Serenity in the Midst of Chaos

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

South Africa seems to have worked its way into the focal arena with the world convening on Durban for the Congress of the Parties (dubbed COP 17, CMP 7) to discuss and find solutions to the life altering climate changes that we are experiencing and going to experience in the near future. In the midst of this high profile event, South Africa ambushed some attention on its 16 Days of Activism of no violence against women and children campaign and on its celebration of World Aids Day.

As leaders around the table battle to reach consensus on a legally binding agreement that affects the world -and as I type this blog- a woman would have been raped or a child abused and a few more people would have been infected with HIV. I think the thought occupying all our minds at this time is: What is the solution to all these issues and challenges that rob us of peace and happiness that we should enjoy? Life should be about happy moments and memories, not convening to resolve problems that could destroy us.

It is in my opinion a divine intervention that made all these activities converge around the significant and important observance of Gita Jayanti   on the 6th of December 2011. This is the day that Bhagawan Shree Krishna delivered this eternal and profound knowledge to Arjuna. The Bhagavat Gita means 'divine song' but for the purposes of our discussions will be an acronym which means:  “G I T A” - God Is The Answer. Yes dear brothers and sisters, the solution to all our problems is God.

Sri Arjuna receives the supreme knowledge

If I may quickly refer to the challenges I mentioned above in order to reference these against the root as described by the Lord in this timless scripture.The climate change problems we are experiencing are nothing but the result of our greed, which has forced man to exploit the earth with no consideration for the future and sustainable recycling of resources. The pandemic of AIDS and HIV thrives of insatiable lust and the abuse of our mothers and children stems from ego where one feels he or she is more powerful and can enslave or dominate another.

I think we will be fooling ourselves if we think we can just walk away from this world and live as recluses in the forest. This age is the age of materialism and it is unfortunate and at the same time unavoidable as everything in the world requires money.  Even on the spiritual journey, it is important that we maintain this body which requires money. In this chaotic world, action is necessary to survive, however in the midst of this utter chaos; tranquility, peace and bliss can be found.

Lord Krishna's call for action to Arjuna is underpinned by the eternal truth and wisdom on how to extract that peace from all of this chaos. We have all spun a web of delusion out of this world and we are stuck awaiting the prey of pain and suffering to come to us. Who has not cried or continues to cry on account of feeling dejected or hurt by someone close to them? I am still trying to recover from the high that I experienced at the special musical put together by the students of the Satya Sai Seva Organisation of South Africa yesterday evening at the Kendra auditorium. It was awe inspiring to see youth put their special talents in information technology, audio visual, performing arts and management into a labour of love tribute to their beloved Bhagawan Satya Sai Baba. It was the perfect convergence of skill, love and devotion which clearly spelt out the message that our pain and suffering emanates from our identification of ourselves as this body.

In a bid to satisfy the senses and in trying to maintain the looks of this ageing body we have driven the planet to a state of disaster; contributed to the extinction of species of plant and animal life; spread incurable diseases; and placed ourselves in a pit of chronic misery. The Bhagavat Gita of Shree Krishna prescribes the following as a tonic to the maladies that we have unleashed upon us: "Do all work as an offering to me. Do not attach yourself to any work that you do and never expect anything in return. Know that you are not this body, you are the eternal 'atman' (SOUL)."

The Lord is the cause of everything, surrender yourself to Him alone and He will take care of everything for you.  He is the seed-giving Father of the universe; therefore see Him in everything. We are currently travelling a never ending road of destruction and misery fuelled by our ego and desires. We have to break this journey to welcome some happiness and relief. Let this change start with us reaffirming our faith in God. In focusing our attention and love on Him alone, let us allow Him to do what He does best; that is, to shift the yoke of all our problems upon Him. That is what the world needs now- the solution that allows us to find peace and solitude amidst the chaos of this world.

The single resolution of all conferences is to give power of attorney to Bhagawan and let Him deliver us to the utopia we all envisage and want to live in. May the eternal wisdom and knowledge of the Bhagavat Gita continue to inspire us to 'moksha' is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayer always.