In this edition of his exclusive series for iGlobal, the Founder of the world-renowned Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) spiritual organisation explains how religion is the art of focusing on the right things, which ultimately leads one to the goal of true happiness.
A seeker first chooses his mental state, then perceives the world. He first concludes that I want to remain calm, happy, peaceful and not have thought agitations due to negative emotions of hurt, anger, hate, etc.
Remember that those you come across in life will have merits as well as shortcomings. If you concentrate on their inadequacies, you will stay agitated or sad. However, if you focus on their virtues, you will experience friendliness and appreciation.
Your attitude can change adverse situations into favourable ones, troubling events into joyful memories. If you know this art of focusing on the rose amidst the thorns, then inevitably you will stay happy.
Stay pure by choosing the right perspective. Once someone inadvertently throws hot ashes on a Guru and his disciple. The Guru stays calm, but the disciple becomes angry. He also wonders how the Guru could remain so calm. The Guru gives him a positive perspective: “Our sins are such that fire should have been flung at us. Thank the Lord they were just ashes.”
Once a pessimist asks US President Woodrow Wilson, “Why are people so unhappy even after obtaining religion?” Wilson responded, “Imagine how miserable they would have been without religion.” Learn the art of focusing. Decide which mindset you want to be in – that of love and gratitude, or that of complaining.
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As you focus on the positive, the meritorious you will become, ready to blossom. If you want to blossom, work towards increasing the following:
1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ): It is about Intelligence. Increase it with the help of education, Satsang, etc. Education is necessary, but humility is also more important. Humility like clothes is not optional.
2. Emotional Quotient (EQ): It is about Sensitivity. A sensitive person has a soft, golden heart. He cannot hurt others. Seeing anyone in sorrow, he feels pained and works towards removing it. Give in charity without analysing much, lest it dries up your sensitivity. Even if 50 per cent may be cheating, be happy that at least half of those you helped were truly in need.
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3. Spiritual Quotient (SQ): It is about Virtues. Your virtues should be so strong that even your enemy cannot challenge them. An enemy is one who sees only the negative in you, yet he should feel compelled to admire your virtues. You must want to cultivate virtues. You should go up to your backbiters – not for complaining, quarrelling or justifying your shortcomings, but to understand your flaws so that you know where you need to change.
4. Adversity Quotient (AQ): It is about Equanimity. How much can you endure calmly? In present times, people want to commit suicide over a little problem. Reflect on the adversities of great men. If you draw a longer line next to an already drawn line, the latter appears shorter. You will never complain about anything when you know your suffering is so little in comparison to that of others’.
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5. Creativity Quotient (CQ): It is about Creativity. It comes out spontaneously when you are happy. Don't try to be creative; be happy and creativity will follow. And cheerfulness comes from connection with the divine. When you start staying happy, new feelings, ideas emerge – be it of dancing, singing, writing or even cooking.
So, learn the art of focusing. Stay happy and pure in any situation. Increase your intelligence, sensitivity, virtues, equanimity and creativity. Through them create such worthiness that introspection, contemplation and meditation become easy, and you can soon offer Self-realisation at the Lotus Feet of your Sadguru.
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Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, an enlightened master and an ardent devotee of Shrimad Rajchandraji, is the founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) – a spiritual organisation with 206 centres across six continents advancing the path of Lord Mahavir. In June 2024, he will be in the UK for a series of life-transforming discourses.
*Info: SRMD UK Tour