“I had looked for happiness in fast living, but it was not there. I tried to find it in money, but it was not there either. But when I placed myself in tune with what I believe to be the fundamental truths of life, when I began to develop my limited ability, to rid my mind of all kinds of tangled thoughts, and fill it with zeal and courage and love, when I gave myself a chance by treating myself decently and sensibly, I began to feel the stimulating, warm glow of happiness.”
– Edward Young
Kabir – The couplet
????? ?? ??? ?????, ????? ???? ? ??? |
?? ?? ?? ???? ????, ??? ??? ????? ||
transliterated:
Kabira yeh gati atpati, chatpati laakhi na jaaye |
Jo man ki khatpat mite, uddhar bhaya thehraaye||
Translation:
(Kabir says) this pace of life is fast but aimless, and hence the mind is frustrated|
Once the mind finds a quiet moment, it finds both rest and true purpose||
My thoughts:
We often measure our day, our moment, our availability and our worth in terms of physical time. We then match up this time to our desires, and panic that there is not time enough in a lifetime to satisfy even a small percentage of desire.
However, if we stop for a moment, put aside all concern for the ticking of the clock, and focus on what the end goal of the fulfillment of desire is, we will realize that even desire aims to fill us with happiness.
So instead of chasing desire, and subjecting ourselves to the momentary pleasure at the end followed by the empty feeling that it is done and now we need to look for more, we need to teach ourselves to practice satisfaction, and enjoy the eternal happiness that results.