Light and Darkness

NIMISHANANDA GURU





Both good and evil originate in the mind. So do pain and sorrow, joy and happiness.Many times what is welcomed by one person as a great opportunity is shunned by another as a terrible adversity . Some love to speak in public, while others go to great lengths to avoid it. So, joy and sorrow are often subjective and relative.When we base our lives on likes and dislikes, `evil' comes into play . However, if we firmly anchor our lives on divine dharmic principles expounded by scriptures and seers, `evil' automatically disappears. Life becomes value-based.We stop harming others in the name of security . We no longer wage wars. Even the feeling of achievement or loss is only a value assigned by the mind.When you are asleep, where is this sense of achievement, sorrow or despair? None of these exists. So, everything arises from the mind and ends in the mind. When we follow dharma, we transcend both good and evil.
People are born neither good nor evil. Impressions that envelop the soul make us seem good or bad. It is basically our past karma that makes us `good' or `bad'. We are not aware of our past nor are we certain about our future. So we lead our lives shrouded in the darkness of ignorance.
When we follow the teachings of sages, the very core of our being changes. The light of wisdom banishes the gloom of ignorance. Our thoughts become noble and sublime.Our actions become naturally benevolent. All the `evil' within us is dissolved.