QUESTION: Is peace of mind different from peace of our
body and peace of the world?
ANSWER: Though different, peace
of mind, body and the world are inter-related. A person may be intensely active
physically yet his mind can be absolutely calm. In fact, such calmness combined
with intense activity is the ideal advocated by the Bhagvad Gita in its fourth
chapter. Swami Vivekananda has paraphrased the meaning of its 18th verse thus: ‘He
who even while active can keep his mind calm and in whom even when not doing
anything outward, action flows in the form of a contemplation of Brahman is
intelligent one among men, he indeed is the Yogi. He indeed is the perfect worker.’
Likewise,
there might be great unrest, even war, around in the world, yet one may have
absolute peace within. This is the ideal of inner peace.
QUESTION: Then how are they inter-related?
ANSWER: It is said, 'A healthy
mind in a healthy body'. Similarly, it can be said, 'A peaceful mind in a
peaceful body'. This statement has certain practical implications. If you want
to make the mind quiet before, say meditation, one must sit quietly without moving
any part of your body. This helps in calming the mind. The opposite of it is
also true. If your mind is peaceful, the body will tend to be less restless.
QUESTION: Is there a relation between peace of mind and
world peace?
ANSWER: Yes. Most of the unrest
in the world is because our minds are restless. No lasting world peace is
possible unless our minds are peaceful. Restlessness of mind expresses as
disturbance in society. Hence, much greater effort must be made to calm the mind,
than the efforts that are made to establish peace in the world. If we had paid more
attention to make the mind calm, there would have been little need to redress
external restlessness.
QUESTION: What is meant by happiness?
ANSWER: Different people have
different concepts of happiness. Some people feel happy by getting more money.
Young men and women feel happy if they get a good spouse. Others feel happy in
having a son, name and fame, high position in society, and so on. There are
others whose happiness lies in serving others. There are yet others, the
spiritually inclined people, who derive a great joy in singing the glories of God,
chanting His name and meditating on Him.
QUESTION: It is understandable that there could be
various causes of happiness. But what is happiness?
ANSWER: According to Indian
philosophy, atman or soul is inherently divine and blissful. However, this
bliss is not expressed or experienced due to the impurities of mind. A pure and
peaceful mind reflects this bliss which is called, or is experienced, as 'happiness'
or 'joy'. When any of our desires are fulfilled, the mind become peaceful for
the time being and the soul's natural bliss becomes manifested, giving us a
feeling of happiness.
QUESTION: How can we have everlasting peace and
happiness?
ANSWER: As explained, the source
of all happiness and bliss is the atman or soul. One can get everlasting bliss
by realizing the atman. And since this bliss expresses itself through a peaceful,
pure and sattvika (serene) mind, every attempt must be made to purify
the mind and make it peaceful through spiritual practices. Only a pure mind can
get ever lasting peace and happiness.
QUESTION: It is said that we should feel happy in other's
happiness. But some people might feel happy in injuring others. What should be
done then?
ANSWER: It is everyone's duty to
protect one's interest and happiness. But in the process of becoming happy, one
must not harm others. At times, the search for our happiness gets us into a
conflicting circumstance. The whole story of Mahabharata demonstrates the ways and
means by which such situations are to be tackled. The Pandavas, for instance,
tried every peaceful means to uphold truth, justice and righteousness. But when
all these failed, war became inevitable and thus the war of Mahabharata was
fought. Peace must not be accepted at the cost of truth and righteousness or
Dharma. For it would lead to greater suffering. We should seek peace through righteous
means.
QUESTION: How can one be loyal to anything but the truth?
After all in the Gita, did not Lord Krishna ask Arjuna to stand against
everyone, even his guru if he is wrong? Then where is the place of loyalty or
nishtha in spiritual life? Also, if someone has done much for you, but then he
is wrong on an issue, should one stand up for the truth, or should one be
grateful?
ANSWER: The whole of Mahabharta
is an attempt to answer this question regarding conflict between truth and
loyalty (nishtha). Even Sri Krishna in the Gita accepts the fact that it
is very difficult to decide what is the right conduct and what is the wrong
conduct (kim karma, kim akarma, kavayo api atra mohitaha). It is also
said that where there is dharma, there is victory. Further, it is said that
dharma is where Sri Krishna is. This means that at the time of confusion of
such values, we must take refuge in God. He is the Ultimate Value. We should
pray to Him for guidance and strength.
