All of us face various problems in life. As individuals, we confront challenges related to health, relationships, children, career and so on. At the national level, there are problems of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, corruption, etc. They bring sorrow and pain. Yet, if we analyse them, we find that their root cause is almost entirely the lack of proper thinking and action.
Wrong thoughts produce a defective vision of the world leading to false expectations and disappointments. If we can improve our thinking, we can improve ourselves and our world.
The foremost requirement is right thinking and a clear vision of life. We should remove all barriers of pettiness and think big! Momentous things are achieved only when we dare to conceive them. Man dared to think he could fly and the first flying machine was invented. Nothing is impossible for the one who thinks. Thoughts alone bind us and they alone can free us. Break the bondage of narrow, limiting thoughts and think big!
This applies to both the individual and the nation. We should always consider the benefits to our country and greater national good. Swami Vivekananda spent restless nights in America deliberating on the welfare of India and the world. Similarly, Swami Chinmayananda was inspired to pass on the knowledge of Vedanta to the world.
After thinking big, one should strive hard to act wisely. Swami Chinmayananda stated, “Plan out your work, and work out your plan.” To act wisely is to act with proper understanding and a good attitude. This is beautifully presented in the famous Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”
For example, Lord Ram knew when to accept a situation and when to take action against it. Unflinchingly, he accepted exile in the forest for 14 years; but when Sita, his wife, was kidnapped, Lord Ram collected a formidable army, attacked Ravan and got her back.
Keeping the mind calm and balanced, one should act efficiently to show results. We should strive to become better human beings. Our purity, efficiency and wisdom should steadily grow. The result of our work should lead to harmony, beauty and prosperity in society.
Let us use all available opportunities to learn the secret of right action and harness our inner potential. Get inspired and achieve greatness — within and without.
We can! We must! We will!
Swami Tejomayananda, head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, is an orator, poet, singer, composer and storyteller
