Achieve Balance in Life

An interview with Mohanji that took place on 27th February 2016, and was published in the Speaking Tree magazine

Achieve balance in your life by maintaining 80 per cent practicality and 20 per cent spirituality, says MOHANJI to PRITI AGRAWAL

Why is there so much suffering?

■ Suffering does not exist except in the mind. Every situation or experience helps us evolve.You are born free, and you are only bound by your mind. If you have that clarity, then every situation you face is a step towards ultimate liberation.Nothing can bind you. For instance, Nelson Mandela was in jail for 30 years, but he never felt bound,he was fully himself.That’s why when he came out, he delivered the message of world peace. If he was bound by his mind,he would have delivered the message of hatred.Therefore, it’s our own perception which we can use to free ourselves.

How does one face life’s challenges?

■ Number one is acceptance — first accept your own self, because you created this existence as an individual. Second, acceptance of others such as a material, a person, a situation, you have come across in your life — they are things you chose for yourself.You can’t be any other person.Everything is related to our nonacceptance.The moment you are not satisfied with what you have,you will be reborn, because you are not happy with this body. So fundamentally, you should be happy with what is available, then everything comes to you and calamity does not exist at all. Every step is a step towards liberation. Take life as it comes to you without escaping or avoiding it, and you will be liberated. If you experience pain, know that nothing can stay forever. Pain and pleasure come and go, but you float over it and that’s life.Then there is grace which comes,when you have faith in energy that is much higher and more conscious.

What will make us more conscious of other species?

■This is our misconception that human beings own the earth.Earth equally belongs to all beings. But human beings have over-populated the planet, and started operating on the basis of conquest and control.Eventually, it has become a species divide. All the other species are at one side and human beings are on the other.Therefore, nature has become imbalanced. If we don’t realise the pain and fear of other beings, there is no point in meditation. First we have to create balance and take the responsibility and enjoy what we have created.Then the world will become a better place. I don’t believe in spirituality which is impractical. If we teach something that nobody can use, then what is the purpose of that teaching? I would say that we should focus on 80 per cent practicality and 20 per cent spirituality. If we ignore the pain of other beings and sit and meditate then what is the use of such spirituality? It is just a mask. Spiritual people should come forward and do something to spread awareness that violence only leads to violence. I always endorse nonviolence. Let more and more people adopt the principles of nonviolence then the thought will turn into action. If you are eating nonvegetarian food, then be aware of what you are eating. Don’t be an ignorant consumer. Don’t eat anything unconsciously. First level is awareness. We need to be aware where it is coming from, how it is being processed. First have a clear picture about what you are eating then give importance to your taste. So first is clarity, then taste. If you eat anything with awareness, then you eat less.You eat too much when you eat unconsciously. I don’t want anybody to change a habit by force for then it will not stay.We have craving for more food after having it already, because most of the time we are not aware of what we are experiencing. Through natural awareness, you can overcome a habit.

What is the power of gratitude and how does it work?

■ Gratitude should begin from you saying — I am grateful that I am alive, I am breathing and I have reasonably good health, I have food to eat and I have shelter. If you establish yourself in personal gratitude,then it overflows to become public gratitude.We should teach this to children and ask them not to complain,be happy with what they have. Be happy and grateful without any reason as you are alive; you have love and are protected by someone. If you practise gratitude then grace flows. Gratefulness is practised with humility and it is egoless.You can never pretend to be grateful,for this is natural.The moment you pretend to be grateful, it becomes fake.Gratefulness comes from the heart.

How does one popularise the concept of an inner pilgrimage so that it becomes as popular as travel?

■When you travel to the mountains or any pilgrimage site, something opens up inside.You are living in a frame at home and you may not think beyond it,but when you go to a different location, some dimension opens up. But God does not sit there. An upanishad says,“Please forgive me, because I tried to put you in a name, in a form and in a place, while you are everywhere.”We don’t go to spiritual sites thinking that God resides there.When you go there and you come across difficulties, then the dimension opens up for you to become a different person.A personality shift happens.That way, a pilgrimage is good, because every location is an extension of yourself.Realisation can happen at the time of pilgrimage or at any other time.Everybody eventually comes back home to themselves.You may go anywhere,and you may meet many masters and people, but finally you realise that none of these things are important; everything is within.Then you look at yourself and realisation happens.

What is the state of being enlightened?

■ Freedom from the mind! Everything is an extension of yourself, so you don’t feel disconnected and lonely. Because I and everything around me is me — whether it’s something materialistic, a person or a situation — it’s all me and belongs to me. Real freedom is that you don’t want anything and are not bound by anything.You are happy all the time whether anything is available or not, whether somebody is there or not. Happiness has no barriers.That is total liberation and you can also call it enlightenment.Speaking Tree magazine
Achieve balance in your life by maintaining 80 per cent practicality and 20 per cent spirituality, says MOHANJI to PRITI AGRAWAL