सुख-दुख से इक परे परम पद
By इन्दु टीकेकर
Summary
The text discusses the nature of human dissatisfaction and the pursuit of lasting contentment. It argues that external worldly activities do not exhaust a person as much as the inner restlessness of the mind, driven by unfulfilled desires, competition, stress, and intellectual uncertainty. Great religions, philosophers, and saints have concluded from their own experience that a calm, disciplined, and balanced life is truly satisfying. While everyone must engage with sensory objects to live, becoming absorbed solely in these external things leads to excess. True fulfillment and satisfaction are not found in greed for pleasure, as human experience shows. Indian traditions of life science, including dharma and health science, are based on this ancient wisdom, advocating moderation in enjoyment, balance, and the practice of yoga to achieve harmony of body, mind, and intellect. The fleeting pleasure of indulgence cannot reach the peak of true contentment. In the modern age of science and technology, there is an abundance of consumer goods and attractive options for personal development, creating possibilities unprecedented in history. This limitless dazzle of consumption showcases human imagination but has bewildered ordinary people, weakening their judgment and causing them to lose their footing. To meet daily needs, people must rush through dusty, polluted city streets, like a donkey in a story that runs after green grass but never reaches it. In this competitive society, even the thought of sensory pleasure is difficult, making ultimate happiness and peace seem distant. Every person eventually feels a pang of regret if they cannot look at life and nature with health and stability, living instead in constant anxiety and uncertainty. The text concludes by referencing various traditions—the Vedas, Islam, the Bible, Jainism, Buddhism, and Japanese Zen—all of which advocate for peace, non-violence, and a life free from competition and craving, finding satisfaction in selfless service and complete surrender.
Conclusion
The document’s core implication is that lasting fulfillment arises not from external accumulation but from inner restraint, balance, and mindful awareness. It argues that modern society’s relentless pursuit of sensory pleasures and competitive success leads to chronic dissatisfaction, anxiety, and a loss of grounded judgment. The outcome, as described, is a populace caught in a futile chase—like the donkey lured by unreachable grass—resulting in spiritual and psychological exhaustion. The text concludes that true contentment is found through the disciplined, tranquil life advocated by major religious and philosophical traditions, which prioritize inner peace over material gain. This perspective challenges contemporary values, suggesting that without conscious moderation and yogic practice, the human mind remains perpetually unsettled, unable to experience the deep satisfaction that comes from a centered, purposeful existence.