[Advaita-l] Jagadguru Speaks: Prudence Must Precede Any Activity

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru may be posted
on the Chaturamnaya list : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
 
 
https://www.tattvaloka.com/uploads/jagadguruSpeech/pdf/642337929JSpeaks%20%20--%20TATT%20JAN%202023.pdf
 
 
The purpose of life for every man is the attainment of joy
and peace. To achieve this, he makes use of every chance, in
every possible way by performing various types of karmas
(actions). In the process, his mind starts craving for
impossibilities, and compliance to the demands of his
craving mind and senses can cause his fall.
 
Hence, like a benign father, our Sastras advise man to
exercise a bit of caution and think about the pros and cons
while performing karma. Prudence and mind control are
necessary for any activity; be it spiritual or otherwise.
 
One who has not conquered his senses will be driven to
engage often in bad karmas, even if he does not like it. He
eventually gets covered, like a silkworm, with the twists and
turns of bad karma with no means of extricating himself -
 
  dehyaj~no.ajitaShaDvargo nechChankarmANi kAryate .
  koshakAra ivAtmAnaM karmaNAchChAdya muhyati ..
{Srimad Bhagavatam}
 
It is also a known fact that in accordance with the extent of
dharma and adharma that a person has engaged in, he or she
will proportionately enjoy and suffer in the life hereafter.
 
  yena yavan.h yathA.adharmo dharmo veha samIhitaH .
  sa eva tatphalaM bhunkte tathA tAvadamutra vai ..
{Srimad Bhagavatam}
 
Hence, before engaging in any karma, it is advisable to
ponder over the effects it will produce. Tuning the mind
into a sattvic mode and doing the karmas in a spirit of
surrender to the Almighty will yield a wise man a clear
perception. Thence, his quest for joy and peace will well up
to fulfillment by itself.
 
We bless everyone to understand this while performing
allotted duties and make life meaningful.