Think positive to be pain-free

Jun 15, 2009, 08.00am IST
MAHI PAL.


Most people expect fruits of an action in terms of expectations before initiating any action or performing duties. If we follow the dictum that we have performed our duties earnestly and the outcome is not in our hands, then the pain will not be experienced because at that time the mind would be in a state of wantlessness.


Each one of us has wants. We expect to satisfy these wants in order to experience happiness in our daily lives. One want creates a number of wants. When these wants remain unfulfilled or partly fulfilled, they create unhappiness and the more we think about it, the more miserable we feel. This way, we only inflict pain on ourselves. Could this way of life be sustainable in the present context where people are surrounded with different kinds of stress-creating situations?


How does one find happiness in the midst of so much greed, anxiety and dissatisfaction? Real happiness does not come by creating wants; it can only come through slowly reducing or even eliminating them.

Pain and happiness are two sides of the same coin. If you are capable of feeling pain, definitely there is the possibility of feeling happiness. But true progress is made only when you learn to rise above both pain and pleasure, happiness and sadness. The remedy lies in keeping yourself away from the state of pain and pleasure.

You can avoid or keep away from both pain and pleasure only when you willingly lose your so-called individuality to embrace universality. This is only possible if people do not have desires and their motive of taking up activities is to reach a state of wantlessness. This does not, however, mean that running a business or working to earn money is a bad thing or is totally unnecessary. What is limiting ^ what prevents you from seeking higher realms is the persistent desire in you to acquire more and more that in turn even more wants. It's a never-ending spiral.

Constant recollection of negative events could also be avoided to achieve a pain-free state. In the sea, there are disturbances only on the surface; deep inside, there is tranquillity. This approach to life of remaining calm despite turbulence outside could help us overcome suffering.

The moment a want arises, an attempt is also made to satisfy it. Fulfilling a want gives satisfaction and pleasure because not doing so is unacceptable. In this process we are constantly engaged in endlessly creating wants and fulfilling them. Conversely, satisfying a want means yielding to it, becoming enslaved by it.


But this cycle does not create enduring happiness because this is an unending process. The best way of getting sustainable state of satisfaction is not to yield to a want but to eliminate a want instead of obeying its dictations. Hence, instead of satisfying a want which is a continuous process, it is always better to overcome it.


The best way is to replace all your myriad wants with just one worthy desire the desire or want to find the Supreme Truth. In pursuit of this all-encompassing desire, everything else drops off. With practice and devotion, the seeker reaches a stage when all that matters is making the goal of self-realisation attainable. Once the Truth dawns on the seeker, finally, the state of wantlessness is achieved and there is no more pain. No more suffering. Only a state of perfect happiness or bliss.