A vision, which helps

The quality of our actions and reactions depends upon our vision of life. A narrow vision is divisive. A broad vision is expansive. But, the supreme vision is all inclusive- and the higher the vision, the greater the mission.

Life is a series of perceptions and responses, we are constantly responding to people, situations and events. How we respond depends upon individual perceptions. Different people see the same object, at how each one views it, makes all the difference. Perception is, therefore, a vision of life and response, an action or reaction, which depends on that vision.

Whatever we see or experience with our gross sense organs is alone considered real. The world of names and forms deludes the mind. Everyone finds the world with its infinite variety and exquisite beauty very enchanting.

To understand this world deeply is a difficult task. We see and relate to only superficial objects while the one truth which pervades the multiple diverse worlds remains unseen. A pure mind and a subtle intellect are required to see this truth. This is the sattvic vision the Bhagavad-Gita talks about.

A vision, which helps one, see unity in the midst of diversity and protects one in the face of temptation, frustration and fear. The Upanishads exhort us to develop this indivisible, immutable immaculate vision.

Most people either have a rajasic vision or extroverted outlook, or, a tamasic vision or dull approach. A person with a rajasic vision forms mental divisions, such as ‘I am’, ‘you-yours’ or ‘good bad’. He performs actions with either attachment or aversion. He is happy as long as everything is in accordance with his likes and dislikes. The moment there is a difference, he becomes agitated. Angry and troublesome. They inflict sorrow on a number of people in a very short time because of a lack of vision and absence of noble inspirations.

A man with a tamastic vision is even worse. He is indolent and deeply, fanatically and narrowly attached to a particular object, ideology or cause, with the result that his life is full of conflicts. He looks for happiness through addictions, greed and conflict. To be able to lead a complete and satisfactory life, we need to develop a sattvic vision.

Swami Chinmaananda once said, “You are born, therefore you must die- but don’t die while living, live after you are dead”. When we hear of a person’s demise we generally ask, “How did he live?” the focus should be on the kind of life he lived. Was he inspired? Did he inspire others?

Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of lives; one; is the life of values and the life of valuables.  When people give too much importance to valuables, values are left aside and when values are ignored the person himself gets de-valued.

Meaningless activities without any foundation of vision, knowledge or understanding lead to feverish activity. This in turn leads to stress. The imbalance arises because people focus on action, paying scant attention to vision. Dynamism requires a combination of great vision and action to produce results, as it happened when Arjuna was faced with a dilemma on the battlefield. More than an army, he needed the right vision and advice. Krishna spoke to Arjuna from the spiritual standpoint, taking into account the religious, social and worldly standpoints, giving him a holistic vision. “Look at your life.” Krishna symbolizes the spiritual vision and Arjuna, as the man of action. Sets about translating this supreme vision into action. Vision without action remains a concept; action without vision leads to fruitless activity.