Why natural disasters take place

 

From time to time the earth shakes and in its shaking wakes up the man who is in slumber, the man who not only misuses Nature but puts his faith in bricks and mortar. Your true security is in the Self, not in bricks and mortar. Perhaps this is what nature wants to convey to you. Earthquakes, floods and volcanoes all drive home the truth that nothing is permanent and you can find no security in that which is impermanent. Disasters come to you as a shock and wakes you up. 


When such calamities occur, we try to understand their cause so that we can blame someone. Strangely, when you find someone to blame, you feel comfortable, but with natural calamities you cannot blame anyone. They come to you as a shock. With wisdom, shocks can make you grow in leaps and bounds. Without wisdom, a shock can only lead you to negativity and depression. 


Why would nature destroy small innocent children? Nature just does its job. It does not discriminate between young and old.  


Instead of questioning nature, wake up and see the opportunity for seva, or service. See what happened in Gujarat. Hundreds and thousands of people engaged in service activities that would not have happened otherwise. The reconstruction of Gujarat would not have taken place if not for earthquake. Out of the destruction, a freshwater spring has appeared in a region that has been continuously drought prone. 


Wisdom is considering the Earth as your Valentine. Whether it shakes or breaks, it is dear to you. You always see good coming from it. 


The five elements, other than space, create turbulence from time to time. If you depend on them for support, they will shake you and lead you back to space. Finding security in inner space is spirituality.

Solving problems

 

The best solution to a problem is not to have the problem at all. The second best solution is to willingly accept the problem and see it as a challenge. The third best solution is to know that the problem is just a monster under the bed – it is not real. 


The final solution is to know that nature provides you the solution even before giving you the problem. First you met me and then you had a problem! 


There are no bacteria in the winter since herbs to heal you do not grow then. In the spring, the herbs grow first and then the bugs arrive. In the summer, the shade comes before the summer sun gets strong. So, nature takes good care of you. 


What if longing is a problem? Longing ripens you. Do not solve all your problems. Keep at least one of them. You need something to munch on – and life goes on.


Whenever there is a problem, you either deny it saying there is no problem, or you sit down to solve the problem and make it a big issue. Neither of these help. A problem does not disappear when you deny it and it does not get solved when you sit down to solve it. The five steps to solve a problem are:

  • Recognize that it exists. 
  • See it as a small problem and do not say it is big. 
  • If it concerns people, keep in touch with them instead of avoiding them. 
  • Talk less and give time a chance.
  • Get together and celebrate. When you celebrate and put the problem on the back burner, you will see that the problem gets solved in time. 


So, it is wise not to sit down to solve a problem. Many of the meetings to solve problems end up in disaster. If you do not have any problems, you will create problems or you will become a problem yourself! If you have a small problem in your pocket to solve, it will give focus to your mind. It is better to have a problem than to be a problem.