Human life is a conjunction of the harmony of disharmonies and the disharmony of harmonies. What contains what, where and where, how and how, what is mixed with what, mixed like water in milk, yet separate like oil in water, faded-and-complicated. topsyturvy yet transparent, solved but straightened, as it looks. It is inaccessible like: searching a needle from the heap of cotton: walking bare feet on a double-edged sword. chewing iron grains with teeth; but it is also fragrant and comfortable like the bedding of rose flowers.

 

Man’s desires, expectations and imaginations are infinite. generating incessantly like bugs. They are never fulfilled. or else, this world would have been turned into heaven, the ten directions would have been filled with music and man would have danced as if maddened with pleasure.

 

Events do not correspond to what he expects. When the events go agiainst his desires he is disappointed. suffocated, weakened, suspicious; and a snake of disbelief turns out of him every hope. good thoughts. firm determination and confidence.

 

Virtue and vice are the two sides of the same coin; one side being up, the other side will certainly be down. Religion is an invariable part of our life. It has always been and will continue inspiring, encouraging and guiding us. The chain of our life is comprised of pleasures and pains, happiness and unhappiness, birth and death. gains and losses. These emotions terminate into the sentiments: love, heroism, humour, furiousness, terror, disgusting, marvellous and quietism. We are not prepared to dispose these emotional sentiments.

 

It is this crisis when our religion guides us to right path and makes us utilize our decisive capacity. It is, in such a situation, for us to thoughtfully distinguish between the good and bad to ensure a successful life. For this a support is needed to set the shaking mind right. Svami Kunda-kundacharya writes in the ‘Mulachara’:

 

‘These senses, like horses, encouraged by the natural blemishes of attachment and aversion, drive the chariot to wrong path, hence the mind, like the reign, has to be tightened.”

 

Human life is influenced by so many factors. The influence of one’s own actions and deeds is directly and indirectly more effective than that of the external things and actions and environment. Our efforts to improve these all should continue.

 

Extensive and indepth philosophical discussions, painstaking meditation, austere penances etc. are definitely not prescribed for all, but there are more popular prescriptions which can be observed by minor efforts and labour: these may be observed by all.

 

Character, concentration and understanding inhere in man by nature. What is needed is the harmony by way of implementing all the three. As soon as harmony is generated. a diversion of visualizing things, comes up all over: the way of visualizing the globe, changes: feeling of equanimity comes in: differentiating between the feeling of one’s own and of other’s, attachment and aversion. pleasure and pain, happiness and unhappiness, gains and losses, credits and debits. good and bad. high and low, honour and dishonour, matter nothing: let someone or no one be with us, we stand unstirred: all the pollution is abolished from the body and mind. Harmony is such a medicine which cures the flickering mind, while this ultra-modern age of science has not yet been able to invent such a medicine. Its diagnosis can be had only by conscience. I have placed the essays in this book in three groups: physical, mental and spiritual.

 

Effort has been made to cover subjects dealing with the emotions, the thoughts and the virtues: which, in my opinion, are the most essential for humanity; which can easily and simply be brought into practice: which don’t need a tedious way of meditation: which are related with the daily routine; which occupy a very important place in our life; and which shade a beacon light for us to quicken the journey of prosperous life.

 

India is the world’s largest democratic republic, and Nepal. a small country with attractive natural beauty. in the lap of the Himalayas. is the only Hindu country. Both countries have many religious and cultural similarities. By blessing of the mother Sarasvati and with the cooperation of friends, I have come in contact with you all through this book. My friend, Umesh Jain, has played the role of a bridge. Sri Nemi Chanda Jain’s affectionate invitation, and guidance, and elder brother’ Sri Ramesh Chand Jain’s thoughtful blessings are the source of subject of this book, of my emotions and conscience. Those all are venerable to me whose direct or indirect, cooperation, I have received.

 

The brighter side of these essays is yours and the dimmer side mine. I hope, you, like the king swan, will bear with me. Let this introduction of yours be a present to the introduction of man to man’.

 

My pen will be gratified if a line or even a word from this book will influence, inspire, guide or support somebody in need. I would certainly like to have your comments, if offered. May all beings be happy.