[Chaturamnaya] Jagadguru Speaks: Regulate the Mind and Attain Welfare

[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 )
 
 
The indispensable requisite for man’s happiness is control over
his mind. This will ensure not only his happiness, but also of
those around him.
 
However, he labours under the delusion that objects of the world
can bestow happiness and therefore entertains limitless desires,
regardless of what is beneficial to him and what is not. Swayed by
his ignorance, he remains inextricably stuck in the karmic cycle
and loses his viveka.
 
If there is a stumbling block in pursuing his desires, he resorts to
misdeeds, without any hesitation. Thus, he gets bound by new
karmas that will cause him misery. This lands him in further
suffering, in future.
 
Therefore, before embarking on any action, he must carefully
analyse its merits and demerits. In this regard, our forefathers
have also instructed this in varied ways.
 
Strangely, some people have even the wrong tendency to trouble
others who are calm and good-natured, and derive unwarranted
pleasure! One must not allow such a tendency to grow. This is
what our forefathers have said:
 
  अविरुद्धं सुखस्थं यो दुःखमार्गे नियोजयेत् ।
  जन्मजन्मान्तरे दुःखी स नरः स्यादसंशयम् ॥
 
It means that a person, who engages in hurting others who live
in peace and cause no harm to anyone, will surely experience
misery for lifetimes to come.
 
Therefore, man can lead a happy life only if he curbs his desires
and harmful tendencies, and performs his ordained karmas
without hurting others.