Face the Challenges of Life Bravely!
By H H Maa Purnananda
“Mayi Sarvaani Karmaani Sannyasyaadhyaatm Chetasaa; Niraasheernirmamo Bhootvaa Yudhyasva Vigatajwarah.” - (Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta – 3/30)
How do I remain calm, stable and brave under adverse situations? How do I face the difficult challenges of life bravely? How do I overcome my weakness during difficult times?
So, does it help to dig a well when there is fire? Is it not advisable to be well-equipped before hand? But the general mentality is that why make arrangements when there is no fire? So, the civic authorities have made it mandatory for the occupants to keep fire-fighting equipment and have sufficient water in store for any such mishap. Moreover, some other arrangements are also mandatory, such as keeping sufficient space all around the buildings for easy movement of fire brigade, restrictions of floors of any building in accordance to the width of the road, installation of fire extinguishers in defined spots and so on.
Similarly, how would an individual hold himself while going through testing times, if he is not well-versed with his religion and religious practices that support his physical and mental well-being? Again, the general mentality is to enjoy life as it comes; no need to believe in God. Who is God; a myth! Religion is for superstitious and semi-educated people. Religion is for non-confident people who are utter failures in life and so on. Then suddenly, a mishap, some calamity, grave health issues, financial losses or adverse circumstances; and the same non-believer then leans on to God! He then wants to find solace and solutions by means of some rituals or by visits to temples and Ashram-s! Some Jyotish Shastri or some Guru!
This kind of unwise and selfish attitude, with no purity of thoughts and intention, no faith and devotion, is very common in human society. Therefore, one sees unrest, quarrels, disturbances, differences of opinions, clashes, violence, vulgarity, lies, cheating, madness, lack of confidence, misbehaviour, fraud, self-immolation, depression, frustration, stress, fear, anxiety, worries, restlessness, dullness, diseases, illness, disability, despair, dejection, unhappiness, poverty aggrandizing, arrogance, pride, hoarding, pretence prejudice and so on in the world!
Right from childhood, it is important to cultivate faith in God and in the religion to which one is born and belongs. It is like digging the well right away, when there is no fire! The upbringing of an individual in a serene environment of a devout family, impacts the soul positively. The child grows up with faith, confidence, calmness and inner joy irrespective of the financial conditions of the family. A calm mind is far more capable of understanding and grasping, educating and exploring the world around. Such a growth, having proper perspective of life as a whole, keeps an individual grounded while having plenty and keeps him composed while in penury.
Regular prayers at the Holy Altar, with faith that has developed with proper understanding of the worship and the worshiped, deepens stability and sustenance of prayers within the inner-equipment (Antahkaran) of the worshiper. The stability within makes him confident and capable to face the challenges of life at whatever stage they might crop up! The inner strength cannot be gained or gathered suddenly. It has to be developed patiently and wisely through passage of time. The religious practices give proper direction to this effort of an individual. The guidance of the Guru channelizes the thoughts in the desirable direction and the faith in God stabilizes the Antahkaran of the believer. These three put together, makes the individual wise and capable to face the challenges of life bravely.
In the given Shlok Sree Bhagwaan advises Arjun to go ahead to face the grave challenge of the battle of Kurukshetra with composure and steadiness of mind by completely surrendering unto Him. Sree Bhagwaan choses to guide Arjun, who is a believer and an ardent devotee of Sree Bhagwaan, who has cultivated such great virtues that he could make himself worthy of being the Lord’s friend! Had he not thus prepared himself through life, then neither Arjun would have got the supreme privilege of having none other than the Lord Himself as his Charioteer, nor would he have gotten the right guidance at the utmost need of the hour! The Pandav-s stood victorious at the end of the terrible battle because, as desirable, they were very well prepared for the challenge much beforehand; in fact, they were always prepared indeed!
Although we have no idea about how fortunate are we to be under the divine and compassionate shelter of our religion, let us humbly be grateful to our religion, the Rishi-s who have so painstakingly formalized and scripted our religion and the religious practices, and, Sree Guru Parampara who so wisely, sympathetically, patiently and systematically guide us generation after generation about our religion, the practices therein and the concepts and philosophy behind the religion.