many years ago I was travelling by an Indian bus and a poor beggar man was
sitting by my side we happened to get down at the same bus stand
and when I saw this person limping I felt sorry for him I looked down at his
feet and discovered that he was wearing a high-heeled sandal on one foot and the
other foot was bare I asked him My dear fellow I am so sorry to see that you
have lost one sandal he said no Swamiji I found the sandal in other words he
found one sandal he chose to wear it thereby bringing misery onto himself
very often the misery that we experience is also brought on to us by wrong
choices that we make that is why today on the 10th of this happiness challenge
I would like to share with you one important piece of Vedic wisdom
will enable you to make better choices in life the cut-open assured of the
Vedas states shreya priest tayo Adonis asada multi-year ter taught
you pray or any day there are two kinds of happiness that are available one is
shreya and the other is prayer prayer is that happiness which is sweet like
nectar in the beginning but transforms into bitter poison later on shreya is
the reverse it is bitter like poison in the beginning but subsequently it
becomes sweet like Amrit an example of prayer is overeating the enjoying the
fifth gulab jamun when you do so it's possible that you experience great
gratification of the senses and the pleasure therein but later on when it
results in a stomach upset and you have to fast and skip the next meal you say
this was a terrible experience so prayer happiness is that which is sweet in the
here and now but bitter subsequently shrill happiness is that which is bitter
in the present for example if a student has to apply himself or herself to
studies that requires focusing the mind abstaining from the distractions and the
pleasures of the senses
it is bitter it is a bitter pill to swallow but subsequently when that
results in good admissions in college a brilliant carrier in the future all that
austerity comes back as sweet nectar so the struggle in life in childhood while
growing up and today is always between these two
options for example parents and children quarrel over this parents want the
child's long-term benefit the child wants immediate gratification and the
parents then explain bata Baraka caja or Amla cahaya bad may pata
Alta Amla is the Indian gooseberry it has the vitamin C of ten oranges plus it
is rich in antioxidants so if you take the Amla every day your chances of
catching virus or infection reduced to five percent however there is a catch to
it that beneficial Amla is bitter to taste
and when the mother gives it to the child the child does not wish to eat it
that is when the mother says my child the benefit of this and the benefit of
the elders advice you will realize later on interestingly you only need to keep
the morsel of Amla and your pout for two minutes and then it turns sweet in other
words the bitterness merely had to be tolerated for a little while it is from
that austerity that our mind and senses they are like
children they seek immediate gratification and the intellect looks
for long-term benefit so the struggle ensues between the intellect and my what
do you choose in this EVGA gratification or long-term welfare this same option
continues all the way in life interestingly every happiness
that is worthwhile that is uplifting usually lies upstream of us and that is
why we need to make proper choices and if we can develop the quality of
discipline we will more often choose real than not so tomorrow we will
discuss this mindset of discipline that will unlock a huge Vista of
blessedness peace long-term welfare and great happiness for us thank you