Conquering Self

An Open Letter from God

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Truth Love Balance Oneness

The Keys to Peace and Harmony

By Arvind Khetia (a Leader in the Hindu Community of Kansas City)

The material world and its passions invariably cause one's mind to wander outside in search for lasting peace. The material world being inherently transient and impermanent can only bring results that are equally transient and impermanent. In the Bhagavad Gita, a question is raised, "How can the mind, which is so restless, attain lasting peace?" Lord Krishna replies, "The mind can be controlled through meditation and detachment. Those who are self-controlled, striving earnestly through right means, will attain the goal."

This constant wandering of the mind creates fatigue and dissipates one's vital energy. Thus, one cannot concentrate and turn the mind inward and, therefore, one fails to realize the unity with divinity within. The key to being at peace with oneself is to realize this essential truth of one's being and reject whatever contradicts this truth. Based on Vedantic teaching, selfishness, hatred, anger, fear and so on are contrary to one's essential unity with the Self (divinity within), the source of eternal bliss.

When one practices the right means, such as meditation, equanimity of mind and self-control, one develops moral and spiritual awareness. Then, through selfless work and compassion toward others, one's innate perfection will manifest as a living force of love and healing. Only then will inner peace and harmony prevail. In the Gita, Krishna conveys this by saying, "The supreme reality stands revealed in the consciousness of those who have conquered themselves. They live in lasting peace, for they have attained spiritual wisdom and self-realization."

Send e-mail to Arvind Khetia at akkhetia@hotmail.com

Universal Light Institute