This world is temporary – a place of misery.
There seems to be tragedy everywhere we look. Sometimes, it hits close to home when a loved one gets ill and eventually passes away. On a larger scale, war, pestilence, drought, famine or a disaster of some kind can also cause suffering. Sadly, tragedies come despite us not wanting them. But this is the very nature of this world.
As spirit-souls, we are perfect by nature, so it’s natural for us to seek perfection. However, the material world is full of imperfections and these imperfections are very frustrating for the perfect soul. It’s in this conflict that we remain always unhappy. Trying to find happiness in the temporary world is a futile attempt for the soul who thinks that he is the material body.
There is a greater need for us to understand our true identities as spirit soul and not the material body. This understanding will free us from the anxieties and miseries that our bodies are subjected to. Birth, disease, old age and death are all stages of suffering that the soul goes through while inside a temporary body. The body is bound to get sick and old. The mind, the subtle body of the soul, is also not free from anxieties.
Miseries can also be caused by other living entities. For example, a sting from a tiny insect such as the mosquito can cause illness. Then, like I mentioned earlier, Mother Nature can wreak havoc on our lives. We just have to look at the recent typhoon in the Philippines that has taken so many lives and destroyed homes.
Is there a way to prevent such miseries? Sadly, there isn’t. Misery is part and parcel of this material world. Living in an imperfect world, we can’t expect to have perfect lives.
There is one thing we can control though, and that is the way we deal with these miseries – by first acknowledging the reality of the situation, that you cannot change the nature of this world.
Take prison as an analogy. Prisons are depressing places, and they are that way to rehabilitate criminals. After all, you should not expect 5-star lodgings in a prison as they are meant for those who have broken the law. I’m sure no one dreams of being imprisoned but if you’ve done wrong and have been jailed, what would you rather do? Sit in your cell and complain all day, or focus your energy on getting out of there?
I don’t know about you but I would choose the latter.
It is the same in life. It’s important that we take a good look at the nature of this world; it is like a prison house, not really our home. The soul’s real home is in the spiritual world, a place where there is no birth, disease, old age and death. A perfect place that is full of bliss, knowledge and eternity. Life inside these material bodies may be full of miseries, but the understanding of the truth about our real identity is what will set us free.
If we understand that simple truth about the soul, then this is the beginning of a journey towards real happiness.
I read each & every post U had done…..All so beautifully written & one can understand it…….Yes journey to happiness U have to understand better because world is temporary. But while living life at least I want to be happy & let other live their life happily.
Thank you for this inspiring blog Mr.Joseph and it is just as Helen Keller once said” the world is full of suffering but it is also full of the overcoming of it.
Thanks for the sharing. It’s so important to understand the need for happiness in life which has to be the ultimate goal for all of us. Rest the sooner the better it is for us to understand about the imperfections in the material world around us & also work towards those imperfections to make it a happy world.
Thank you, Biplika and Motaz, for reading. I’m glad you find my posts meaningful. Please do share it with your friends if you think they would find it useful as well.
Thank you once again.
Whenever I am lost/ confused I come to your page and the top most story always seems to be for me… giving solace to my mind… You are like my 24/7 sage always there to pull me through with yet another insight and learning.
Thank you!
Thank you, Gayatri. I write about my experiences and I’m glad they resonate with you. In fact, that is one of the reasons I started this blog, to connect with readers who may identify with what I write about.
DEAR JOSEPH
MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD DEEDS TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Thank you, Muthiyah.
Whenever i feel down i go read your articles. It gives me immense energy and I feel i can solve all my problems. These pages give me courage to move forward. Really good deeds always persist.
This is certainly very though provoking. Not a perfect world, but the important thing is how we handle it.
Dear Japa..Your articles are awesome and nothing but the truth.: Everybody wants to be somebody, but nobody wants to be themselves”
Thank you so much for your kind words, J. I’m glad you enjoyed reading the article and that it meant something to you.
Yes….there is only suffering in the material creation. The very fact that it is material, I.e made up of five elements, means it is temporary. We attach to ourselves to the temporary and bind ourselves to suffering. We associate and dedicate ourselves with the permanent, eternal master of the soul and in his service, we step out of the illusion. This will slowly change our consciousness and bring us to the level of purity to qualify us at the time of our leaving this body, to go back to our original homes, free of birth, old age, suffering and death living an eternal blissful life of knowledge.
Dear Sir i m Juz a Kid u can say merely 23 years Old i get frustrated wid every aspect of life can enjoy d beauty of wat we call life . I always compare things , far away from finding happiness in small things > In my brain i feel now even ma heart started behaving artificially. I can’t concentrate leave d things half way undone . I fear i m scared nd worried every time abt things . how e overcome this plz help
plz send reply for dis on ma email
[email protected]
Hello Kom. What do you get frustrated with?
hey thnx for d reply i mean like i m frustarted with every single aspect i m not able 2 concentrate i ahte everything . I always compare things den become unhappy so plz help me 2 come out of dis
Thank you for your insights Mr. Bismark. Your words are good “food” for the soul and remind me of Sister Theresa’s words:
“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.”
Thank you, Tim, for your comment and that very wonderful quote from Sister Theresa.
Good Morning Mr Joseph Bismark,
Your choice of words in the journey to the truth is excellant
It really has made me think on the prison we are in and ways to feel that we are out of it and be free
Thank You
Thank you, Selvarajan. Please share this with your friends if you feel they’ll find it useful too.
Thanks you so much for this revealing truth. I’ve been trying to figure out how to deal with life’s issues and how to be successful in my networking but this message has so much insightful to me.
It’s great to have wisdom truth from great people you like who avails yourself in helping mankind to the pasth of life.
I’m so grateful.
Thank you, Yayra.
It is always wonderful to read all your posting Mr. Bismark. You have inspired many of us in Papua New Guinea and for sure for myself indeed.
God Bless you always…
Its been posted in our team Page in facebook and forward email to my leaders.. Thanks so much!
Thank you, Popi. Much appreciated.
Dear Japa,
A heart touching article.
Lots of love
Aman Preet
My Dearest Japa,
With your permission i want to share short story about my life with you.Soon after i completed the landmark forum i quit my job and stared looking for job in NGO as i found my true calling of helping people.But reality hit me bcz NGO offers low salary for me to sustain in city like mumbai. Now with qnet i could acheive my dreams.I totally idolised you for a balanced person you are. I dream of working with you in future
Love you
Aman Preet
Hello Amanpreet. Thank you for sharing your story with me. It’s very noble of you to want to help people. You can still do that now. As I’ve always said, every dollar I make allows me to give back.