Burst Twenty Six (For the Young) :
Happiness through Inner Simplicity
Our thoughts often create such complications in our way of living that we suffer unnecessary conflicts, inhibitions and complexes. Certain artificialities or unnatural ways of thinking and acting make us miserable. We then pretend and invite undue stress. Inner simplicity, which is absence of such self-created, psychological friction, is just what we need.
Thoughts bind us and thoughts set us free. Winds bring clouds that obstruct the sun and the winds alone take away clouds.
Irrespective of wealth or sophisticated lifestyle, we can have a childlike simplicity about us, which is truly the key to much happiness in daily life. True intelligence alone, however, can save us from getting caught in the web of social conditionings that make us pretend or put up false images of ourselves. It is not so much the ‘will’ to remain simple that helps us, as it is the ‘seeing’ of the false. We need to pause and proceed in life, so that we can see actually the unnecessary drama that we enact in various human relationships.
A simple mind has increased ability to live in the present. We are then able to ‘eat while eating’, ‘take bath while taking bath’ and ‘play while playing’. Our minds are where our hands are. There is a natural integration of emotional, intellectual and physical layers of the personality.
A simple mind is not at all a dull mind. It is intelligent, but not clever in the sense of going after selfish ends. It is the fountainhead of virtues and bestows on us good health too.
When our mind is simple, we easily recognize the area where we are truly good at and serve the society in that area without any conflict. We practice our sva-dharma. When the mind is complex, we are attracted to what is none of our business – para-dharma. Doing our duty leads us to the pinnacle of spiritual perfection – the wisdom of the Self – svaroopa-dharma.
When our mind is simple, we meet eternity in the present moment.
Swami Chidananda
April 2, 2004