Sufferings Man Undergoes
What is that prevents man from securing enduring happiness? There are five kinds of sufferings (kleshas) which stand in the way:
“Avidya” (ignorance) is one kind of suffering. What is this ignorance? In the scriptures, the question is asked: Who is a fool? The answer given is: One who identifies himself with the body. By this kind of identification the foolish one forgets his true nature. The day he realizes that he is not the body but the external indwelling spirit, that day he experiences true bliss. The body, the mind and intellect are all instruments. These are called “karanas.” It is a sign of ignorance to identify one’s self with these instruments. “avidya-klesha” is the suffering arising out of ignorance. As long as man has a body, he experiences various kinds of sorrow.
The second “klesha” is “abhinava klesha” (immaturity). For all kinds of desires and pains, the cause is the mind. All desires arise in the mind. When desires are realized, the man loses his mental balance. Failing to realize how the mind is the cause of sorrow and giving a free rein to desires is “abhinava klesha,” suffering due to mental infirmity. Only when man is able to give up desires and disregard the mind, which is the cause of desires, will he be able to experience “ananda” (bliss).
The third is, “asthitha klesha” (unsteadiness). This suffering arises from an insatiable appetite for all kinds of things. It is the result of one being immersed in the vagaries of the senses. To regard as enduring the sensuous pleasures which are impermanent is the cause of this type of suffering.
The fourth is, “raga klesha” (attachments of all kinds). All other evil tendencies in man like hatred, envy, etc., have their root in “raga”. It is this attachment which ruins the entire life of man. There should be a limit to one’s attachment to persons and things. Excessive attachment is the cause of sorrow. Man is unable to derive happiness from excessive possessions.
The fifth, “dwesha klesha” (hatred) arises when a man fails to obtain what he seeks from someone. This is the result of selfishness and self-seeking.
Digest 2, p. 178
Reduce your wants and live simply, that is the way to happiness. Attachment brings sorrow in its wake; in the end, when death demands that everything be left behind and everybody be deserted, you are overpowered with grief. Be like the lotus on water, on it—not in it. Water is necessary for a lotus to grow, but it does not allow even a drop to wet it.
Sathya Sai Speak, Vol. 7, p. 42.
