Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times
finding freedom and happiness
Rudransh Rajaram, Dallas TX
In modern-day society, as materialistic ideals begin to fracture their way into the rest of the world, our attachments towards objects and people begin to deepen. We frequently identify ourselves with tangible possessions—be it wealth, fame, power, or status—and often use terms like “I” or “mine” in our conversations. As life unfolds, our attachments tend to multiply, leading to heightened expectations with associated disappointments and increased fear or anxiety of losing a person, object, or position. Such negative emotions can cloud our minds, hindering our natural clarity and inner peace.
How can we liberate ourselves from attachments and emotional bonds to achieve greater peace of mind? The answer lies in reframing our perspective to view all things as belonging to the divine rather than to ourselves. For instance, when we undertake tasks on behalf of others, we strive to execute them with the highest level of precision, free from fear and expectation. In the same way, when we view everything as stemming from the divine, we can remain sincere without forming attachments, as our minds understand that it does not belong to us.
This notion is applicable to not just physical objects. Growing up, I was attached to the result, the destination, the fruits of my labor. Like in school, I did not study to learn new topics and ideas, but simply to achieve the best possible grade and increase my GPA. In my extracurriculars like chess, I did not train because I enjoyed learning something new, but because I wanted to increase my rating points and achieve a master title. Attachment comes in many forms, and over the last few years, I have learned to slowly detach from the results that I had always sought out in the past. I have learned to accept that the future is not in my hands, but rather in the hands of the divine. The best I can do is be sincere with my efforts, and the result that is meant will ultimately come.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that for those who detach themselves from any source of bondage and accept whatever comes their way, He Himself pulls them towards Him to bless them. Therefore, by shifting our perspective and letting go of attachments, we can find happiness by following the clear path laid out before us by none other than our Lord Himself.
