Usually, spirituality is considered synonymous with inactivity. Surprisingly most of the so-called learned ones, the scriptural pundits, have often quoted – Santosha (contentment)– as being satisfied with whatever you have. It has been seen that most of the people who are in a state of drudgery and sluggishness, miles away from taking initiative for any kind of action, have justified their inaction with this word. Furthermore, under the shield of this word, the sluggards have also tried to discourage others from making sincere efforts or taking any kind of initiative. In one of the preliminary texts (Tattwa Bodha) of the great World Teacher, Adi Shankara, this term – Santosha is defined as Chittasya Ekaagrataa, i.e. single pointedness of the mind. It is important to understand that nowhere has the spiritual path or any of the ancient scriptures of the human civilisation has ever discouraged spirited action and initiative to evolve in ones’ performance. For that matter, Krishna, Muhammad, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Adi Shankara and all other Seers have been absolute perfectionists in their actions. Incorrect interpretations to suite one’s lethargy have been justified in the name of austerities.
If analysed objectively, this single pointedness of mind results from either a passionate involvement in the task at hand or a tremendous degree of disciplining of the mind. Just as a child building a castle with sand on the sea shore is thoroughly one with its project, though it surely doesn’t last for long. Therefore the science of disciplining of the mind has a very important role in enhancing our performance as it leaves a lot of wastage of energy in the form of emotional outbursts that keep happening from extremely meaningless and petty events. But it is not an easy task and can be attained only if we make a sincere and continuing attempt in this direction for a long time without getting disillusioned with the lack of results. Imagine yourself sitting daily for an hour in the morning and evening, trying to keep the mind in your control, failing miserably moment after moment and still going strong. That’s called determination, which very few are naturally bestowed with.
Ignited Minds However, Maharshi Patanjali gives a very beautiful way of doing this. He says in the Yoga Sutras (Yoga Aphorisms) - When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds; your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamt yourself to be – (Interpretation taken from Ignited Minds by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam). This surely can become a driving force to keep us going in our performance. There would be moments in our performance when we might touch a low ebb, yet the dedication to the cause is surely the sole way to keep ourselves ignited in the spirit to perform. While it is true that at moments or in circumstances when we do what we want to do, we might get the vigour that lasts us through the entire project. But what do we do when things go out of our control? One thing we must accept, life is the most beautiful blend of all kind of situations, some of which are nice and inspiring while quite a lot of moments we encounter are the ones which either we dislike and are also beyond our control. Can we stop performing? Surely non performance can never be justified.
Whether we like it or not, but surely we have to be consistent in our effort towards our performance; and to this there is no better judge then our own conscience. This alone will bear the fruits, whether today or a few decades later, we don’t know, but we don’t have the right to quit performing to the best of our ability. This is very beautifully reflected in the life of our President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, (when one reads the famous book – Wings of Fire) where he says that after severe failures and continuing efforts for almost two decades that he first experiences the taste of sweet success. It surely proves that the profession we chose shouldn’t be based on market requirements, but on our interest, such that we are able to pursue the profession even in the most difficult situations due to our passion and sincerity. Markets requirements are fluctuating, but our performance enhancement is possible only when we are committed to the subject and enjoy being in that stream. This can sustain our inner conviction to give hundred percent when things go wrong and surely action based on wisdom and sincerity will bear fruits, because our inner desire become strong for the results to occur.
In Swami Sivananda’s words, as quoted from ‘Wings of Fire’ – an autobiography of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, “Desire, when it stems from the heart and spirit, when it is pure and intense, possesses awesome Energy. This Energy is released into the ether each night, as the mind falls into sleep state. Each morning it returns to the conscious state reinforced with the cosmic currents. That which has been imaged will surely and certainly be manifested. You can rely, young man, upon this ageless promise as surely as you can rely upon the eternally unbroken promise of sunrise...” This is the True essence of Santosha and also the essence of spiritual dynamism. May our lives get guided by this spirit.
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