10 December 2001, 12:02am IST
Prasoon Pant.
If we look around us today we will find a world that is shattered by war and terrorism, the effects of which, if not in a direct manner, have still cast their influence on us. the fundamental question that arises in the mind today is: in what way can peace be achieved in the world to put an end to this suffering? some centuries ago, human beings were still conscious enough to pay heed to the spiritual side of their growth. in india, most people are proud of being a part of a spiritual legacy, which goes back to beyond the vedic times. the emergence of industrial and consumerist societies throughout the world, brought along with it a new wave of thought and ideology — of wealth and the means for its acquisition. today at the pinnacle of world’s industrial and material glory, we see that there is neither an end in sight to poverty nor any contentment in those who have been a part of this growth. in fact, the new society, based on the ideology of wealth, and an ever widening gap between the rich and the poor, is one of the root causes of war and terrorism that have plagued the entire world. moreover, the rise of religious fanaticism in many parts of the world shows the failure of a human being in understanding the real meaning of religion, which is ‘peace’, and is the fundamental premise of almost all religions. then, what is the way to achieve peace of mind in today’s times? it is necessary for a human being to find his or her place is in the scheme of things, in this universe. the buddha said about 25 centuries ago that all life was a transitory phenomenon. he said, ‘‘life is like a flash of lightning’’. we as human beings have such a short life that it is useless to waste it fighting each other and dissipating our energies in only acquiring material possessions. therefore, it is of great value to a human being to follow a path of self-inquiry to attain peace and achieve happiness, which is our birthright. when a human being begins the process of self-inquiry, he or she has to put the whole being into it. in us, viveka or conscience is the power to discriminate between right and wrong and can be said to be a spark of the divine element in human beings. the first process of this self-inquiry then is to observe one’s thoughts, desires and feelings and to be ‘aware’ of them. this awareness is necessary and it might take time for a person to get accustomed to, as a human being’s mind is conditioned to identify with his or her thoughts and emotions. the buddha said that the mind can be a great obstacle in the path of realisation and at the same time it can be a great vehicle on the way towards enlightenment. once a person is aware of what goes on in his or her mind, he or she can proceed to deal with the thoughts and emotions that make a person cling to suffering of all kinds. the second part of the path to self-inquiry is to root out the thoughts feelings and desires that obstruct the path of self- realisation. all fears, anxieties, depression, anger and other negative feelings that a person experiences can be got rid off in this way. this is perhaps the most difficult task in the world, but to accept this challenge and to face one’s weaknesses, is worth the effort. in fact, it is the object of all spiritual teachings in the world. as we progress into this path of self-inquiry we can pursue the practice of silencing our mind through meditation or concentration on some object like a deity, a symbol or even a material object. we can also concentrate on some higher feeling like karuna or compassion, and this is a very good way to meditate. the mahayana or greater vehicle school of buddhism describes karuna as an essential characteristic of a bodhisattva or one who seeks nirvana or enlightenment not only for himself but for every living being. the main feature of this compassion is that one thinks of alleviating the suffering of other sentient beings and wishes for their liberation before entering into nirvana oneself. by practising this path of self-inquiry one can gradually develop stillness of mind and there comes a time when we feel peace within ourselves. then we can think and act in a calmer way, and without any inner conflict. human life is full of ups and downs. what holds true in a person’s life today life might not hold good for tomorrow. we need to lead a life where finding peace within us should not only be the aim, but a necessary precondition upon which all the other foundations of life can be laid.
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