chetaḥ khalvasya bandhāya muktaye chātmano matam

guṇeṣhu saktaṁ bandhāya rataṁ vā puṁsi muktaye

(Bhagavatam 3.25.15)

“Captivity in Maya and liberation from it is determined by the mind. If it is attached to the world, one is in bondage, and if the mind is detached from the world, one gets liberated.” 

Being social animals, we are attached to and associated with a lot of people. Additionally, we love them unconditionally. It can be our parents, our siblings, our friends, or anyone. What if you are separated from them and taken to an unknown world where you cannot even contact them? I’m sure you will miss them badly and get restless over time. Immensely painful, right?

Imagine that our soul, which is a part of THE SUPREME, Paramatma, is now living on this earth without him. Put yourself in the shoes of the soul and try to feel its pain. There is an intolerance, a restlessness in the soul. Because of our material consciousness, we cannot discern the soul’s longing for its beloved Lord. Because of this, we get caught up in momentary pleasures and eventually get sucked into the MAYA of this material world. Mislead by the Maya, it doesn’t matter what we do, we still long for bliss and peace. As the body enables the connection between momentary pleasures and our minds, we consequently become attached to them and believe they are supreme. Consequently, we often do whatever it takes to satisfy our bodily needs without second thought, which leads to trouble and pain.

When we die, our soul leaves the body before we are ready or is not allowed to leave. The process is like attempting to snatch a toy from a child’s hands. This makes us suffer and face pain equivalent to being stung by 4000 scorpions.

How can we achieve happiness amidst all these challenges? Or how shall I cool down my soul’s restlessness ?

The answer is BHAKTI.

Bhakti or practicing spirituality is opposed to everything since it raises a person above all material attachments and only desires to be dynamically being one with the Lord. After this, no force can make him feel pain. Not even death. Connecting with the cosmos and getting aligned is when the body, mind, and soul attain bliss.

Concluding, what shall we practically do ?

1. Read spiritual scriptures

2. Meditate

3. Pray

4. Serve mankind

5. Rejoice in the Lord