GOD-GIVEN SECRETS FOR A GREAT LIFE
What is most important is not having a skill or ability, but to maintain the existing skill and ability to give a sustained performance. Animals don’t have skill; they are blessed with nature. A fish need not think twice about how to swim because that is its nature. A cat need not be trained to find the presence of milk. This ability of the animal is natural, not skill. Every animal is blessed with unexplainable, unimaginable skill but in reality it’s not skill; it’s the nature by which they are blessed by God to live the life they want to live or destined to live.
But we humans think that our life is already destined or pre-determined when we go through a tough time. But we fail to understand that this tough time (which we feel as a struggle or suffering) is a consequence of something done by us in the past. That is not the point here. Many times we feel that we are not gifted with the life we want to live. I personally have met many who think that God has blessed some people with a good life and left a few others to suffer. I want all of you to realise that God has no special preferences or choices when it comes to blessing humans. In spite of this, still if you feel that somebody is blessed with a better life and you are not, then this article will definitely change your thoughts. After reading this, you will realise that even if you are not gifted with a good life, you still have the power to bless yourself with a life you want to live. This is the highest truth that we all must accept. And for this the fundamental need is not having the ability or skill but having the quality to maintain that skill and to express that skill you possess, which is achievable only through a magical and most powerful spiritual word called “practice”. In spirituality it’s called sadhana. In normal terms sadhana means achievement but in spirituality the very preparation is called sadhana because one who prepares to achieve will never be a failure. Practicing the practice which is already known to you is called sadhana. This is the power which will help you achieve things in life. Here I want to share a beautiful story which insists the power of practice.
THREE SECRETS TO A GREAT LIFE
There was a man who went on an adventurous trip to the forest. He felt like touching a beautiful squirrel which was jumping from one branch to another. He thought of going near it and feed the squirrel so that he can touch it. But as he was doing so, the animal jumped quickly and turned to him and asked, “Do you really want to touch me?” The man was surprised at this. He never expected the squirrel to talk. The animal then said that it will allow people to touch it only if they knew the value of life. The squirrel further added, “I will give you three secrets to check whether you know the value of life.” The man asked whether he would be allowed to touch the squirrel if he listens to it patiently.
The animal answered yes and said that these are not mere advises or information; these are valuable diamonds which will make him shine all the time. The squirrel spoke:
- If you want to be happy like me, don’t waste time in thinking about the past or worrying about the future. Never get into the emotion of regret. You always have a second chance. Don’t ever think that you have missed it.
- Never believe anything with your intelligence. Accept things only when it is approved by your common sense. Intelligence is nothing but your illusion but common sense means presence of consciousness.
The squirrel then said that if the man had touched it, he would have been blessed with a lot of wealth. Since he listened to it, he lost everything. The man was shocked at this; he started feeling upset and began to regret for what he lost. He felt that he had missed a great fortune in life by listening to the squirrel. Still he asked if he could touch the animal at least now. The squirrel answered saying that it was just testing the man’s understanding about the first and second secrets. The third one is yet to be told. Unfortunately the man failed in accepting and understanding the first two points.
The squirrel said, “In the first point, I told you not to regret about the past or worry about the future. But you did which was a mistake. Secondly I told you to use your common sense and not just intelligence while accepting things. You again failed in it. How do you expect me to give you the third secret? “The man felt sorry and apologized to the squirrel requesting it to tell the third secret. He also said that he has now understood the value of the first and second secrets and that he will make sure he will never repeat the mistake. But the squirrel replied saying that the man proved to be a human as the power of intelligence is given only to humans to create a future that they want to live in spite of the past. Humans are blessed with the power to experience the presence of God in their existence, but unfortunately they have an own enemy called negative thinking and unwanted emotions. The man proved that he was a human and the squirrel felt that he doesn’t deserve to know the third secret. He once again pleaded to let the third secret out. The squirrel then spoke, “At any given point of time, God will never give you anything if you fail to make use of what is already given to you by Him. God has all powers beyond our imagination to give us peace and happiness but what is stopping Him is watching humans who are not using the abilities already given to them and not doing good things already known to them.”
BLESS YOURSELF
It further said that it’s not about great science that we need to learn and practice in life. It’s about the simple things which we already know but fail to apply it in our lives. God will never bless you with the things you wish, if you do not utilize the existing skill or ability that you already possess. This is the third secret revealed by the squirrel. Instead of expecting some higher knowledge or super power that can change your life, start applying your existing knowledge into action. Now the knowledge put into action is no more just an action, it’s a power. Start using the skill which is already known to you and for this practice is essential. Practice alone can give you success. Practice makes you progress, it will not make you perfect. With this understanding no matter what the present state of your life is, you will have the power to gift yourself the life you want to live. Even if you feel like you are not blessed with the life you want to live, you will be blessed with all possible powers to gift yourself the life you want to live. The entire universe has to pave way for you to enjoy success in life. Nothing can stop this.
So ask yourself what all skills you possess and what all knowledge you can put into action. Tell yourself that going further you will not believe anything with your intelligence alone. Above all, stop feeling bad about the actions in the past and never feel that you are not going to be happy in the future. Get into practice. Keep practicing whatever is given to you. By doing this, you not only master the skill you have, but many thoughts that you never ever imagined will flow into your mind to make you progress in every aspect of life. Consider this as a wish not just from the squirrel, but from God for every human being who is striving for success.
Wishing you a life of peace, success and happiness.
Atmayogi Shri Aasaanji
Aham Brahmasmi !