life is never a bed of roses and true character of an individual is manifested in his courage and ability to deal with challenges
life is not a bed of roses; rather it’s full of challenges. And true character of a human being is manifested in his courage and ability to deal with such challenges. Today, however, we tend to ignore this truth and introduce ourselves to a whole new world of pomp. Aren’t we running away from ourselves when we pop a sleeping pill to keep worrying thoughts at bayIJ Sleeping pills have emerged as a ‘useful’ tool to get over the uncomfortable issues of life, making one an escapist. But there are other ways as well.
The conventional way of an escapist is to indulge in drinking after coming home in the evening, when the reality stares in the face. What will you say about a large percentage of our populace getting addicted to the Internet and its related appliancesIJ A lot of time is spent in this activity. A milder form of being in denial of reality is watching excessive television; one tries to keep the mind distracted. A small percentage keep themselves surrounded by sycophants or hangers-on.
If these were not bad enough, there are many takers of smoking. There are many who ignore definite symptoms of illness because they don’t love themselves. Then there is illicit sex which is not only a health risk but also a direct attack on the self. Gambling is not far behind when one is prepared to fritter away hard-earned money.
All these symbolise weaknesses in human character. So in the face of trouble, we tremble and fall prey to wrong temptations. What we need to remember is: No one can escape problems in this material world. One has only two choices when faced with a problem. Either one does one’s best and solves the problem, or be ready to face the consequences. There is no third choice. If one takes the escape route by indulging in liquor, drugs, illicit sex, etc, one only compounds the problem.
What does a believer doIJ He has the all-powerful God on his side. No problem is too big for the omnipotent God. lord Krishna has specifically made a mention of this promise in the Bhagavad Gita when He states, “Having My consciousness you will cross all impediments by My grace.” With this assurance, a devotee never avoids a problem and, invariably, is able to solve it with God’s assistance. A devotee is guided by his/her self. Such a person doesn’t allow fearful thoughts bother him or her. At the same time, a devotee is blissful, satisfied and at peace with himself and others.
Therefore, if we wish to avoid escaping ourselves, we can try to become true devotees of God. If that task seems too daunting, we can at least become good human beings. All attempts to make the self better pays rich dividends over a period of time.
The writer is a spiritual commentator
