T Ram Sewak

VISHAY SUKH

Further in Purajan Gita, Shri Ram explains the purpose of human life in Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.44

ehi .. bhai, svargau dai.

nara dehin, palati lehin.

tahi koi, gunja khoyi.

"O, brethren! Sensuous enjoyment is not the ultimate goal of human existence. Even heavenly enjoyments, though alluring, are short-lived and lead to sorrow. All those who, despite being born as humans, focus only on sensory pleasures are choosing poison over nectar. None speaks highly of them, as their actions are akin to discarding a philosopher's stone in favour of a mere peppercorn."

Shri Ram's discourse is about balanced living. He is not against worldly pleasures but cautions against excessive focus on them. There is no urging for a flight from this world or abandoning our duties. Resonating the message of Gita, Shri Ram emphasises doing one's duties righteously through the four stages of life (Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa) for attaining the four fruits of dharam (righteousness), arth (prosperity, livelihoods), kaam (worldly desires) and moksh (liberation).

In a way, He talks of the law of diminishing marginal utility applied to sensual pleasures. The satisfaction or utility derived from them wanes as we consume more of them. Shri Krishna conveys the same message in Gita 2.62-63 and cautions that contemplation of sense objects and attachment to them ultimately leads to the destruction of the individual. However, it is the reverse for spiritual attainments. Every step leads to more peace (Shanti), bliss (Anand) and finally, the ultimate salvation (Moksh).

The word 'Vishay' (material objects) includes the word 'Vish', which means poison. Spiritual Masters explain that Vishay is even more dangerous than Vish because while consuming Vish leads to destruction, mere contemplation and attachment to Vishay lead to the same result. Shri Ram thus exhorts us to transcend the allure of Vishay and use this precious human form to attain salvation and not waste it in the pursuit of only

sensuous pleasures. / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-70

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com