A jnani knows that God should be defined as One Who is neutral. Whenever our wishes are fulfilled, we say that God is on the side of the righteous. When we face reverses and setbacks in life, we say that God is cruel and unfair and always on the side of the wicked, the implication being that we are sinless! The tendency to see ourselves as pure, to be blind to our own faults, and to think that we should always get what we want — these are the things that make us miserable.
First of all, whether we are good or bad is not for us to say. It is for others to judge. Secondly, even assuming we are good, what we now face in life is not due to what we are in this life, but due to our actions in previous births. Sometimes, it also happens that what we think is good for us may not in fact be so, said Suki Sivam in a discourse.
Suppose a man is desperate to have a job in a certain city and performs yagas and prays hard for it. Suppose he does land the job, and this involves moving to some place. What if this migration brings his son into contact with undesirable friends? Will the man, who sought the job, be happy then?
Another grouse we often have is that we are not appreciated enough by others. There is no one who can win universal approval. There will always be some people who dislike us. And to make ourselves unhappy over the fact that some people always criticise us is not going to do anything for us.
A jnani ignores criticism and praise, and learns to accept whatever comes his way. This attitude to life is evident in the verses of the Nayanmars, Azhvars and bhaktas like Abirami Bhattar.
God is not our slave to do as we command. Nor is anything in this life to be had on demand.
All we can do is our duty, and leave the rest in God’s hands.
