Belgaum, the second biggest district of Karnataka after Bangalore is now known as Belagavi. Retd. Justice from Bangalore High Court, Mr. Pachhapure Arvind along with an NGO ‘Hitaishi’ had organized various programs here for people from all walks of life. Lead by Swami Suryendu Puri Ji these talks were respectively addressed to, a) lawyers from Advocates Associations, b) soon-to-be doctors from JN Medical College, c) up-and-coming engineers from The Institution of Engineers and well of course, d) commoners. A glimpse from the sublime talks is presented here.
February 10, Advocates Association, Bailhongal: Considering this an opportunity to share knowledge, wisdom, and learning we have come across to talk some about how to live happily, healthily and harmoniously – the 3Hs. We understand the words happiness and living a healthy life. Defining harmony, judges have to harmonize with advocates, advocates have to harmonize with their clients, and they both need to harmonize with their respective associates. It’s a cycle. Harmony, in simple words can be called as a relationship; how do you relate with others? But before we go to ‘others’, the harmony we want to focus upon is how to harmonize with yourself; this body, this mind, and something which is beyond, the soul.
So, the first thing happiness – where is it and how do you get it? A child wants to grow up fast enough to enjoy better while a grown-up misses being a stress-free, worry-less, and responsibilities-minus child. Isn’t that so? What we do not have is what we crave for and what we do have is what we are not brave enough to live for. We are chasing through darkness. And in the process, almost always something sounds missing. The problem lies in our dependence on so many things. We seek a reason outside to make us happy. And so as long as our happiness is dependent, there will always be a question mark. So, how to deal with it? In Gita (2.38), Lord Krishna says happiness or distress, loss or gain, victory or defeats are fleeting. Important is that we keep on focusing on the big picture; what is my responsibility and how can I contribute towards it? But instead we are distracted, by placing the blame on others and, on our stars. In other words, we are always busy seeking reasons outside. It is said that whose happiness is dependent on something can never be happy even in dreams. So, happiness is a choice. Why postpone it? For instance, our behaviour for our client is different than that with the employees, or even with the family. Why can’t it be the same? It is all about convincing your mind. And yet another way out is to change your way of greeting. In our culture, a civilised being is known to greet another upon meeting. And what if that greeting is topped up with a pinch of positivity. Why not begin with pointing out a good thing and so appreciate that person. This will help us not to loose temper and thus maintain cordial relationship. Try this, take responsibility and you are bound to notice the change.
Coming to second H, health. The two basic things involved in here are food and sleep. And if we can work through these, eighty percent of our problems get resolved. We often say if we will not eat we will die. Question is, who has made to immortality by eating all the way through? Even medical research says, it’s not in the food but is in the mind. For instance, when we are depressed, we tend to eat more. What happens during eating is that our focus shifts within. And this connecting within is what helps our mind relax. The source of all the energy lies inside. Food just helps us connecting with that source. Now, there are some very simple formulas to stay healthy (when it comes to food) – proper cleansing and proper digestion. Talking about sleep, when we dream we forget our real identity. Contrary to the real world there is no digging done to earn name and fame and wealth. And yet, we consider those to be the best hours. Do you know why? For those many hours we connect to our source within; the divine power that defines our ‘alive’ status and without which we are declared dead. And if someone asks, how to maintain such a state without having to go to sleep is where meditation comes into the picture; meditation, a conscious and a responsible act over sleep, an unconscious act. With meditation we go inside and get that energy and power with which we get all the three H.
Talking some more about harmony, the point to consider is that why does disharmony comes at first place? We do not listen. And whatever little we do, it is just so as to respond and hardly ever to understand. We say, we try but when the other person doesn’t cooperate what to do, and because if he’ll abuse, I certainly have to retort in same language. Here again, you need to take responsibility of your life. You have to have dignity. Why to become slave of others, and certainly why to become football available to be kicked by anyone? Living with self-respect is what matters the most.
And these 3H’s combined is what makes the fourth H, human. When we are scared, there are no traces of happiness to be seen. But once we realize and harmonize with that source within there is absolutely no reason to stay unhappy. Our body, mind and energy are healthy enough to be able to cope with any adverse situation that might come. Happiness becomes our very nature, which in fact is our very nature.