Goals are essential in life. So set a goal and start moving in that direction. A life without direction leads to depression. When you have a goal — "I must do this, I need to learn that, I want to offer this seva" — the goal will steer your life in the right direction. Expectations are a natural part of life. But when they arise, you must simply realize that expecting reduces the joy in your life. As you grow in knowledge, you’ll see that all these impressions fall away and make space for something greater and more beautiful.
We just need to know that surprises can bring us so much more joy. Give your 100 percent, do what you can, and if someone expects more — that’s their issue, not yours. Lord Krishna says in the Gita: “When a yogi sleeps, all are awake. And when everyone is asleep, the yogi remains awake.” What does that mean? It simply means that when everyone is anxious and full of expectations, a yogi can sleep peacefully. A yogi knows everything will happen in the best possible way, and the results will serve the greater good. A yogi has this inner confidence. And when everyone else is asleep, the yogi remains awake — he is aware of the truth of life when others are not.
“What will be my end? Where will I go? What is life? Who am I?” When none of these questions arise in someone’s mind, it means they are asleep. People are lost in watching movies and playing video games. There are people who still play video games at a very mature age. Such a person simply does not see that death is approaching. They don’t think, “My mind is full of so many cravings and attachments. I’ve done nothing to cleanse it.” If you don’t purify your mind of impressions, you will carry the same mind and impressions with you after death.
When the time comes to leave this world, your mind should be happy and joyful. The one who is asleep carries all the garbage of the mind with them, whereas the yogi is awake and aware. He does not take anyone’s garbage.
Your mind is completely destroyed when you dwell on the flaws of others. Leave their flaws to them. Let them deal with their own imperfections. You focus on your mind and your flaws — that is enough. Do you have the patience to accept the flaws of others? You must learn to accept the mistakes of others. If you are compassionate, you can correct them. Otherwise, leave them to the universe — it has its own way of setting things right. But if you are compassionate enough to correct others with love, those mistakes will not remain in your mind.
When do you get angry or upset? When you see that someone’s actions are imperfect. But can you correct someone’s behavior when you yourself are upset or angry? Their actions may be flawed, but when you think about them, your mind becomes flawed too. At the very least, protect your own mind. Others may have gone down the wrong path — why should you let your mind follow them too? That’s why Krishna says a yogi is awake when others are asleep. In an unawakened state, you let others’ garbage enter your mind. But yogis don’t allow that to happen. They keep their mind fresh.
The world is full of differences — disagreements are inevitable. With patience and knowledge, you can skillfully rise above. Fools will make you wiser. The number of fools around you reveals the strength of your centeredness. Don’t try to get rid of them! If you lose your center, you won’t have the patience to deal with them. But when you are established in the Self, you’ll even perceive fools with wisdom — they are just a reflection of you. There is no “other.”
Excerpts from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, first published in Rishimukh
