If a human being exclusively and
wholly lives for food, sleep, fear, sex etc. his would be considered an
animal-like existence, devoid of any higher purpose. The least rise in the
intensity of desire or impatience makes man take recourse to unfair means and
turns the individual into a reckless devil. Individuals with such devil
character traits make life hellish not only for themselves but also for others.
Lust and greed are the two most powerful of these evil traits, which remain
ever unstated. There is no end to cravings for sex and desires for acquiring
more and more things for comfort, pleasure and luxury. Life is an endless cycle
of desire, temporary satisfaction and still more intense craving. The more one
indulges in sex, acquires material things, the greater become agitations' of
the mind: worries, wants and anxieties;
and these go on increasing day by day. Whatever pleasure one gets through
sensual indulgence is followed by disenchantment, fatigue and unhappiness. The
knowledge that the present sense gratification would not last long and its
ultimate end would bring unhappiness of loss creates a vicious cycle. In this
way, perspective of body consciousness drags man towards immorality, suffering,
craving and turbulence in mind. Nevertheless, man keeps on seeking true
happiness in material things.
Real success and prosperity in
life lies in remaining ever conscious of one's true identity. When man
identifies himself with ATMA (soul), his aspirations and inclinations naturally
being to follow the righteous path of self discipline, which provides true
happiness to the soul.
The food for soul
Whenever a person commits immoral
acts like theft, violence, adultery, deception, he has a queer feeling of
uneasiness within. His limbs start shaking and pulse-rate becomes irregular. It
is nothing but an adverse reaction of the higher self (soul) to an immoral act
or behavior of the lower animal self. Immorality is contrary to the nature and
interests of the soul. On the other hand, virtuous acts involving altruism,
philanthropy, kindheartedness, self-sacrifice and continence provide great
inner satisfaction, lightheartedness, cheerfulness and exhilaration. Only those persons who are able to listen to
the promptings of the soul (conscience) and act accordingly, are righteous and
noble. Having risen above animal drives, a person tuned to the voice of
conscience can never commit a sinful or evil act.
Virtuous acts provide inner peace
and joy to the soul in this world, as well as in the world beyond. Thus, the
well-being of the soul lies in living virtuously. On the contrary, body
considers its well-being in subtle and gross gratification of the mind and
body. Unfortunately mass of humanity spend their entire lives in the blind
routine of appeasing the urges of the body, which unlike the soul, is destined
to decay and die; but in this process soul bound in ignorance keeps on
accumulating sins. No doubt such lifestyle gives fleeting pleasures to the body
and to mind, but the soul is exposed to suffering in this world and in the
world beyond. The body is required to undergo hardships in the course of
performance of virtuous acts for the from sense-indulgence, the body cannot
properly perform virtuous and noble acts. It is therefore required to be
subjected to such disciplines as continence, sacrifice of self interests,
control of wayward thoughts, speech, actions, moderation in sex and philanthropy.
It is therefore evident that well being of body and soul a re dramatically
opposite. One has to choose between the two.
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