The Challenge.

The Challenge.

To Be A Lotus In This Muddy World.

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This world, all the people in it, are part of a big river—the river of collective consciousness. And to be out of this great river , not to be swept away by its current, is the challenge in life. Lifetime after lifetime, we’re caught in this river. We emerge as waves and again dissolve in this river. That’s life and death. Our individual consciousness is tethered to this collective flow. As long as we are caught in this movement, life and death, joy and suffering, pain and pleasure rule us. Are you getting my point?

You see, we are a product of this collective consciousness. This world rules us in so many ways. By this world I mean, all the people in it. And of course, nature is there. The course and destiny of our life is largely decided by people, the society we live in. In other words, by this world. If you closely see, this collective consciousness is built by human greed, selfishness, desire and fear. Aren’t we all trapped in all these? Aren’t we greedy, selfish, dishonest, fiercely competitive, brutal and self-centric? How did this happen? How did we become like this? It is no wonder. The collective consciousness of this world is such. We are born and brought up in this consciousness. And slowly this world enters into our hearts, like water into a cracked boat.

To live in this world, yet, not to be in this world is our challenge. As long as the boat is floating on water, it’s fine. But if water enters the boat, that’s the end of it. So, to go through this world, without drowning into it, to live in this world, yet not to let it live inside us—is the challenge of the human soul. To be pure in this deeply corrupt world, to find one’s own light in this dark world is what can save us. For that you have to rise up above this world like a lotus. Untouched and pure.

If you are just like this world—competitive, violent, selfish—you’re lost. To be pure in heart, to be full of love and compassion is not easy in this world. Our love, compassion, gratitude are all momentary. People kick us out of our ‘good nature’ in no time. After all, how long can we tolerate injustice, inhumanity? It’s not easy to sustain our purity, innocence and love in this cruel world.

But, don’t be disheartened. This world is built by our collective consciousness. If individually we transform our consciousness, the collective consciousness will change with time. But for that, you have to get out of this river. As long as you’re selfish, dishonest, violent in speech, thoughts and actions, you’re contributing to this movement. If, despite living in this brutal world, you are full of love, compassion, innocence and are pure in heart, then you’ve become a possibility for every other human being. Then you’ve become a source of light.

So, are you bent on winning this challenge? Do you have the courage?

May Shri Hari give us the strength to cross this river of samsara!

Jai Shri Hari!

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Thank you.

Image Credit: istock photo.