Burst Twenty Four (For Youth) :
Insight into Habit
We hear of habits, good and bad. We are told generally to cultivate good habits. The moralists ask us to give up bad habits. Good ones, they say, make us successful. Bad ones, they warn us, lead us to our ruin. All this advice surely is in good taste and is
understandable.
However, going into it with certain precision, a habit can be mechanical. It can be without understanding or awareness. We could have certain judgments about ourselves based on our habits, which may not be true. Getting up early, being vegetarian, being regular in physical exercise etc. are no doubt good; but true goodness in life is much more than several of these put together. Do we make sweeping judgments and get
caught in a false sense of superiority at times? If we do not have one of the ‘good habits’, do we again jump to a conclusion and have an unnecessary sense of inferiority, if not guilt or shame?
Can we do the good thing, day after day without becoming mechanical? Can we do the right thing everyday without letting the sense of “I am the good guy here” creep in?
Should goodness necessarily rise from the ground of blindly repetitive activity? Can it not come forth from the fountain of awareness?
In awareness, thoughts and actions do not leave behind the residue of judgment. In lack of awareness, thoughts are half-digested and actions are incomplete. Pride or shame make the matter worse. Awareness leaves the slate clean. We move to the next moment with freshness.
Goodness, when cultivated, is a psychological burden. When it is the natural perfume of living in gentle awareness, it is like sunshine; it belongs to all.
May Shiva (Awareness) and Paarvati (Good thoughts and
actions) bless us this Shivaraatri.
Om Namah Shivaaya.
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Wednesday, February 18 is Shivaraatri this year..
Shiva is Pure Awareness. Paarvatee is “thoughts”.
Awareness without thoughts means no functionality.
Thoughts without awareness breed ego and hence
bondage.