Adi Sankaracharyaji’s Prashnottari Ratna Malika gives us guidelines on many facets of our life to make it peaceful. A mind that falls low in the eyes of others can never be in a state of quietude. How do I not become low in the estimate of others? The source of being taken very lightly by others is discussed in the poem. When I depend on others and am in a position of asking and receiving from others, my mind is in a very degraded state.
Of course, many things have to be received only—from parents, teachers, elders, friends, institutions and countries. Here, the emphasis is on curtailing our desires so that we do not become dependent on constantly wanting something to be fulfilled that will make us beggars in front of those who are in a position to give what we want. Desiring less and being desireless ultimately is a state of the fulfilled mind which can remain at peace.
Once a desire is formed and it becomes intense, the mind will know no rest. It will drive the person to beg, borrow or steal to fulfil the desire ultimately. Working on controlling the desires and eventually eliminating them is the only way. To try to fulfil a desire is like trying to put off a fire by adding firewood and pouring more ghee. The fire will only burn more intensely.
Contrary to smallness, what is the reason for a person to be considered great? Such a person is in an infallible position because he does not ask for anything. There is no begging either for wealth, education, good qualities, happiness, joy, peace or meditation. No unfulfilled thought chases him and there is no want that needs to be complemented to make him feel good. Not asking anything from anyone is the stand of greatness. Great people in the world are the givers and the ordinary people are the receivers—remaining in the receiving end of any situation or person.
We celebrate birthdays each year. According to Adi Sankaracharyaji, who is considered to be born? The one who does not have another birth alone is considered to be born. The reason for another birth is unfulfilled desires. When the mind is filled with strong desires, a person happens to die, he/she takes birth in another body, situation and to different parents to create a situation for that desire to be fulfilled. However, one who dies in quietude without any desire whatsoever left unfulfilled, need not take another birth.
Who is considered dead? The one who dies completely, peacefully with no bargain with the world, wanting to come back and enjoy this or that alone is considered to be dead! Without any desire to chase and any want to be fulfilled to be happy, when there is the knowledge of that experience being within and being happy—there is no coming back into this world to get trained to be free. Only such a person dies completely. Whether one is living or leaving this world, a mind free of desires alone accomplishes that task successfully.
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