Clarity of Direction
Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra
Yoga and Total Health, August 1999
In all efforts, clarity of direction becomes important. One should not foray in one area and then suddenly withdraw and attack another. Unfortunately, that is precisely what we do in life, and we find very little accomplishment.
The fact is that we often lack clarity about what we do. Some strange impulse takes hold of us and we begin some work or study, some new branch of knowledge, or just entertain ourselves. We get bored with what we began with and look for new pastures. We may never consistently pursue goals we set up. We get interested in health or social work, etc. Many things are thus half-heartedly done and left off.
In a mythological story Siva, the great God, and Parvati, his consort; are sitting with their two children running around them. Parvati told the children to go out into the world and see things, enjoy themselves and return back after that. While one took a vehicle and wandered around aimlessly; the other persisted to run around the parents only. In the end, when the first one returned from his trip, the other was asked for an explanation as to why he did not go around the world. The clever one just replied, "Well, my world is my parents and I circumambulated around them and was very content."
The moral of the story is that for one who has clarity of what he should do, action comes easily. Then, one becomes fully involved in what is considered as important and becomes oblivious of everything else. There is total involvement and satisfaction. In reality, Abhyāsa or perseverance is preceded by Vairagya or disinterestedness. We are actually interested in something and to the extent are disinterested in everything else. These become the two aspects of Vairagya. Such Vairagya sustains long term action (Abhyāsa) and is necessary in spiritual life.