Ignorant, deluded, selfish and greedy worldly men and women forget their own real objectives, limitations, humanity and duties towards wife, husband, children, friends and society when they are attached to their own bodies and living for bodily pleasures. They even forget their own potential, ability and spiritual heritage.

Because of these universally observed facts, a true aspirant who desires his own good should strive to know the Truth and organize his life toward achieving the goal of Self-Realization. Self-Realization will lead to ultimate freedom, peace and true joy.

We should be constantly aware of our limitations as to how much we can help others, including how much of our available time, energy, wealth and life can be dedicated to others. We must also be vigilant to ensure that others don't impose on us their false hopes, wishes, desires, passions, greed, selfishness, pride and jealousy. We should guard ourselves consciously so that we don't become others' slaves and so that our mutual dependency on one another does not harm anyone.

If we limit our social and other mutual dependencies and deal only on the basis of Truth, which is our own divinity, and the brotherhood of mankind, the whole of which is under the Fatherhood of one God, then we will be saved from the anxiety, tension, anger and depression caused by selfish, passionate or vulgar behavior of others and will not lose our freedom through improper behavior on our part.

We must not hesitate to declare what degree we will deal with or "accommodate" others and to draw a clear line beyond which we will deal no more. Once such a decision is declared, we must immediately put it into practice. For if we don't practice what we decide, then it is as useless as a medicine not consumed. Decisions must be followed by execution and not just talk, threats or loud shouts to scare or impress others.

When our life is based on Gita's principles, it will be simple and open. It will be free from selfishness, greed and damaging passions. And we will avoid using others as objects of enjoyment, thus minimizing the harmful effects of "bad karma" associated with such tendencies. In doing so, we will uplift ourselves and others and develop the quality of harmlessness to others.

Note that our effort for self-improvement and watching out for our own welfare must not lead to selfishness on our part or imposition of our own ideas on others. We must bear with others to the degree to which we have our obligations towards them, but we must also make sure that we don't dance to their tune blindly. We need to control our own life, steer our own destiny.

The worldly man or woman is controlled by greed, bodily passions, pride, jealousy, so-called religion, desire for name and fame as well as the paramount necessity to conform to the standards of so-called society. Thus he/she being in the hands of others lives a life of dependency or slavery, which can bring no dignity or self-respect. For all such people of the world, study and understanding of the principles of Gita can provide the means to self-discovery and liberation.

-- Swami Radhanandaji