All is Fair in Life
Written by: Sri Madhusudan Sai
Published as part of a weekly series of articles on the bhagavad-gītā in Top Story Newspaper
People believe that in spirituality, it is easier said than done. There is so much happening around and there is so much to manage – bills to pay, children and their education, parents and their health, boss and career, friends and relationships, the political scenario…the list goes on, and there are umpteen reasons why we could lose our peace and happiness at every step on this most uncertain journey of life. How then, would someone be able to think and act from their sacred space, like we discussed last week?
To top it all, it is believed that God wields the power to utter punishment or confer rewards based on our performance on earth. And this makes it worser for us.
Let’s pause and think – the world where we live, is a place that is perceived differently by different people. The way a child sees this world is different from the way a thief sees, a politician sees, and completely different from the way a spiritually enlightened being sees. What is the difference?
There is this story of a woman who had to fetch a pot of water every day from the river. One day, the pot cracks and breaks. What should be her reaction? The poet-saint Kabir speaks for her by saying – भला हुआ मोरी गगरी फूटी, मैं पनियां भरन से छूटी, मोरे सिर से टली बला – bhalaa hua mori gagri phooti, mein paniyaan bharan se chooti, more sar se tali balaa – ‘Good riddance! My pot broke and I am now freed from having to go to the river every day to fill water.’
This is to show how every situation in life brings with it a brighter side, and it is totally up to us to see it and believe it. A man of wisdom sees only the positive in every situation.
Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita clarifies that God does not attribute good or bad results to any person. It is all our own doing. And so, the best way to lead our lives is to see the good in every situation, learn from it, and move on with gratitude in heart, for the design of our life is only as fair as our own making of it. Think about it!