group of fisherwomen were on their way home from a distant market. It was very cloudy on the evening and they grew thick and dense by night fall. The women were frightened and didn't know what to do. Even as they they were thinking, a terrific hail storm descended on them and they could go no further! They were compelled to stop their journey home and see if they can stop over some place for the night and continue their journey the next day morning. To their fortune, there was a florist’s cottage nearby and they decided to rest for the night in the cottage. The owner of the cottage was very kind and compassionate and allotted them a room. But the room had a few baskets full of fragrant flowers for supplying to his customers the next day morning.The fisherwomen thanked the owner for his hospitality and tried to settle themselves to sleep. But they could not sleep throughout the night! The room, filled with the fragrance of the sweet smelling flowers, was too much for them to enjoy or appreciate! They were used to the smell of the fish in which they were soaked always! They could not appreciate the sweet smell of the flowers!

How long could keep themselves awake? At last one fisherwoman had the presence of mind to suggest a remedy. “ Let us sprinkle a little water on our empty fish baskets and place them close to us” she told her other companions! She said that would keep the troublesome smell of the sweet flowers from spoiling their sleep! Everyone accepted the wise proposal of their friend and did as they were bid! Soon all of them fell into deep sleep and began to snore! Habits die very hard! Power of environment can never be underestimated!

Sri Ramakrishna thus illustrates the mentality of the common man enveloped in the Maya of materialistic society in which he lives. The fisherwomen, in spite of their stay amidst the fragrant flowers could not sleep! They desired the foul smell of the fish to which they were habituated! It is in such environment they could sleep! Give them the best and the most luxurious ambience and they have no use for it and reject it outrightly! Sri Ramakrishna remarks, “ The worldly soul brought up in and accustomed to materialistic thoughts and surroundings cannot breathe long in an atmosphere of purity and renunciation without feeling restlessness and discomfort!”