Finding Harmony in Everything

The world is not a human-creation, nor is it meant for humans alone. We cannot question the world – we can only assess it. And the only objective in so doing is to make ourselves harmonious with it. It is not to accomplish something else.

Human mind, which is also a product of the world, has the capacity to reconcile with any fact, fiction or prospect. The ability to strike harmony is ingrained in the mind. It is merely a question of discovering this, and employing it well thereafter.

The world will naturally evoke a number of emotions and responses. All these emotions should help us refine and improve our mind. Desire is one response, hatred or resentment is another, and fear is the third. All other responses and reactions are variations of these. Spiritual wisdom consists in allowing these in moderation and yet remain harmonious. Many  attempt it through devotion and surrender. Devotion implies love and fondness for God. As a complement to devotion, the devotee must also have the strength and discipline to remain unruffled, come what may.

How is the earth floating in the sky, without falling or fleeing? There was a talk recently of our earth almost colliding with some meteor or so. How was the catastrophe averted, if at all? Well, the mind reconciles with such big and complex events. But when it comes to a question of our personal life and relations, we doubt the power of the Supreme that manages the planets and their trajectories holding them in balance.

You may have inherited bhakti from your parents. Many have this fortune. But that faith has to be nursed, refined and strengthened by reflection and introspection. For this, the intelligence must work. The intelligence must think, rethink and stabilize its knowledge and findings. This is called vichaara, contemplation. The time has come for you to be a vichaaravaan. Be so by increasing the vichaara habit.

Can you not develop faith and reliance, in the background of viveka, and manage your thoughts and mind? Each person has one or other set of troubles or torments. Whatever this be, it is for each to assess matters and proceed to set right himself or herself. This is saadhana.

So you have an opportunity, a compulsion and now an inspiration too. What happened to Sri Rama himself after he saw the world and the human society during his grand pilgrimage? All the ills and plights, some of which you have reported, vexed him too. The solution was to sit before Vasishtha and listen to the words of vichaara and viveka (contemplation and discrimination). These alone have the power to sublimate the mind's torments and adversities.

Whatever is the nature of the world, we have nothing to speak against it or in favour of it. Right response and reception will be one of neutrality or impartiality.

So, the world will continue to display all the distressing facets. Equally, it will also have the most enchanting phases to reveal. Maybe, for one vexed by the first, a deeper enquiry will be necessary and the corresponding exposure also. For another allured by the next, restraint and moderation are called for.

A well-developed and settled human mind is one that finds full harmony with the world along with all its complexities and contradictions. I think you are destined to have such a mind. And naturally this is the starting point. Even in the cruelty displayed by people, there are lessons to be absorbed by a true observer and seeker. So the right course for you will be to reinforce yourself to take in, assimilate and find your harmony in and through everything.

I wish you strength, viveka and harmony.