HAPPINESS AND SUFFERING (સુખ અને દુઃખ) PART -- 2

The way we accept suffering depends upon our mental attitude and understanding of life. Without the real understanding of life we will surrender to suffering and never come out of it. People who are wise and understand life, get a lift from this suffering and their life becomes richer in the process. For them suffering is more important than happiness. Some people blame others for their suffering and think negatively about it. They suffer even more. The blame lies within them. Suffering, sins, good deeds and  karma all spring from within us. Everything else is just an excuse. So why find fault with the excuse. For the one who gets deeper understanding and knowledge that fault lies with him gets true benefit from suffering. Suffering takes you much deeper in understanding of the self than happiness. Happiness keeps you at a superficial level while suffering takes you much deeper in the region of understanding. This is true for those who accept suffering with deep knowledge and decide to explore it. But for the most who do not think about it suffering continues.

Pujya Shree Mota
Joda-jod
Edition 1; page 54 - 55.

HAPPINESS AND SUFFERING (સુખ અને દુઃખ) PART --1

Devotee  :  Mota, Is suffering a kind of disharmony ?

Pujya Shree Mota  :  Yes. We do not analyze the cause of disharmony. If we do then it becomes apparent that the root cause lies within us. Most ordinary people believe that sorrow or suffering comes from other people and they are the reason for it. If we analyze and understand in our heart that the cause lies within us and sorrow has developed within us. Apparent reason may seem to be somebody else. If we sincerely think this way then we will develop this kind of understanding.

Happiness and suffering springs from within us. We need to dig deeper into this matter. We have impressions on our mind or psyche since our birth or from previous births if you believe in it. We have been slighted in past with painful impressions at the time. Suffering is experienced when these impressions are expressed. It is our false understanding that somebody else is the cause of our suffering. We do not have the strength to bear the result of this expression of our deeper impressions from our mind. Not only that we do not even have the desire or the will to wake up from this situation. If and when there is desire and will, it is possible to come out from this situation at a much faster pace. Life becomes very different after this understanding. So the suffering is from within us and it springs from our mind and psyche. Nobody else is responsible for it.

Pujya Shree Mota
Joda-jod
Edition 1; page 51 and 60.

FOCUSED ATTENTION ( એકાગ્રતા ) PART -- 3

Devotee  :  Mota, should we continue to do naam-smaran at all the time?  Where should we keep focused attention? ( in naam-smaran or in the work ).

Pujya Shree Mota  :  We can develop focused attention in naam-smaran only if it is practiced. This focussed attention is not static. It infiltrates everything and anything. It infiltrates into chosen work. It is possible to do naam-smaran and continue to do work at the same time. You may be able to do several works at the same time.

Pujya Shree Mota
Agrata - Ekagrata
Edition 1; page 31.

FOCUSED ATTENTION (એકાગ્રતા) PART -- 2

We have not understood the purpose of focused attention. We have a belief that our work is done if focused attention is developed or happened during our prayer session. It should be introduced in our daily works. If we maintain this focused attention in our works and progress further, there is increase in this focused attention over a period of time. Our fore fathers did not give importance to this aspect. It is alright to do prayers and Trical Sandhya (a kind of prayer). But it does not mean we are finished with our work. We should integrate this focused attention produced from prayers with our daily works and develop it further.

Usual custom is to sit in meditation in the morning and do whatever is necessary at that time. It should not be like " this far and no further " in this matter. We must engage our increased attention in daily works. As a result there is increased depth in our work, increased enthusiasm and development of good qualities. Focused attention develops further as a result.

Pujya Shree Mota
Agrata - Ekagrata
Edition 1; page 30.

FOCUSED ATTENTION (એકાગ્રતા) PART -- 1

The easiest, straight forward and best way to achieve success in any work is to increase focused attention to its maximum level in the work that is undertaken. Some people do the work but in a half hazard way. It is my observation that the work is being done without any order or definite purpose in the society. There is no understanding of the beginning or the end of the work. This kind of work will never have excellent results.

We need to explore, study and prepare ourselves for all the aspects of the work that needs to be done. This preparation involves not only mental aspect but also physical workings of that particular work. Work becomes easy when the it is done after this kind of preparation. We develop this kind of instant comprehension of the work as a result of focused attention. It is very essential and important to develop focused attention in the work if we want to succeed and carry the work through.

Pujya Shree Mota
Agrata - ekagrata
Edition 1; page 21.