A Path To Perfection

The entire world is in flames,

The entire world is going up in smoke;

The entire world is burning,

The entire world is vibrating.

But that which does not vibrate or burn,

Which is experienced by noble ones,

Where death has no entry –

In that my mind delights.

Liberation can be attained only by practice and never by mere discussion. Since childhood, I have always searched the meaning of the life, the final goal of our journey. The very basic question of the purpose behind the existence of nature, which includes entire universe and we - the creatures who are part of it, never allowed peace & real happiness to dwell within me. Everyone seeks love, peace and harmony in life because these are what we lack in our lives. From time to time we all experience irritation, dissatisfaction, disharmony or suffering; and when we suffer we not only keep our miseries to ourselves but also distribute it to people around us. Agitation permeates the atmosphere around such miserable person and everyone who comes in contact with him gets adversely affected. Surely this is not the proper way to live.

The ancient land of India has not only given a message of peace, love & harmony to the world, to all humanity, but it also did more: it has given a method, a technique, for achieving that peace & harmony. One can’t ignore individuals when he talks about the society as whole. If there is no compassion and harmony within the individual, I don’t understand how could there be a real peace in the world. If I am full of negativity i.e. anger, hatred, animosity, jealousy & ill will, how can I give peace to others?

You can start understanding by calling it Universal law, law of nature or, if you prefer, law of God Almighty. It’s applicable to one and all. If you observe attentively within yourself, you will find that as soon as you generate anger or any negativity in your mind, there are 2 physical reactions: the breath loses it normal rhythm & your body becomes hot and you start feeling burning sensation; there are palpitations & tensions. And as a human tendency, you don’t confine your anger to yourself but start spreading to others and thus pollute the entire atmosphere around you. You may talk about the peace but more important than words is what's happening within you. Similarly, if my mind remains pure, free of all negativities or mental defilements, the law starts working again and rewards you with the peace and contentment. Unlike material laws, law of nature doesn’t wait; it punishes you or rewards you here and now. And it doesn’t discriminate or favour whether you are a Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim or atheist: a human being is a human being; a human mind is a human mind.

This is no miracle or magic; this is pure science of observing the interaction of mind and matter within you, that is, how mind influences the body and vice versa. This mental-physical phenomenon is like a coin with two sides. On one side as soon as any thought or emotion (adverse or favourable) arises, on another side you see a change in respiration & sensation. Any mental defilement, thus, manifests in the breath & sensation of that moment. So by observing respiration or sensation, you are observing the mental defilement. Also when you observe, you will notice that sensation lasts momentarily or even shorter than your imagination. It is said that, within a blink of an eye, a smallest particle of your body experiences sensations. Since sensation lasts very briefly, over a period of time you develop non-attachment to it. Soon you will find that the defilement loses it strength; it can no longer overpower you as it used to do earlier. Then as you endure, the defilement finally vanishes completely and peace continues.

It’s difficult to observe an abstract negativity when it arises but with proper training, practice & patience, it becomes easy to observe respiration and sensations, both of which are related with your mental defilement. The law of nature becomes so clear then. The more you practise this technique, the purer you mind becomes. A pure mind is always full of love, detached love for all others; full of compassion for the failings and sufferings of others; full of joy at their success and happiness; full of equanimity in the face of any situation. After reaching such stage, entire living pattern of the person changes. It becomes impossible for him to do anything vocally or physically which will disturb the peace and happiness of others. Instead, balanced mind not only brings peace in it but helps others to become peaceful too.

Ending a note with these beautiful lines:

The senses are said to be superior to the body,

the mind is superior to the senses,

the intellect is superior to the mind,

transcendental knowledge is superior to the intellect,

and the Self is superior to transcendental knowledge.

- Bhagavad Gita (chapter-3, verse-42)

*Above mentioned pearls of wisdom enjoy the prominent status in several oldest scriptures of the world and its practice in Indian sub-continent dates back to 540 BC.