New Delhi: A man got a headache and went to a friend seeking a cure. The friend promptly advised him to have a glass of liquor. The bewildered friend asked how it would help. "I lost my land, job, wife and everything else after I started drinking. Why wouldn't it help you get rid of your headache too," he said.
Alcohol and drugs are ruining thousands of lives in the country. It's not Punjab alone — the problem of addiction is taking a big toll on our society all over. We must pool our efforts and find ways to make the country drug-free.
Addiction is an intense craving to repeat the same experience. Leaving the habit becomes painful but continuing with it does not bring any joy. Drinking coffee daily does not make you feel you are in heaven but leaving it gives you a headache. There are no signs of pleasure or joy on the faces of people hooked to alcohol and drugs. Those who are addicted do not show peace, stability or freedom but become dependent, depressed and sick.
Our mind seeks happiness and longs for the highest levels of peace and satisfaction. Most addicts fall into the trap of drugs in search of that state of joy. All recreational drugs give you a high but it doesn't last long. The mind tries to find pleasure and gets addicted to certain habits.
Your intellect warns you that the habits are not good but the temptation of the mind often overwhelms you. When the mind realizes this, it is easier for it to get over any habit.
There are three ways in which a person can overcome a habit:
Fear: The fear of incurring a big loss can keep one away from bad habits.
Greed: The hope of making a big gain can also help.
Love: Harmful habits can be overcome when a person loves or values something higher. Love can elevate your consciousness, mind and body.
There is an addiction that is bigger and better than drugs. It can intoxicate and, instead of ruining, improve you. This is what I call spirituality.
For the addict, the challenge of recovery is in helping him find a new focus, a new high. Something must replace drugs at the centre of that person's life. Spirituality alone can do that. It can be a tool to calm the mind and cope with one's own emotions and cravings. Spirituality empowers one to face realities of life and deal with them with strength and courage. It is a fine balance of an inner experience of ultimate peace and dynamic action outside.
The 6th century Indian philosopher and thinker, Adi Shankaracharya, said it is dispassion towards the ephemeral and connection with the eternal that brings true joy. And that's what the essence of the spiritual dimension in life is.
There is a saying in Sanskrit:
Kavya shastra vinodena, kalo gacchati dheematam
vyasanena cha moorkhanam, nidraya kalahena va
It means an intelligent person spends his time pursuing poetry, knowledge, literature and science and in bringing people together. But the foolish spends his time indulging in addiction, sleep and fights.
It is better to be intelligent and say 'no' to temporary thrills and embrace the eternal high!
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Courtesy: The Times of India
