Beginning of a New Year - Looking inwards one should always ask 'Who am I" ?
Hinduism has generally described the entire universe as 'maya (an illusion)'.
At this juncture as we take a leap from 2024 to circa 2025; we should know or rather all of us may ask -- "Who am I ?"
The answer will be simple from most of us. But the fact of the matter is when anyone of us answer this question -- we may end up stating our name, profession and even the country.
But does it answer all the query ?
The real answer is hidden elsewhere. Detachment from body is the 'first lesson' of self-realisation. So the 'person' is in fact the SOUL.
A human being is never the body. Yes. that's the basic premise of spiriuality.
Time and History is said to be the most accommodating affair. The pages of 'past' or history are full of mortal men and women. Of course - some are anointed with immortality. Perhaps this emphasis on Value system is crucial.
I can share something read a few years back -- the great Indian spirituality (or literature) spanning from Rig Veda to 'Satyarth Prakash' by Maharshi Dayanand appears to have the main goal of telling humanity about "self-realisation".
But knowing oneself or this so-called 'self-realisation' is also about a man/a woman's ability to take a decision -- by applying is his and soul.
Thus what Paulo Coelho writes in 'Like the Flowing River' -- may be relevant to talk about.
“Lord, protect our decisions, because making Decision is a way of praying. Give us the courage after our doubts, to be able to choose between one road and another. May our YES always be a YES and our NO always be a NO."
This is indeed a tough call.
There is an old saying. Truth liberates and also inspires seekers to endeavour to seek SELF-REALISATION.
Adi Shankaracharya has actually highlighted the traits of a man of self-realisation in his work Vivek Chudamani (Crest Jewel of Discrimination)'.
# Now take a pause --
Three traits according to him vis-a-vis self-realisation are --
** A person is ever contented without enjoying sensual pleasures.
*** - Such a person is ever satisfied irrespective of material riches
and
*# finally -- The person will be strong (infinitely) irrespective of the situation and also notwithstanding any support or help.
Paulo Coelho throws up another quote --
“Sometimes, we are so attached to our way of life that we turn down wonderful opportunities simply because we don't know what to do with it.”
As we mortals live .... joyfully or otherwise passing from one day to another and that way one year to another (2025 in this case) -- we may also reflect upon what people would often say --
"Nothing can last ever".
No one can actually dispute that. But let us put a rider -- Let us hope Honesty will last.
Happy New Year 2025 !!
ends
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