We are exploring the ‘ART’ of life, with ACTIONS or our karma being the main means and the RESULTS or the ‘karma-phala’ our rewards. These are of three types, known as ‘sadhya triam’.

The foremost RESULT is the ‘upādi prāpti’ or the attainment of healthy embodiment. Without physical, sensory and mental wellbeing, all our accomplishments are wasted. However, unless there is ailment, we normally ignore the importance of health but focus only on the objects of desire.

Without doubt, what we desire as the object of happiness is the most obvious RESULT that we seek. Getting the objects of desire Is called the ‘‘vishaya prāpti’’.

But think about this.

What is the point of working and reaching the goal of getting lots of money, if you are in a place where your money is of no use. Say that you have worked hard and earned a decent living. But if you have to face poverty and filth around you, giving a sort of disheartening and revolting atmosphere, how could you enjoy? You desire to tour the world and worked all your life to make the means to travel, but your so old and priorities so different, your plans are merely a burden of thought! So attaining the objects of desire and also the strong and healthy faculties to enjoy those objects of desire are not good enough. We also need a conducive environment for our enjoyment. The time and space for our experiences are to be right. We hardly remember this. Many a times, our focus is on the vishaya prāpti alone. We need to seek right environment which is the third and important RESULT called ‘loka prāpti’.

If we don’t get all these three, in other words, if we don’t endeavour for all these three sādhana-triam, we will not achieve happiness.

Next time, when you burn those late hours for your goal, ignoring the cost of your health, do stop and think. When the focus is on accumulating material possessions, spare a thought on what precautions are built for securing our wellbeing, what efforts are put to nurture our surroundings. Time is not for saving but spending, and spending well. Are we using the time for all these three aspects of the RESULTS? If so, then we are putting the right efforts to maximise our enjoyment. That is the best that we can do.

Yet, our Actions and the Results do not seem to give the lasting happiness! Why?

(to be continued – Mee. Rajagopalan – 09/06/2017)