1.1 Playful Mind

For eons, our self realized clan has been handling treasures of Universe with capricious minds. Hence such whimsical attitude of our minds, the root cause of emotions, is passed on to generations through rote or practice to make us fit recipients of them. A close scrutiny of our daily life would itself reveal that layers of emotions continue to dribble out freely of our day to day activities projecting moods of pain and joy unscrupulously.

What is the net result of these emotions?

For a man of success, puffed ego feeds arrogance and overconfidence whereas restlessness, depression, self pity, jealousy, anger, hatred, dishonesty and other negatives circulate virulently in and out of the man in pain. Hence, there exists total lack of equipoise in both the cases.

Most of the times, we ensure that our bad mood swings develop a ripple effect on our near and dear ones. That’s when emotions become negative energies and affect the environment – both sentient & insentient.

People who could not think of anything beyond their happiness are never amiss to locate. They have the ability and capability to elevate pain in others given every single opportunity, if it benefits their lives. I wish to move away from such negative energies as darkness appears to possess more power to overpower my being. Yes, I am not ashamed to admit that I am still emotionally vulnerable.

However, there co-exists in small number a rare few who could never inflict pain on others at all given opportunities. The access to such people is meant only for a few blessed, it is said. It is not only for the access that I aspire for, but I do wish to become one such in this life, for these souls, it is said, have mastered their playful minds and learnt to whistle the tune of bliss always with a genuine smile, innocent laughter extending their caring hands for a lovely embrace out of compassion.

I am in awe of these divine personalities. Because in my present state of mind, I have only realized out of own experiences that separation from the loved ones for good is the most difficult emotion to overcome. I am slowly coming to terms that it is not child’s play to understand the play of the mind.

I also know that this world is one of constant change and matter is always in recycling process. So too the truth that everything that is born has to die. But the cosmos must have supplied customized answers for every question of the genuine seeker every time such a need arises, isn’t it? In support of my quest, I turned the pages of Bhagavatam accidentally today.

I became curious to know that Uddhava, Sri Krishna’s friend and cousin, had lamented over the decision of the latter to depart from this earth. He even says, “O Kesava, my Lord! To remain even a minute without Thee is impossible for me. Therefore deign to take me also to Thy Realm with Thee.”

Oh God! I understand how it would be to miss a great friend like Sri Krishna.

I was told by my mother during my childhood that the life of Sri Krishna had not been led out of a playful mind.


P.S. The extracts are taken from the translation works of Srimad Bhagavata of Swami Tapasyananda, Ramakrisha Math.