SUKKHA -- DUKKHA (સુખ - દુઃખ) AND ATTACHMENTS (આસક્તિ) ------ (3)

We do have the power to think and understand impartially but many times this power stays hidden. As a result we act carelessly at the times when the seeds are sown for sukkha and dukkha (pleasure and misery). We tend to ignore the adverse circumstances and go along with it. Deers may be grazing at any place but they always have the fear of the predators. That makes them alert all the time and can save themselves from the attack. This is the result of their awareness. If we want to save ourselves from the grips of sukkha and dukkha, we must oppose our attachments, desires, thoughts and works when they attack our senses (sometimes attacking in a hidden way), with ever flowing divine love. It is possible to oppose such attack naturally and with ease if we have the conscious awareness all the time. It becomes possible to oppose such attacks and keep constant equanimity at such times, only with the grace of god.  

The subtle desires of the senses are so sweet and strong that we get sukkha only when they are satisfied. Human being who is immersed up to the neck in the daily affairs of the world has no understanding of the subtle tricks of the senses. There is no way he will have the comprehension of opposing it. It is very necessary and important for all human beings to be on guard with introspection for their own well being. After practicing introspection for sometime, there may be a condition when the senses will return to its appropriate place after touching the appropriate field as needed, without creating any excess happiness or unhappiness in the human being. Only then it can be said that there is no defect in the working of the senses in its appropriate field. It is possible to destroy the cycle of sukkha and dukkha only when the senses are brought in a condition when it act with wisdom and not for its own benefit. We will be able to act appropriately in all circumstances only after not allowing the senses to take interest in its own field. We must make a constant effort to remove the thoughts that spring up, to create equanimity towards it.

                                                                          (continued)

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sandesh
Edition 3; pages 222 - 224.

SUKKHA - DUKKHA (સુખ - દુઃખ) AND ATTACHMENTS (આસક્તિ) ----- (2)

Human beings will keep on increasing attachments for all the things that can be enjoyed with their senses since they always have attachments of some kind at the subtle or the subtlest level. The result will always be dukkha (misery). As mentioned above attachment has a natural inner tendency to encourage and support the subtle desires. As a result human beings always spend their life time in satisfying one or the other desire, even without having its awareness. If we go little deeper and investigate, it is evident that our eyes, ears, skin, tongue etc, (our senses) and even the thing that we identify as "ourselves" in its totality enjoy the unfathomable sweetness and pleasure rising out of this attachment. This sweetness is produced by the senses and it is for their pleasure. So until we make an effort to change this habit of senses and make it selfless, the senses will continue to enjoy their selfish interests. Many human beings have no idea regarding their senses keeping interest in their own field and keep enjoying it. As one enters deeper in sadhana it is recognized that what was thought as  innocent activity so far, had its roots in the subtle attachments meaning it is from the tendency of senses to enjoy on its own terms. That is the reason we need to change the direction of this tendency with awareness. Failure to do so will result in the senses continuing to follow the pleasure on its own terms. This will result in our destruction just like the spider creating the web around the victim and sealing of the escape rout resulting in the destruction of the victim. Senses get such a tremendous pleasure in its own field that human being continues the activity in spite of having thoughts about misery behind such an action. We do have some understanding regarding bad or undesirable activities  and when the senses are attracted towards such activity, it supersede our objection and still carry out such undesirable activity. Gitaji (Holy Hindu Scripture) mentions that such pleasure is of Rajsic nature and the end result is always misery. It is important to make great efforts to cleanse our chitta (effects of our past thoughts and actions on the mind) to prevent such Sukkha and Dukkha.
                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                        (continued)

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sandesh
Edition 3; pages 221 - 222.

SUKKHA -- DUKKHA (સુખ-- દુઃખ) AND ATTACHMENTS (આસક્તિ) ------ (1).

If we look at the root of the sukkha and dukkha (even the feeling of), it is apparent that the attachment is the root cause of sukkha and dukkha. Attachment means affection and partiality towards certain feelings generated towards anything. Passion and hate rise out of this attachment creating the duality between sukkha and dukkha at all the times. Nature of the human being is such that it keeps on looking for happiness for themselves. While keenly searching for happiness, humans develop the attachments towards many things in this world. In the end this leads to destruction of the human being just as the capsized vessel drifts in the ocean and sinks eventually. If we analyze ourselves seriously with calm mind it becomes apparent that there is always some subtle attachment involved in all of our works. If the human looks within, there is no denial of this fact since attachment is bound to the body. Ego is completely dissolved when there is no attachment since attachment springs from the ego. At the same time there is no way the body can survive when there is no ego. Shree Ramkrishna Paramhansa said that to maintain the body even saints like Shankacharya kept SATVIC ego to spread the true knowledge. Similarly any kind of work is not possible without the some kind of attachment. Work or the activity is not possible without having the desire first. Desire is one characteristic of the attachment.
                                                             (continued)

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sandesh
Edition 3; pages 220 - 221.

TURNING THE MIND INWARDS

When mind's attention, tendencies and interests tend to be extroverted, it is very important for the sadhak to gently prod, stir up and wind down the external activities of the mind and return it inwards. These three processes are important for the sadhak but it is not possible to achieve this without having the vigilent awareness first. This kind of work cannot be done by just talks, discussions or such measures. It requires fierce and tremendous effort in sadhana.

Pujya Shree Mota
Life and Works
Edition 1; page 475.

LOVE (3)

Trichinapally
September, 1943.

True love is completely detached. It is not necessary that only saints can appreciate the very subtle difference between love and attachment. Most of the time what we call love is attachment. Love is not a something that comes suddenly with a tremendous force and then leaves with equal suddenness.  Love is a bhava that is quiet, thoughtful and flows constantly with the determination of the waters of the deep ocean. It is as wide as space and has the depth of the ocean. It can be better compared with the space than the ocean. The reason being the presence of space in the whole universe and still being unattached. If there is any element of prakruti that is beyond universe, it is space. Attachment brings about downfall of the person while love uplifts. Sadhana is to nurture, develop and receive such love. It is understatement even if it is considered an important part of the sadhana.

Just as developing love is the aim of the sadhana, it is also the achievement. It is impossible to behave and act appropriately without developing the clear vision from detachment. It is mandatory to act appropriately for the one who always wishes the best for the loved one. At appropriate times one needs to keep meaningful and sincere behavior. One neither achieves this instant comprehension (સૂઝ) of appropriate behavior by reading the books nor by following the saint as a routine. This instant comprehension is also not achieved by so called efficient intellect working in the worldly affairs. In fact it can be obstructive if one fails to keep the purpose of sadhana behind using intellect in achieving efficiency in worldly affairs. This instant comprehension gets to be better by keeping a definite aim to achieve only pure love and then acting in an appropriate way. Not only that, it is one thing to have instant comprehension and another to concretely manifest in life.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sandesh
Edition 3; pages 165 - 166.