Speaking tree - Achieving Mental Balance And Happiness:

Life mirrors our deeds and thoughts. Some people live and die without even displaying an urge for a higher spiritual life. All scriptural works tell us that life and religion are interconnected and that the latter guides us to live in happiness, without fear or tension, to improve our abilities and build self-confidence. Positive thoughts and the willingness to do any kind of work entrusted to us, will fetch success.

The rules governing pure life have been laid down in holy books. They say that life is really meant to release the individual soul from the clutches of tempting influences in order to achieve bliss.

The soul’s purity can be maintained by making the body take up divine work, to speak truth and entertain only pious thoughts. Thoughts, words and deeds should be identical. To attain spiritual perfection, one needs to practise meditation and chanting. The mind, senses and the intellect will all perish with the body; spirit alone is immortal. Ultimate liberation can be secured by extinction of all desires.

Therefore sages advise to avoid too much talk and to do more work. Sentiments of other people should be appreciated and respected. Practise what you preach. Stay unruffled in the face of praise or abuse. Maintaining equanimity will arise out of adoption of the procedures prescribed in the scriptures as one will then easily forgive and forget what others say. Never be a slave of circumstances, say elders. The most important advice tendered by saints is: avoid hating others whatever may be the provocation. Be friendly through maitri bhava, remain happy and smiling as pramod and with karuna (compassion), be forgiving.

A worldly man is invariably a slave of two mighty currents of the mind – attraction and repulsion. He is happy when he experiences pleasure but sad when he is faced with sorrow. He sticks to pleasant objects while he runs away from those which cause him pain.

Most people are not able to resist passion and desires. But the one who overcomes them will be calm and composed. Even men of strong moral strength have showed signs of weakness and have fallen victim to worldly temptations. Sacred literature tells us that by developing an attitude of detachment, it may be possible to maintain mental balance.

Astory from Jain scriptures points out that a dispassionate man is unaffected by both pleasure and pain. Four disciples once approached their spiritual master. The first said he would undergo penance by sitting on the wooden lid of a dry well. The second said he would meditate at the mouth of a dark den where a lion lived. The third declared that he would conduct penance in a mountain chasm where pythons are plentiful. The youngest said he would carry out his discipline in the dancing-hall of a courtesan, a statement which naturally evoked laughter and derision from others.

The young man who had once been a visitor to the courtesan’s house, was now absolutely unconcerned about her charm and continued his austere life even while living in her house. Her music and dance did not disturb his concentration. When he returned to the hermitage after some time, his acharya found him pure, radiating spiritual aura. One can develop dispassion by looking into the defects of sensual life. Detachment from all objects, at all times will result in obtaining knowledge of the Self.