Life is a Gift

Life is a Gift, Living is an Art

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 1)

Let us think about how life is a gift. In fact, thinking itself is a gift unique to human beings. By thinking well along the correct lines, our problems can be solved, resolved, or dissolved. If we do not know how to think, then more and more problems crop up and the existing problems get more complicated.

What is a gift?

If we buy something for ourselves, then it is a purchase, and cannot be called a gift. Basically, a gift is given by someone else; given out of love. A bribe, though given by someone else, is not a gift, because there is an ulterior motive and an expectation behind the giving. A donation may not be a gift because someone may have asked for it or even forced us to give it! When giving comes from the heart and out of love, when no one demands, and yet you give because you feel like giving, then it is a gift!

Life is a Gift, Living is an Art

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 2)

Life is the Most Precious Gift

As living beings, it is clear that we have life in us, but we cannot claim any right over it. The fact that we are living enables functions like seeing, hearing, feeling, touching, smelling, acting, reacting, responding and achieving. Without life, what can one do? Life is most precious. When I get up, I feel that I am alive, and when I go to sleep, I have the hope that I will wake up. The medical profession that helps to sustain life evokes so much respect in everybody, because life is so precious. We are willing to pay any price to preserve our life. Once, a bone got stuck in a man’s throat and he almost choked. A doctor removed the bone surgically and saved his life. When he asked the doctor how much he should pay him, the doctor replied, “Pay me at least half of what you were willing to pay when the bone was still in your throat!”

Who gave us this gift?

Only when there is life in us, everything else becomes possible. I did not buy this life. I cannot truly say that my parents gave it to me. I did not create it and cannot take credit for it. I may have created a lot of confusion in my life, but did not create life. It is a gift – but from whom? Who gave it to me? People with faith say that God gave it. Atheists say Nature gave it. Whether Nature’s gift or God’s gift, it is a gift. And whenever we receive such a precious present, we must know how to use it.

Life is a Gift, Living is an Art

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 3)

Easy to Destroy, Difficult to Create

It is very easy to abuse, misuse, not use, or even destroy life. While making good use of life is difficult, destroying it is easy. Gautam Buddha was once going through a forest where Angulimal lived. He killed people and wore a necklace made from their fingers. No one had the courage to pass through that forest. When Angulimal saw Buddha, he was surprised because Buddha was calm and collected and had no fear.

“Are you not afraid? My name is Angulimal!”

Buddha said, “Yes, I have heard of you, what do you do?”

“I kill,” replied Angulimal.

“Great indeed is your strength!” replied Buddha and showed him a branch of a tree and asked him to break it.

Angulimal broke it.

“Can you join it back and make it a living thing?” asked Buddha.

“No,” replied the puzzled Angulimal, “I never thought of it.”

Buddha made his point, “What is so great about your strength? You can only destroy and kill, but you cannot give life!”

Angulimal understood. He fell at Buddha’s feet and became a changed person.

Life is a Gift, Living is an Art

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 4)

Values vs. Valuables

Values are permanent, but valuables are impermanent. Great values and noble virtues are permanent. Worldly wealth, however hard we may try to hold on to it, will never give us lasting solace. Even in today’s world, where the dollar is considered all-powerful, only a person of noble character with great ideals and readiness to sacrifice is truly respected. We may applaud a person for what he has, but we respect one for what he is. The difference must be understood clearly. If we only want to accumulate wealth all the time without caring about values, the wealth will not last; it will be lost soon. We must understand that it is values that make the valuables shine. Even the business world recognises credibility and ethics. People with values are respected and outshine others in any field.

Seek the Eternal

Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that the right way of living is to seek Him: anityam asukham lokam imam prapya bhajaswa mam|. “Having obtained this impermanent and sorrowful world, seek Me.” The world we live in is only a passing show. There is no permanent happiness, only an appearance or illusion of happiness. Worldly joys never put an end to our sorrow and never give us peace of mind. They give us comforts, pleasures, thrills and excitement. But they tire us and drain us completely. So the Lord says, “Seek Me, the eternal.”

Life is a Gift, Living is an Art

#SwamiTejomayananda

(Part 5)

The Art of Right Living

Right living is an art. You may even call it a science if you prefer to see it that way. We should make good use of all things in life. They should not be misused, abused, or unused, but used to bless ourselves and bless others. That is the right way of living.

The #Bhagavad-gita teaches us this art of right living but unfortunately, people read the Gita only when a person dies! The dead cannot hear; the relatives are weeping and cannot hear; the priest who is appointed to read, does so for money, without heeding the message.The Gita contains profound and practical messages that teach us how to live. We should prepare ourselves to face life by studying the Gita. People procrastinate and think that they can read the Gita in their old age. What is the point of learning how to live, when it is time to leave?

Our Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda, made it his mission in life to teach us this knowledge, this art of living. The Chinmaya Mission continues to teach us how to transform our lives here and now. There are no promises of a heaven after death; the heavenly abode is right here. It is in our hands to make this life heavenly and blissful.

(end)