Two Ways to Self-upliftment
Human mind is like a photographic film, which, when exposed, records the happenings of
surrounding environment, events and thoughts, thus making impressions on the mind
accordingly. A person is basically neither wise nor fool, neither good nor bad. He is a very
sensitive creature, and hence, is deeply influenced by the surrounding environment and gets
molded in the same pattern. This can lead him to heaven or throw him into hell, depending on
his surrounding environment. The most important thing needed for raising one’s personality to
a greater height is a sustained thought process associated not only with spiritual wisdom, but
also with faith and one’s interest. This can be accomplished in two ways: One, long association
with a spiritual master – a self-realized soul; and second, studying and imbibing the thoughts of
such enlightened persons. Under the prevailing circumstances, the first option seems very difficult;
as such realized persons have become very rare now. Even if they are available, they are so busy
in their spiritual pursuits that they can hardly spare any time. The second option is readily
available – and that is study and contemplation of thoughts of great spiritual masters expressed
in their literature. Only through such study, a prolonged training of our mind can be done so
that the spiritual hunger becomes stronger than merely chasing after the means for fulfilling the
physical needs of bread, butter and shelter.
- Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
- Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
