Harih Om!
Hello All,
It is pleasant being with you all once again. It is for the simple reason, to be a young person is to think, analyse, probe. For this, we require lot of energy. The mind not burdened by responsibilities is a mind that can have that sort of energy. Whatever energies we have, they are liable for dissipation. If you can imagine a rocket dissipating its energy in all directions not just expending it in one direction, where would it go? Have you ever noticed a firework designed to move in the sky like a rocket or airplane, taking a zigzag path losing even as it begins its journey, because of loosely filled material resulting in dissipation of energy? The similar issue haunts the youth. This is a major problem happening to the youth.
Generally, youth seem to get their energies dissipated. It is natural for them to take an active part in the activities whether outside or at college or university. In the process of doing so, they lose the energy and with that the sense of direction. I see very many young people getting into this problem. Once a person loses the needed energy or drive, the mind then seeks excuses for getting away from issues. One jumps into compulsive action patterns loosely called decisions only for being broken, new conclusions or judgments taken with the same jerky, shaky insecure mind, to be broken once again. Thus, when an individual keeps making and breaking decisions, just try to see what one is doing to one’s personality. Please take time off for a moment to think about what will happen to one’s self-esteem or self-image. Please think about it!
We are full of energy, very motivated and committed to pursue or undertake a particular path to achieve something. Even as we have begun our pursuit, we discover we have committed a mistake and somehow try keeping the commitment going for some time, since we initiated it. When we feel the going becomes too rough or too much we feel drained and discover the urgency to drop out of that. I met a young person last year who was innocent and open as young people usually are. This person in late twenties told me that he has decided to do engineering as it has lot of scope. He also told me that he always had a strong liking for the subject. Because I did not know much of the young man, I did not venture talking anything more than saying, ‘fine.’ Six months afterwards, when he happened to meet me, I asked him how his studies were progressing. He said, he was thinking he made a wrong decision. He always had a mind for business, but he had not made up his mind yet. Very recently, when I met him, he was planning to quit business. Now he was full of confusion and wanted some help. I just told him to try out ways and when exhausted he was always welcome. God knows what he is doing, but one thing is sure, we will meet but do not ask me when.
I have met very many young people having such problem. I shall give you one more incident. This happened in India. I met this young man who was a brilliant lad at school and got into a prestigious engineering institute for professional studies. Having studied for three years, in the fourth year, seems to have drifted away. He met a religious person and started a religious hunt. Though he passed his exam with very good marks he did not study further or seek a job, because he thought that to be contributing to the global chaos. Ten glorious years he lost. Even as the discussion began he said sadly, oh my goodness, I have wasted all my life.
I have also met many other young people who wanted to start with a clean slate, but do not know where and how to go about the whole issue. All that these young people required was an awareness of all that is open to one and the result or scope of that commitment. Once having seen the end, one should have a crystal- clear vision of the need for action. Only when we discover the need or urgency for action should we plunge into action not otherwise. More of this we will be seeing later. Not doing that we as young people allow the mind to become whacked and buffeted. When this happens, how long will the mind be with us and finally what can we achieve? What will ‘we’ be in our own eyes as well as the eyes of the others?
Generally, the young people say, “We do not care for the world, we will do what we want to do.” Well, may be that is fine, but then we should not be careless to allow the world to interfere and thwart our moves. Should we be? First, we will be allowing the world to walk all over us, not only that, with the sense of revolt we will be walking all over the world. A young person should be a responsible person. I find this trend very much in our young people now-a-days. That is a good sign. They are very much aware of social, cultural and health issues that affect the nation or individual. Social issues like air-pollution, water pollution, depleting natural resources are all topics of concern for some youth. The complaint against the youth is, they just talk but do nothing. Well, we will have to first learn to air our views then comes the question of action. Action will come, but let it be out of clarity brought by thinking, talking or airing views.
With love,
Swamiji
