Sorrows Of Modern Man-Part II

In his day to day life, man also finds it very difficult since he has so many goals set to be achieved This leads not only to stress but also unhappiness as the person is attached to the outcome of his action and this expectation causes depression. Old age brings along with it the problems of the dusk of life when man is constantly aware of his incompleteness, as he does not have as much work to do. Moreover he also expects his children to look after all his needs. Children in turn caught in the materialistic world do not make time for them and fail to understand that old age needs so little but that little is so much.

Thus the root cause of the problems of man specially modern man are the dependence on something outside one for happiness, a feeling of insecurity and the egoistic nature of man.

Hinduism a religion which is a way of life can help us at least to reduce these problems to a great extent. Hinduism is not totalitarian and encourages a person to think about something higher. We have the exemplary lives of people like Mahatma Gandhi. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Sri Aurobindo who led this life before us.

Mahatma Gandhi a modem day man was largely responsible for our freedom. He was a crusader of the Satyagraha and Ahimsa.

'Satya'-truth, is followed when one speaks the truth always, come what may.

'Ahimsa' or non-violence indicates that one should not be violent with another in any physical encounter. This brings about a control of our other sense organs. However the concept of 'ahimsa' is extended to the mind which means that one must not be violent towards the other even in, thought - in the mind. Thus practice of 'ahimsa' leads to harmony between the mind and the body; the thought and the action involving immense control and training of the mind.

The limited mind is the soil in which the ego is rooted. It perpetuates ignorance through many illusions. The ego prevents manifestation of infinite knowledge latent in the soul. A man concerned about satisfying his ego fails to learn.

Finally the art of love which forms the basis of Hinduism is the solution to man's problems of existence. Love includes respecting the person, caring, responding, revering and understanding the person. Love is pure when it is without expectation and helps both the receiver and giver to grow.

Thus even in today's modern society. Hinduism helps man to understand and live a fuller, richer and more fruitful existence.