During the course of life, we often feel dissatisfied – with our phone, vehicle, house, salary, looks. Essentially, we feel dissatisfied that some material thing in our life is not as we want it to be. 

To remove such dissatisfaction, we usually seek some other material thing: a smarter phone, a faster vehicle, a bigger house. Such material improvement can help, if it changes a situation from unbearable to bearable. Still, it can’t resolve dissatisfaction fundamentally. 

Why not? Because no matter how many material things we improve, the material world still remains a temporary place with finite resources. Here, we can fulfill our worldly desires only partially and only till disease, debility and death descend upon us. 

How, then, can dissatisfaction be uprooted? By seeking something beyond the material. 

Gita wisdom explains that we are at our core non-material beings. We are parts of the supreme spiritual reality, Krishna, who is the reservoir of all happiness. Everything attractive manifests a spark of his supreme attractiveness (Bhagavad-gita 10.41). The satisfaction coming from any material thing is like the illumination provided by a spark, whereas the satisfaction coming from Krishna is like the illumination from the sun. 

To become convinced that Krishna is the most desirable of all desirable things takes lifetimes of spiritual evolution – indeed, those thus convinced are extraordinary and rare (07.19). Thankfully, we all can progress toward that conviction in this very lifetime if we let Gita wisdom direct our love toward Krishna. 

Amid dissatisfaction, will we stay ordinary by seeking something material? Or will we join the extraordinary few who use their dissatisfaction as an impetus to seek the Omni-attractive One beyond the material: Krishna? Our decision will determine our destiny. 

 

Think it over:

  • For dealing with dissatisfaction, how can material improvement help and not help?
  • How can seeking beyond the material uproot dissatisfaction?
  • Why is seeking something beyond the material extraordinary?  

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