Changes are not always pleasant. But whether they are gradual or abrupt, they must be taken in the right spirit. We all must seek changes which enrich life, writes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
In the material world, everything is ever changing. Human body itself undergoes several changes after it is born, which is also a change from the previous body. If one lives long, the body changes from growing as in the childhood to staying, ie in the youth to decaying as in the old age to finally dying.
Changes are not always pleasant. For example, when a child is forced to go to school for the first time, he resists because he does not wish to leave the secure surroundings of the house. Similarly, change from a young body to an old body brings additional problems of health as the aging process starts.
In the two examples given, one was an abrupt change and the other was gradual. There is one thing common in all changes; we need to be mentally ready for them and also do whatever is needed to make such changes fruitful or at least tolerable.
let us start with the most common change, which starts rather abruptly but is a very gradual process. I am referring to education. Parents have a big role to play in this. They must choose a proper school, look after the child in home, etc. The child must accept and adapt to new surroundings away from home. He must fall in line in the matter of discipline, increasing work load, aiming for good grades, etc.
The next important change is to begin to share. Though this change is very gradual, it is very important to lead a quality life. Parents have again a very important role to play in this. The first friend a child must have is a sibling. In absence of one, the child needs to find a suitable one.
Awareness about diseases is next. One must prepare in order to avoid them as far as possible. This requires eating healthy, sleeping adequately, exercising appropriately and having proper entertainment. The one who does all this is well set in life to have a healthy body.
Beginning of career is another important change. Preparation for this goes right back to the school days when children choose their subjects. It is important to begin well. One is young and should work hard, ie deliver more than what is expected. If one can do that, he or she is set on a very rewarding career.
Marriage is a very big change. Very few realise it and do not make adequate preparations, especially mentally. How can anyone imagine that another person will be exactly like what suits him or herIJ And after marriage many changes have to be accepted. And the ideal change is treating the other person as a dear friend, not just a wife or a husband. Becoming a parent is no less of a challenge. If this additional responsibility is not shouldered properly, there are consequences, which could be quite serious. Most parents take a lot of advice during pregnancy but become whimsical after the birth of the child. Now this could hurt the new member of the family.
Seeking advice whether in relation to rearing of a child or leading our lives is a must, because no one can know everything. We need experts like doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc for material problems but need guru/gurus for spiritual guidance. Taking help from others is a very important requirement. However, it is never surrender; one must use one’s own judgement always no matter what the advice is.
The next change is the most important in the human birth — to effect change in consciousness from material to spiritual. This is a very gradual process because one can only progress in steps, ie having realised some spiritual truth one goes to the next realisation. Therefore, this process must not start later than when one is nearing 50. later it becomes very difficult to make the effort and develop faith in God.
I am not talking about doing some rituals but actually believing that God exists and doing exactly what he instructs and become dear to him. This opens up unlimited possibilities for gaining peace, happiness and even bliss, if someone is seriously pursuing this path. Changes, whether gradual or abrupt, must be taken in the right spirit. Not only that, one must seek changes which enrich life.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com
