In the earlier days, when cigarettes were first manufactured and sold on a commercial basis…….
‘Who on earth would buy this nasty stuff? It stinks and makes one feel like throwing up. The ash that falls down litters the floor. This product can never be sold. Decent, cultured people would never use this.’ Such were the comments that surfaced when the product came out initially. Many industrialists refused to consider the possibility of producing cigarettes on a large scale. But those who had plans to produce cigarettes did not get disheartened.
‘Cigarette smoking is the sign of manliness,’ ‘Cigarette is something that is in the hands of men who succeed,’ ‘Used by young men who act fast…….,’ were a few advertisement slogans unleashed by the manufacturers. They thought that this would change the public opinion, induce people to buy and smoke cigarettes! So they went ahead and advertised their product. As they expected, people gave up thinking of the bad smell, injury to health, littering and began smoking in style. Today, many cannot stay away from cigarettes even for half an hour!
Haven’t the cigarette manufacturers changed people to such an extent where smokers have become their slaves? Is this not pitiable?
So, in order that we either like or dislike something, conditioning of the mind is very crucial. It is in this context we discussed about cigarettes.
In case you have an opinion about your spouse that he or she is bad, it is perfectly alright. By conditioning your mind, you can really love your spouse! Do not tell me that you do not even have that much control over your mind as exercised so successfully by the cigarette manufacturers!
Never consider that your spouse is a person without love. This need not be true. If your love spontaneously springs and flows like a river, surely, your spouse would drown in it and reciprocate in manifold ways. If it does not, lovingly accept it.
Power of love is God. Love for power is Ego.
The art of living is the art of growing. Growing is the thermometer of your commitment.
—Swami Sukhabodhananda is the founder and chairman of Prasanna Trust. He is a respected spiritual leader who is often referred to as the ‘Corporate Guru.’