Playing The Game Of Life-Part II

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Right Discrimination

Hence, whether it is loss of health, wealth, or an emotional disturbance, we must know how to face all situations. The difficulty is that often we try to face the world with one limited, specialized batting technique - our university degrees. But what is the universal batting technique with which we should play all of the game of life? It is the batting strategy of right discrimination. Limited, specialized knowledge we may have but discrimination- or understanding is different.

Our own knowledge kills us because the discrimination of how to use and where to use that knowledge is often absent.

The following story illustrates this need for discrimination. Three friends went abroad for special studies and met after five years. The first one had learned how to put a dead body together. The second one learned how to give life to the dead body. The third had generally studied about life. The three friends came across a dead tiger cut into pieces by a hunter. The first friend put the pieces together and asked the second friend to give the tiger life.

The third friend cautioned them against it. And when they refused to listen, he climbed up a tree for safety. As soon as the second friend gave life to the tiger, the tiger, killed both of them. In effect, they had been killed by their own knowledge. They had no discrimination as to where and when to use their knowledge, even after being advised by their friend!

True discrimination is rare. Swami Vivekananda has said, "The most uncommon thing in the world is common sense." Therefore, we find that one particular, specialized university degree does not help us with the many complexities of the actual game of life. We must have that knowledge by which we can understand all types of situations and do our best when facing various types of problems. In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna had to face many difficult situations, but he faced them all with a smile and knew exactly what to do each time.

About the author

Swami Tejomayananda

Swami Tejomayananda, the Chairman and spiritual head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide, is one of the foremost disciples of Swami Chinmayananda. He is an outstanding teacher of Vedanta and an accomplished poet, author, and composer.