From the temporary to eternal

Adults may mock at little children playing with toys. A grown up man may dismiss the childish proclivities-“these are temporary toys after all”-while he busies himself with the ‘real’ issues of life. On closer inspection however we see even grown up people absorbed in the ‘bigger toys’ of this world. As the American saying goes, “the difference between kids and grownups is simply the size of their toys.” Our fetish for material things and the resultant sleepless nights and squabbles over it robs us of our natural right to be blissful and happy. Most of our worries which relate to temporary possessions and fleeting situations of this world can be overcome by the weapon of transcendental knowledge.

The second chapter of Bhagavad Gita empowers us with the divine vision; ‘we are not these temporary bodies but eternal spirit souls’ declares the Gita. A life centred on honest introspection, careful study of scriptures and sincere prayers and service to God can help us realize this profound wisdom. As we realize our existence to be beyond this transient body, we are empowered to deal with the vicissitudes of life maturely. Our original nature is spiritual; we are eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. “As the spirit soul passes from boyhood to youth to old age, similarly at the time of death, the soul enters another body. A wise man is not bewildered by these changes” (Bhagavad Gita 2.13). A spiritualist pursues his or her worldly responsibilities with the knowledge of the transient nature of this world. This helps him face setbacks and even success soberly.

Lord Krishna explains in the Bhagavad Gita that a sincere spiritual practitioner seeks connection to the Lord within. He performs his duties without attachment and remains unaffected by the negativities of this world just as a lotus leaf is untouched by water (Bhagavad Gita 5.10). A spiritual seeker is also careful not to ignore his responsibilities knowing them to be the gift of God, and an opportunity to connect to the spiritual realm. The spiritual world is an existence beyond this temporary and fleeting material existence, and our journey to this world guarantees eternal happiness and assurance of no return to this temporary material world.