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September 11, 2020
‘Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.’
‘With an unquiet mind, neither exercise, nor diet, nor physic can be of much use.’
It is pertinent to note that we are not born with murky mindsets—they get created, consciously or unconsciously, by the repetition of dismal emotions. They can be altered by the repetition of noble sentiments and sublime thoughts.
All the Vedic scriptures teach us that spirituality is a journey within ourselves.
‘Both bondage and liberation depend upon the state of our mind.’
our perception of this external world is a choice we make.
The problem is that when people harbour negativity in any situation, they forget that it is just their subjective perspective. Others in the same situation may still choose to be cheerful and positive.
Two men looked out from the prison bars One saw the mud; the other saw the stars.
It is said that life is 10 per cent what happens to us and 90 per cent how we react to it.
‘Pain is inevitable; misery is an option.’
There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
If we can only learn to be thankful to the Lord for these graces, we will find ample reasons for positive thinking.
Frankl exhibited the ultimate freedom we humans possess—the freedom to choose our feelings, irrespective of the circumstances.
The word responsibility itself implies the freedom to choose. It is made from the words: ‘response’ and ‘ability’, meaning the ability to choose one’s emotions regardless of the circumstance.
They miss the point that their devotion is their responsibility. Devotion means to create divine sentiments and not to wait for the next wave of devotional emotions to arise from within.
To truly love someone means to reject any unloving sentiments that the mind may suggest. Love requires exerting our heart and creating loving feelings towards the object of our affection.
‘Uplift yourself by the power of your mind, and do not degrade yourself; for the controlled mind can be your best friend, while the unbridled mind will be your worst enemy.’
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Similarly, God energises the eyes with the power of vision. After that, what we see is a choice we make.
‘It is lazy people who blame destiny for their substandard achievements.’
Let us focus on making our destiny rather than knowing it!
‘In the human form, one should not undertake great hardships to enjoy sensual pleasures, which are available even to creatures that eat excreta (hogs). Instead, one should practise austerities to purify one’s heart, and enjoy the unlimited divine bliss of God.’
The truth is that people may possess all the wealth in the world, but if their mind is agitated, they can never be happy.
As we keep purifying our intent, we naturally attract more and more of His divine grace.
In this chapter, we discussed that to achieve success in life, we need purity of intention.
Ignorance is not bliss; ignorance is misery, disease, pain and agony.
Hence, those who develop the mindset of seeking out new and useful knowledge in their fields are the ones who get ahead.
In my search for the basis of consciousness, I ended up with atoms and molecules. Somewhere along the line, life slipped out of my hands. Now, in my old age, I am tracing my steps backward.
The reality of life is that pleasures which pull us down and degrade the mind are usually readily available, while worthwhile pleasures invariably lie upstream.
THERE ARE NO FREE LUNCHES.
Those with greater willpower were more popular amongst their peers and teachers
Think of the millions of soldiers who fought in the Second World War less than a century ago. How huge was their problem! They were lying in trenches, their lives endangered, with bullets flying all around. Your and my problems are insignificant in comparison to theirs.’
