It is not just death that deludes a person. Hunger, thirst, cold, heat and similar conditions can also lead to delusion. When the stomach is full, one responds positively; but the reaction of one suffering from pangs of hunger cannot be a measured one. Registering a complaint, a young lady said, “Swamiji, I work the full day in the office and as soon as I return home in the evening, I have to deal with a crying child!” I explained that this was natural, as the child had waited the whole day to see her and wanted her attention. Some gentle probing revealed that she skipped lunch everyday, which obviously resulted in reduced energy levels. A hungry person will be disturbed and cannot see things in the right perspective. So, I advised her to make time to eat lunch everyday. This simple advice was enough to resolve most of her problems. Under the spell of misconception, we do not realise that something as basic as lack of food or water can be the cause of our irritation.
“Hunger veils wisdom.”
A story from the Shrimad Bhagvata further clarifies this point. Raja Parikshit was a righteous and virtuous king, who respected all rishis and mahatmas. Once while hunting in the forest, he became desperately hungry and thirsty. In this state, he reached the ashram of rishi Shamika and asked for food. Being deep in samadhi, the rishi did not respond to the king’s request. In a state of momentary misunderstanding, Parikshit’s wisdom was veiled and he felt insulted by the lack of welcome. In a rage, he wrapped a dead snake around the rishi’s neck. The power of hunger and thirst affected even one as noble as Raja Parikshit. Weather also clouds the mind; constant rain, lack of sunshine affects our responses; it can lead to a complaining attitude and even depression.
“This too shall pass.”
When the sense organs contact the sense objects, we experience heat and cold, which in turn, lead to the subjective experiences of joy and sorrow. For example, in the blistering heat, a cool breeze gives joy; in the cold, icy winds bring sorrow. Such experiences are temporary; they come and go, and are ever-changing. Carried away by physical factors, we lose objectivity and succumb to anger. The policy to follow is — don’t complain, don’t get deluded. Try not to give problems an occasion to arise. They are temporary in nature, and endure them bravely.
“What cannot be cured must be endured”, is an often-heard adage. Its advice is — resign oneself to what cannot be changed. The flip side is to develop a positive outlook — cheerfully accept and enjoy life without complaining or lamenting.
