24. Taking stock of sorrows is the foundation for understanding.

• Can fire be put out by pouring petrol?
• Will the frenzy over the sweet lessen or increase by eating ten laddus (Indian sweet)?
• By continuously watching, studying poems which are far from reality and are only imaginary, can day dreams be fulfilled?

If the answer for all the above is 'Yes', then all the world celebrations will give you satisfaction and peace. If it is otherwise, it is certain that you will not get satisfaction from the objects of the outer world.

You go to various places, do different things.

Whatever you do, have you observed that peace is going farther and farther away from you?

If the quality of experiencing does not increase even if the luxuries increase, peace or joy cannot be experienced.

On the contrary, only lack of peace will increase. Take stock of the small pleasures for extinguishing the fire of dissatisfaction.

You will understand the play of life.

Some tips for taking stock of the sorrows:

• What are all the things that are dear to you? It is only because you have not fully passed beyond these, they find place in your top ten lists.
• What are the happy incidents, which you recollect and cherish in your mind again and again? These are the indications to show that the mind has learnt the art of cud-chewing. Today, you say that cud-chewing is a pleasure. Tomorrow, you are going to call whatever the same mind is going to cud-chew as sorrow. You will say: These are the thoughts which torture me.
• This act of cud-chewing of the mind which is unable to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong must be corrected.
  • o What are all the thoughts that really bother you?
  • o What are all the things which you don't like at all?

The reasons for your sorrows lie hidden in these four questions. Write down the replies in a note-book. While writing, do it with sincerity and honesty. The very awareness regarding your likes and dislikes would give you a clear description of yourself.

When you put this down on paper it will act as a chisel to mould you and you will be able to understand yourself better and it will help you to transcend sorrow.

If you take stock of all this today it will lay the foundation for a blissful life.

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