*Chapter 3 - Bubbles On The Water*
*Day 20*
We constantly worry about what others think about us, but everyone's ideas and opinions are short-lived They are momentary.
Suppose someone thinks that you are a good person. How long will it take him to change his mind about you? It will take just a matter of seconds.
They may label you as bad; many people may think you are bad. How much time will it take to change their opinions also? The opinions of others are like bubbles on the water.
If we depend on them, we cannot live at all. Can such a life be steady? There is a saying : "Building castles in the air." It is maya, foolishness, to lead life dependent on other’s opinions.
We see the world every day, but without learning anything new. There is no discrimination. Many people have been born and have also left this world.
Many are dying, and we will also die one day. We intentionally remain ignorant of this fact. This is maya, it is absence of discrimination, simply staying and knowing this much is enough.
Once you know that everything is maya, a lack of discrimination, maya disappears. The air bubble below the water's surface disappears as soon as it rises to the surface.
Recognising maya as maya is discrimination. Knowing that everything in this world is changing is discrimination, but we do not grasp this because we are sleeping.
As soon as we are aware we are sleeping, we instantly wake up. There is only one answer to some questions, and the reply, whether it is "yes" or "no," has only one meaning.
If you ask a sleeping person
whether or not he is asleep, a "yes" has no meaning. Even if he says, "no," it also means he is not asleep, and if he says, "yes," it really means no.
Similarly, whatever reply you receive for certain questions, the meaning remains the same. The moment you wake up and understand maya, you are free from maya and return to self.
When we realise that we made a mistake, we repent. Do you know what happens when we repent? We get angry, we blame ourselves, and not only do we blame ourselves, we blame others too.
When there is a fire in your belly, only then can the heat be experienced outside. The insults flying out of your mouth only show the external heat, but the fire inside is not seen.
You feel angry at yourself because you feel : "I have not learnt anything. I couldn't move forward in life despite my best efforts." You feel frustrated with yourself.
The path is complex and difficult. You may fail 100 times before you succeed. Do not lose hope or become disheartened. Ultimately, if you are ready to triumph, you will, but for that you need to be vireh, one who is ready to accept failure.
People think the opposite, that only one who is unwilling to accept defeat will triumph. This is totally incorrect. A person who accepts defeat will become peaceful.
Those who do not accept defeat boil inside with a fire of revenge. It is hard to say that people with seething, disturbed intellects can really achieve success.
If they find any success, it is only outside, and in their hearts they know that they have lost. Only people who accept defeat can be brave.
One who says, "I have lost," can be cool, without vengeance. The peaceful mind is courageous, but a disturbed mind cannot have courage.
We have enjoyed neither yoga, union, nor bhoga, enjoyment. We can be content either in yoga or bhoga, but we have not even enjoyed bhoga, the enjoyments in our life.
Look at the face of a child eating a lollipop. He enjoys it fully, and his face glows happily. He is so content. Now look at people eating in restaurants like cows - do they find contentment there?
Is there enthusiasm? No. However, suppose you sing a song to a child, it will intently listen before falling asleep, immersed in the song.
Even asleep, the face remains cheerful, and the moment it gets up, you see innocence, happiness, love and contentment on the child's face.
Even after a complete sleep, you get up without any expression at all on your face, and you start grumbling. Even if you get more sleep, will you find contentment, happiness or satisfaction on the face?
You only get out of bed only because it is necessary. Look at the faces of newlyweds. There may be happiness for one or two days, and that too before the marriage.
Afterwards, there is only fear, apprehension, worries and problems. Are they content? Does contentment come through enjoyment?
There would not be so much violence in the world if contentment came with bhoga, enjoyment. People who do acts of violence are searching only for contentment.
But do you find any glow on their faces, any happiness or any contentment? There are people who are constantly engaging in pleasure. Be careful of such people.
