Our main job in life is to maintain inner order – in everything we do, small or big. When there is disorder at the centre of our life, any other thing about us – however impressive it may be – becomes irrelevant and wasteful. The confused society around us may not see it. People see us in terms of name, fame, wealth and position. The situation is like that of a man who is very well-dressed but has acute stomach pain. People see how expensive his suit is. What do they know of his stomach pain?
In an interview with the British journalist Mr. Hurst and a Buddhist Bhikshu, Sri Ramana Maharshi said, “Everyone is an avatar1of God. The kingdom of God is within you. Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha and Krishna – all are within you. One who knows the truth sees everyone as a manifestation of God.” The core issue in life is to get back in touch with this divinity within us, proclaimed by sages and reconfirmed by many saints.
We cross the age of 50, 60 and 70 years but our list of things to do in the world outside does not get shorter. As our capacity to work decreases, we get miserable. Some of us say, “Oh, I have just begun my life. Alas, my faculties are getting weak.” Our ignorance of the vast amount of work that needs to be done insideis appalling. Think of the well-dressed man with stomach ache. How would it be if he imagines his suffering would go if he goes shopping and picks up an even better dress?
By hurriedly deciding to give up work (karma), we would achieve nothing. It would not work first of all. Progressing from the gross to the subtle requires seeing a) the sad limitations of the worldly work that engages us endlessly and b) the splendid possibilities of the inner, spiritual quest. Then we can (and will) detach from the less meaningful and attach to the more meaningful.
“It takes time, sir,” says somebody. Such a remark seems true but actually lacks precision. What it takes is clear and intense seeing.Time is not a factor at all. Those who see,change instantly. Those who do not see,keep doing things which have no bearing on the issue. Let us take an example. You say to a friend, “Please sit down.” Your friend does not hear you properly or does not understand your language. He goes out, comes in, walks around and asks you again and again, “What do you want me to do?” You repeat, “Please sit down.” After an hour, he understands what you wanted him to do. He sits down. Going out, coming in and walking around were not necessary steps before the right thing to do, namely sitting down. An hour went by in those activities but they were not part of the implementation, truly speaking.
Such is the nature of insight (jnana) in sharp contrast to activity (karma). Insight transforms us. Activity brings various results that we enjoy (or suffer) but after a while we are back to square one.
The core issue is to discover our divinity through right seeing. Time (including the coming of the New Year) has no bearing on this.
