Worldliness

The jnani lets go of his identification with worldly things, distinguishing 'not this, not this'.

Its branches spread below and above, nourished by the qualities, with sense objects as their shoots. Below, its roots stretch down into the human world, bound to action.

O Partha, one who in this world does not follow along with this turning wheel, who lives only for sensory delight — that sinful one lives in vain.

Without giving up worldly attachments, one can never achieve true happiness. Without renunciation, one can never attain their highest good or find peace.

You cannot realize God if you have even the slightest bit of egoism, attachment to name and form, or worldly desires in your mind.

The heart that has been consumed by worldly desires cannot be influenced by higher feelings and cannot be shaped into a beautiful form.

How can I call out to you, Lord, with a mind that's so worldly and stained? Can a straw survive unharmed when thrown into a pit of fiery coals?

You can't achieve this as long as you have even a hint of worldliness.

As a matter of fact all the objects created by God are meant for all human beings. It is man himself who is imposing limits on them because of his own selfishness and narrow-mindedness. That is why man is suffering.

Unbridled material progress is leading towards destruction. It is essential to have a check of spirituality on it.

Maitreyi said: "Venerable sir, if indeed this whole earth, filled with wealth, were mine, would I become immortal through it, or not?" "No," said Yajnavalkya; "your life would be just like that of people who have abundant means, but there is no hope of immortality through wealth."

The source of happiness is the Almighty, but man is searching for the same in worldly objects, which are only a reflection. The deer looks for the musk in the bushes whereas it exists within its body.

And it is said elsewhere: like waves on a great river, what one has done before turns one back; the coming of death is as unstoppable as the tide of the ocean. Like an animal tied by cords made of good and evil fruits — such is its lack of freedom. Dwelling in Yama's domain, it stands in many forms of fear. Like one drunk on wine who is no longer truly intoxicated — it is seized by past evil and made to wander. Like one bitten by a great serpent, it is stricken with calamity. Like deep darkness, passion blinds it. Like a conjurer's illusion, it is woven of māyā. Like a dream, its vision is false. Like the inner pith of a banana tree, it is without substance. Like an actor, its costume lasts only a moment. Like a painting on a wall, it is a pleasant falsehood. And thus it is said: sounds, touches, and other sense-objects stand as if they were blessings but are in truth afflictions — and the elemental self, clinging to them, forgets the highest state.

If a boat stays in water, there is no harm, but if water enters the boat, it is harmful. With God in mind, dealing with worldly material is no problem. But if the worldly materials overshadow the mind, man cannot remain happy.

Man cannot find eternal peace of mind so long as he remains attached to the worldly materials, which by themselves are not permanent, stable and independent. Once a man gives place in his heart to the ever-living Almighty, he himself rises above decay, and whosoever comes in his contact, he too finds peace.

Just as when we stand at the foot of a very tall building it appears very high and we must crane our necks, yet if we go to an airport and board an aeroplane, then as the plane passes over that same building, the very building that was so tall appears like a toy. It is not that the building became smaller; rather we ourselves rose higher, and that is why the same building appears small. In the same way, while meditating on the Formless One, when we stand at the height of this divine knowledge and look upon the things of the world, they no longer seem important; they seem small, they seem false.

God has given everything to man, but if man wishes to take real happiness and bliss, then he should regard these things as mere means of livelihood and not give them all importance.

A person who is always immersed in the pool of the divine knowledge, a devotee, remains unaffected by the allurements of the worldly wealth, the evils like greed and pride, even though they are very much there.

The worldly affections are based on self interest. Only devotion to God is selfless. To forget God for the sake of this world is not appropriate at all. No doubt we have to fulfil our duties towards the family, but not by forgetting God.

It will be wrong to remain busy playing with toys of Maya and forget the Creator, the Almighty. It is this mistake that becomes the cause of our miseries.