Lifestyle should enhance inner growth

Not knowledge, skill or experience either but the right principles with which one approaches life that are the ultimate roadmap for real success and permanent happiness. 

For every inability and difficulty we tend to blame; but our shatras teach us that there is no point in blaming. Not anyone else but we alone are responsible for what we go through; both the desirable and the undesirable. In today’s world we blame culture or use culture as an excuse for situations we go through. 

A lifestyle that allows one to experience growth or supports progress is culture. The medical world too refers to culture as the condition in which something can grow. The same philosophy applies to humans. 

Any lifestyle that does not allow one to grow or results in non-essential growth cannot be called culture. Irrespective of being followed by a large number of people; it is a social cancer. The lifestyle we choose for ourselves can be culture; or social cancer. 

I often hear the explanation “this is today’s culture” for any damaging activity or belief system. Please understand, these are just actions performed; however, this is not culture. Unfortunately today we have replaced culture with lifestyle. If one cannot live a lifestyle that enhances growth at least living a lifestyle that weakens a person should be stopped immediately. 

Manodharma says, the quality of life is not decided by how long one lives but how healthy and happy one is when alive. And no one else can take responsibility of your health and happiness. Failing to realize this at an early stage and failing to alter your lifestyle when you have the ability to change is the same as giving witness for someone who has completed his punishment period. This realization will help one see every opportunity to shift from lifestyle to culture. 

This transition from lifestyle to culture is one of the highest principles of life. One that gives a person continuous and consistent progress. 

To see personal and financial abundance, every one of us should take the responsibility to live a life that is enriching in every aspect and give up the lifestyle that is weakening. Let me explain this with a simple example. If you desire a beautiful painting; the very source to receiving the painting cannot be one’s eyes. The source to enjoy the painting cannot be traded for the painting!! 

Wishing you a life of abundance in health, wealth and happiness. 

Aham Brahmasmi!! Shri Aasaanji is a non-reli gious, contemporary Spiritual Master and the founder of the Atmayoga Foundation (Institute for Inner-Science and Self Transformation) www. atmayoga.in