ON HEROISM

What is heroism? It lies in taking up challenging tasks and achieving success. It entails huge risk and the average person shudders to think of it even! It requires a sense of commitment and extraordinary determination on the part of the individual. He should be ready for the worst. If  he succeeds he corners glory for himself and if he fails he is remembered for ever as a hero who attempted an impossible and an adventurous task!  We find many types of heroes in society. People have qualified for honor and praise in the field of sports and won laurels and gold medals in Commonwealth games as well as in Olympics. Their names are etched in Golden letters in the Chronicles of sports history. Sachin Tendulkar, the God of Cricket, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu quite recently, Sania Mirza, Mary Kom, and various others have distinguished themselves in their own fields against heavy odds and crossing many obstacles in their arduous journey! They are real heroes! There are many in other fields of activity also. But this achievement is purely physical! While this name and fame is desirable in the day to day world what is it that man has done to scale heights in the spiritual field? Is it enough for him to be satisfied with what little glory he has achieved in the material world? Should he not think of  doing the same in the spiritual plane and immortalize himself?

God has created human beings to face challenges within themselves! He has hidden the six enemies - “arishadvargas”, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada', and Matsarya in everyone! It is as if God has challenged and wanted to see if man can defeat these inherent adversaries within him! It is obvious that no mortal has-been capable of challenging at least one enemy embedded in his nature! As Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba remarks, “ Heroism lies in the conquest of the senses”. The senses are responsible for all the happiness of man as well as his downfall! The Upanishad compares the body to a chariot where the Atma or Soul is seated! ‘Buddhi' or intellect is the sarathi, the driver! Manas or heart is the bridle that controls the horses which are the senses! If they are not controlled they will go in gallop and dash the rider to the ground! The hands want to do everything; the legs want to go everywhere; the eyes desire to see everything; the nose is eager to smell everything;  and the mouth wants to taste and eat every dish! Can this be allowed by the discreet and intelligent intellectual? One has to put this question to himself several times before he acts!

Every enemy within is formidable! Kama or Desire is insatiable! It is at the bottom of everyone's downfall! From the humble to the noble, from the saint to the common man,desire has drawn and disappointed them! One desire leads to another and that fire can never be quenched! It is adding fuel to fire.This Kama spoiled the tapas of the great sage Vishwamitra and he had to take up penance once again! Ravana, the king of Lanka is another classical illustration of how his insatiable desire and lust for other women brought his downfall! He was no doubt the greatest devotee of Lord Siva and pleased Him by his ‘Samagana’! Of what use is power, position, authority, scholarship, and devotion if lust and desire is unbridled? The second of the six, Krodha or anger is the worst! It deranges the Individual and makes him do things which he can never think of normally! Even the rishis have fallen victim to this anger despite their  penance and Sadhana. Sage Durvasa had to suffer ignominy and fall at the feet of Ambarisha an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu! He was chased by Sudarsana Chakra of the Lord for trying to destroy Ambarisha for a silly reason!  King Parikshit paid the price of his life when in anger he put the carcass of snake round the neck of the sage Sameeka! The sage’s son Srungi cursed The king to die in seven days!

Lobha or mmakes man stingy and disliked by others! Like a dog in the manger he neither enjoys the wealth he has nor allows others to do so! He is a worshipper of Mammon, the God of Wealth. His obsession for money and wealth is indescribable! He is a misfit in society! We find quite a lot of the in our modern society in the form of billionaires, crorepatis and lakhiers! We all know the story of Midas and his golden touch! The next formidable enemy is  ‘Moha’ or attachment to kith and kin and family! It is this that made Arjuna throw down his bow Gandiva and arrows and prefer monkhood to eating a bloody meal by killing his teachers and brothers! Lord Krishna explained to him the difference between the body and the Soul. He established the  transitory nature of the body and the indestructibility of the Soul! The Lord said one should not weep for the body that perishes one day or other! At the same time he should not feel sorry for the Atma or Soul that doesn't die! The Lord dismissed all doubts of Arjuna in His Bhagavad-Gita and Arjuna fought the Kauravas and killed them!  The next adversary to man is ‘Mada’ or arrogance! Extreme pride and ego is the essence of arrogance. Like those who were afflicted with pride many Devas and ordinary people were ruined because of their arrogance! One such example was Nahusha who lost his position as Indra as he nudged one of the maharshis carrying him by his foot saying ‘sarpa, sarpa’! The Sage grew angry and cursed him to become a serpent! Nahusha’s arrogance cost him his position The last but not the least enemy is 'Matsarya’ or envy, or jealousy! Many a man and Deva has suffered because of this quality!

Is it enough if one is a hero physically? Should he not become a hero spiritually and mentally?  Heroism in various activities in society is good no doubt. But  heroism in spirituality and conquering the senses and fighting the inner adversaries is much better! The happiness and bliss of spiritual  Sadhana and maintaining equanimity in all the vicissitudes of the cycle of Samsara is far greater than that man derives in being a hero in public life! It is through limiting our wants and desires and following the footsteps of our ancient sages and saints that one can have peace of mind that eludes the common man! Most of us know these inner enemies but never attempt to suppress them when it is badly needed. Let us realize the laxity in us regarding them and at least now resolve to fight these enemies tooth and nail! Then only we can have total peace and real happiness!

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