Key concepts:
· Civilization has evolved; science and technology have advanced further than our ancestors ever thought possible; we are surrounded by many conveniences and comforts. Why then are we not happy? Why are we, for the most part, worried, anxious and dissatisfied?
· The mind becomes unhappy when we try to satisfy every desire that comes into it. For example, when we eat the first helping of our favorite food, we experience joy; from there it diminishes with each additional helping, leading eventually to feeling sick from over indulgence.
· We all want to be free, and rebel against any constraints. However, true freedom lies in self discipline and restraint.
· Laws protect people’s freedoms, but prevent them from being reckless and irresponsible, e.g., traffic rules and regulations are meant to enforce safety for those who have the freedom to drive.
· Religious and spiritual texts prescribe a code of conduct to develop and maintain the right relationship with the world, so that our freedom (which is a form of power) can be harnessed for constructive purposes.
· Even at the body level, we need to practice certain regimen prescribed by the doctor in order to maintain it in a healthy state to lead our lives.
· Happiness is a state of mind. The world is not responsible for our unhappy state; our view of the world determines our state of mind. For example, the optimist sees the glass half full, and pessimist sees the same glass as half empty.
· Being grateful for what we have, brings about a tranquil mind that can accept situations gracefully. A mind that constantly dwells on unfulfilled wants destroys peace, concentration and efficiency in action.
· Freedom is our birthright as human beings. From a Vedantic perspective, this means not being dependent on anything in this world for our happiness.
· When we don’t have this freedom, we go up and down with the vagaries of life, much like a boat tossed hither and thither in a stormy sea.
· Vedanta teaches us how to gain this freedom by discovering our true nature, the divine Self within us.
· In Vedantic literature, the world is compared to an ocean, on whose surface there are continuous waves. Despite the surface disturbances, the ocean itself is still and calm in its depths.
· Similarly, beneath all the changes in the world, there is an unchanging Reality that supports and pervades everything.
· An enlightened person is one who is in touch with this changeless Reality, and is therefore at peace, no matter what changes are taking place in the world around. This does not signify indifference; rather, the enlightened one is not overpowered by these experiences or identified with them.
· Human being = body + mind + intellect + the Life Principle (which enlivens the other three)
· Body: perceives and acts
· Mind: feels emotions
· Intellect: thinks thoughts and ideas
· In order to be truly free, one must learn: not to get caught up in our perceptions and actions; not to be overwhelmed by our emotions; and not to be controlled by our thoughts and ideas
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