Today, let us delve into the understanding of laziness and easiness, and how balancing the three Gunas – Satva, Rajas, and Thamas – as mentioned in the Bhagwad Geeta, can lead us to tranquility and harmony.
In our journey towards self-realization, we often encounter two states that may appear similar but are fundamentally different – laziness and easiness. Laziness, my friends, is a negative state. It is characterized by a sense of guilt, a feeling of non-participation in the grand dance of existence. When we are lazy, we stand aside, detached from the universe’s ceaseless creativity. We drop out of the cosmic symphony, becoming mere spectators rather than active participants.
On the other hand, easiness is a state of absolute relaxation, a state where we are overflowing with energy, even when not engaged in any activity. Easiness is not about inaction but about action without tension or hurry. It is about being in a state of flow, where we are in harmony with the universe, participating in its creativity without stress or strain.
However, it is easy to mistake laziness for easiness. They may seem similar on the surface, but their essence is different. Laziness is characterized by guilt and non-participation, while easiness is characterized by relaxation and an overflow of energy.
Consider the trees around us. They are not ‘doing’ anything in the way we understand action, yet they are brimming with life and energy. They participate in the universe’s creativity through their very existence, their blooming flowers, their vibrant colors, their fresh greenery, their beauty under the sunlight and the stars. This is easiness – a state of relaxed, effortless participation in life.
Now, how do we cultivate this state of easiness and avoid the trap of laziness? The answer lies in the Bhagwad Geeta’s teachings about the three Gunas – Satva, Rajas, and Thamas. These three Gunas are the fundamental qualities that make up all of existence. Satva represents purity, knowledge, and harmony. Rajas represents passion, activity, and restlessness. Thamas represents inertia, ignorance, and darkness.
To achieve inner peace, we must strive to balance these three Gunas. Too much Rajas, and we become restless and agitated. Too much Thamas, and we fall into laziness and inertia. But when we cultivate Satva, we foster purity, knowledge, and harmony, leading us towards the state of easiness.
Cultivating Satva involves living a life of balance – balance in our diet, our activities, our thoughts, and our emotions. It involves living ethically and morally, seeking knowledge, and practicing meditation and other spiritual disciplines. As we cultivate Satva, we naturally reduce the influence of Rajas and Thamas, moving away from restlessness and laziness towards tranquility and easiness.
So, let us strive to balance the three Gunas, to move away from laziness and towards easiness. Let us participate fully in the universe’s creativity, living our lives with a sense of relaxed, effortless flow. This is the path to inner peace, the path to self-realization. This is the wisdom I share with you today. May it guide you on your journey.