Mental restlessness is another problem in human life. Most people are restless, pessimistic, worried, disappointed, fearful, cowardly, or dissatisfied. There are very few who are peaceful or balanced. To some extent, the behaviour of others is also responsible for this, but man must accept that the weakness of his own thought process is the primary factor. He always wants to fulfil his own immediate desires, impose his own rule in everything, and change circumstances according to his own wishes. However, the world is not made for only oneself. Situations and people are developing at their own pace. Man must coordinate his own pace with universal rhythm.
For most, dissatisfaction with circumstances indicates a problem with the thought process. If one compares himself with rich people, he will feel poor, and the pain will continue. But if he compares himself with the poor, he will feel that his situation is better than that of hundreds of people. Wealth and poverty are relative. With the right perspective, one can escape from the dissatisfaction these labels cause and concentrate on his own development.
The same principle applies to one’s relationships with others. Everyone is composed of good and bad. What one sees is dependent on his outlook. If he looks for the bad, he will find it, even in the sun. If he looks for the good, he will not find one person without some good in him. Thinking only of unkindness will produce lists of enemies, but likewise, thinking of kindness will produce endless lists of friends.
Both plenty and scarcity have their own importance. It is well known that abundant resources ease one’s progress; but the value of struggling without resources should not be underestimated. By passing through the fire of hardship one becomes strong. Gold and diamond pass through such tests, and they have no value without undergoing this seemingly painful process of refinement. Vigilance develops in such times, and many important experiences are also accumulated. Man becomes aware and comes to treasure his valuable experiences. Some break under such circumstances, but those who can endure grow a hundredfold. Both prosperity and poverty have their importance. If both are understood properly, they can aid one greatly in moving along the path of progress. Salt and sugar are opposites, but together create a balanced taste. Threads may cross one another but together they create a woven cloth. Day and night are the contrasting faces of time. The world is an amalgam of opposites, and man must understand the usefulness of each one.
A great deal can be learned by giving apparently evil-minded persons a chance to change. One can use the opportunity to develop kindness and a service-minded nature. Instead of becoming frustrated by this bipolar world one should treasure all its experiences and strive to benefit from changing circumstances, instead of becoming disgusted and disheartened by them.
Mental balance lessens the effects of loss, sadness, opposition, and even poverty. The revolutionary martyrs were smiling when they were hanged. There was no pain on the faces of those who made great sacrifices for noble causes in history. If situations had such power, they would affect everyone the same way. But one can see that in the same situation one person may be frustrated, and another continue without any effect. This is due to the difference in people’s levels of mental balance.
A spiritual perspective requires one to adopt mental balance. It is impossible to achieve happiness in life by creating conditions which are to one’s liking. Desires are endless—when one is fulfilled, another pops up, even more forceful than the previous one. If it were possible to be satisfied by material possessions, the rich would be the happiest people on earth.
When a person earnestly aspires for eternal happiness, he will discover only one way: to adopt a spiritual outlook; and this requires mental balance.
Akhand Jyoti Magazine 2009 Mar-Apr
