The World is Not Enough

How many times have we been plagued by untoward and nasty thoughts for others? Countless times perhaps. Most of the time it may not be a conscious act. And it doesn’t necessarily make us a lesser human being, especially if we promptly ignore such thoughts and don’t allow them to linger. However, if these thoughts have already turned into feelings or have even developed into emotions then it is something that needs our attention.

Mind has a negativity bias and we are confronted with negative tendencies of the mind like anger, lust, fear, hatred, greed, pride, envy and emotional attachment at varying degrees on a day-to-day basis. We are highly prejudiced beings who act as lawyers for ourselves and as judges for others. However, when we harbor negativity towards others, we also create an internal hell for ourselves.

A spiritually ignorant person fails to see the joy in all that they already have. Even amidst abundance, they find something to crib or complain about and bother others. As long as we allow negative tendencies to get the better of the Divine in us, there is no peace. And in this restlessness, our perspective becomes even more negative.

It is a mental crisis but also an opportunity to pause and reflect. At these crucial moments we can sense that something is amiss. That in spite of everything, we have this subtle and inexplicable dissatisfaction which makes us constantly look for more.

Ultimately, this state leads us to our quandary where we find that the world is not enough. The song from Guru Dutt’s movie ‘Pyaasa’ reminds us “Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya…”. The more fulfillment we seek from this material world, the more restless we get. No matter what we achieve in terms of material success, it will never be enough and it can never really satisfy us, not for too long. Because our soul is not made of physical elements so blindly chasing material goals is not the way to lasting peace and wellbeing. In fact, it takes us astray.

For if we were truly fulfilled then, as Swamiji says, we would have nothing but love to give. Only those who are genuinely at peace with themselves are selfless and are unaffected by what goes on around them because they are happy and content on their own. They have realized the source of bliss within them.

This may be too idealistic an attainment for most of us who are struggling with our limitations on a routine basis. However, the importance of being mindful of our negative inclinations and having the self-control of not acting on them cannot be lost on us. Meditation can train our minds to be more mindful. And to effect a change of hearts we need to do more random acts of kindness.

Kindness towards ourselves as well as others is both the cause and the effect of self-fulfillment. When we contribute towards making other’s lives better we become a better version of ourselves. When it dawns on us that our happiness is connected to the wellbeing of others, we realize that compassion is the only option for us not only as individuals but also as a society and the world at large. 

Same Divine lives in all. Love can be our only response.

Lao Tzu once said “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” When we let go our negative inclinations, we become kind and with God’s grace be fulfilled.