Happiness and Peace= Pujya Gurudev

The Path to Happiness and Peace

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

The Vedic Shrutis state � �Balamupasva�: Worship your bala � strength, courage, inner power. The physically weak, coward, ignorant, lethargic and dull persons also miss the real thrills of life. What to speak of happiness, even sustaining the normal life itself is too difficult for them. No one except the vigorous, courageous, awakened ones can attain and retain true happiness. It should be noted that the words �shakti� and �bala� used here, don�t denote only their literal meanings (power and vigor). Rather, these refer to the grand majesty of human life, which is described in the scriptures to be expressed in seven faculties.

The grand majesty (maha bala) lies in the harmonious combination of all these seven facets of its expression. As the proper functioning of the human body and operations of human life pertain mainly to the ten senses and the mind, so does the sublime spring of maha bala flowing through these seven streams of power. If there were any impurity, shortcoming or blockage in any one of these attributes, it would, to that extent, lessen or deform the total bala too. The seven attributes for the expression of (maha)bala are �

Art: graceful artistic mode of doing things, civilized etiquette, cultured behavior, etc fall under the art of living along with the sense of appreciation for creativity; (ii) Health: Mental and physical health; energy, enthusiasm, tolerance, industriousness, vitality of sense organs and alertness of mind;(iii) Knowledge: Reading-writing, essential information of use on the physical, mental, domestic, economical, social, religious, political, geographical, international topics; rational thinking, sound reasoning, wisdom, etc are included here; (iv) Wealth: Income or resources to enable smooth transaction of the essential personal and familial duties through honest means; (v) Prestige: Respect, faith, cooperation, affection and benevolence of the relatives, friends and social acquaintances; (vi) Friendship: Association and support of the friends having integrity of character and caring concern; (vii) Mental Strength: Courage, valour, generosity, compassion, feelings of service and sacrifice, self-respect, responsibility, inner confidence.

These seven sources of inner strength are the key instruments for achieving fulfillment and success in any domain of life. Human life devoid of these powers is helpless and insignificant like those of the tiny insects. Only those, who possess this treasure of bala can boldly face the ups and downs of the worldly life and steadily cross the ocean of sorrows, adversities and ever new challenges. Perennial happiness is a boon of these seven attributes of the �God� named �mahabala�. Success crowns those endowed with the radiance of vigor, prudence, courage, integrity, assiduity, benevolence and majesty of spirit. Those lacking in bala face failures and being unable to fight the Nature�s law of �survival of the fittest� are, sooner or later, cast away in the �struggle for existence��.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma