Maitri, Karuna & Mudita

A small conversation between a questioner and Nisargadatta Maharaj.

Q: I cannot fulfill my desires. I am too weak.

N: What makes you weak? What is weakness? Others fulfill their desires, why don't you?

Q: I must be lacking energy.

N: What happened to your energy? Where did it go? Did you not scatter it over so many contradictory desires and pursuits? You don't have an infinite supply of energy.

Q: Why not?

N: Your aims are so small and low. They do not call for more. Only God's energy is infinite - because he wants nothing for himself. Be like him and all your desires will be fulfilled. The higher your aims and vaster your desires, the more energy you will have for your fulfillment. Desire the good of all and the universe will work with you. But if you want your own pleasure, you must earn it the hard way. Before desiring, deserve.

Most our desires are finished with marriage and a career. No wonder, the fire within burns out and people start accumulating lot of impurities within - in the body and the mind. It is easily observable on how people put on so much weight and ego after marriage and / or after landing a good job.

Patanjali also talks about this. When one is established in friendliness, compassion and mudita (happiness on others good fortune), which means desires for the well being of all, one is powered by the divine directly.

maitri dishu balani (Yoga sutras, Vibhuti pada - 24)

When one is established in friendliness, compassion and mudita, then one is powered by great energy from within.

So then, can we hold the most noblest desire in our heart? Can we try and figure out the grand unifying theory of human suffering? Given that we humans practically have no predators, have tremendous scientific advancement to have prospered in all climatic conditions, we should have no poverty, no wars and no suffering whatsoever. But, sadly, that seems like a very far fetched ideal. Can we hold the desire in our hearts to change this mess?

This question when intensely held within with great sincerity, will naturally lead to problem of ignorance of an individuals true nature leading to the question 'Who am I?'. This will lead to Yoga, will produce individuals of the highest quality (imbued with universal love to the core) and will be the biggest force in bringing about peace in our society.