Have you ever noticed that we live in an imaginary world? No, I’m not referring to the one where our creative juices flow freely. I’m talking about the not-so-desirable one.

Imaginary World vs. Reality

Assume you fantasize about a perfect job with an excellent package. Lo and behold! By the miracles of nature, you actually get that job. You go in brimming with enthusiasm, ready to take charge.

Yet, as the days turn into months, the initial thrill fades, revealing the mundane and often tiresome routine defining the role. A sudden epiphany dawns that the reality isn’t the same as what you had envisioned, leaving you feeling bored, annoyed, and dissatisfied.

This gap between our imagined paradises and actualities extends across many aspects of life, including employment, relationships, and even spiritual quests. We are all guilty of crafting utopian visions of perfection, only to receive a rude awakening about our world’s undeniable imperfections.

Reality often falls short of imagination in anything and everything. That’s the undeniable truth of this world.

The Hamster on a Wheel

Another cherished imagination that shatters upon reflection is the belief that enough money in the bank equates to boundless leisure. We romanticize the notion of being carefree monarchs, liberated from the bondage of responsibility and toil.

While having enough money definitely makes life comfortable, it does not free us from the monotony of existence. I wouldn’t be surprised if the world’s richest person, who believes in lazing, would become the most dull, unhappy person. That’s because inaction only leads to diseases, both mental and physical.

Life’s inherent truth is that it is a ceaseless cycle, akin to hamsters on a wheel endlessly traversing the same path of routine and repetition. We are all stuck in the Kaal Chakra, the cycle of time that keeps ticking.

Joyful Hamsters

Amidst the monotony of our everyday existence, the question arises: How can we infuse our lives with significance and vitality?

The solution lies in developing a learning mindset. However, to sustain this growth attitude, we need inner peace. Here is where we land at the essence of Sanatana Dharma, the concept of Karma Yoga.

Karma Yoga says — Let us become Yogis and Yoginis, individuals who master the art of being joyful hamsters on the wheel.

Instead of succumbing to the futile cycle of complaint and resistance, we learn to redirect our energies toward acceptance of life and service to society.

The Practice of Karma Yoga

The central practice of Karma Yoga is cultivating a service-oriented mindset toward life. Whether undertaking menial chores or elaborate ones, we approach them with humility and altruism. Further, Karma Yoga encourages us to follow what is called Prasad Buddhi: accepting life as a gift from nature and fulfilling duties as service to the divine.

The beauty of this practice is that we get an incentive. Not only do we learn to live in peace and joy, but Nature also exempts Karma Yoga practitioners from accumulating negative karma, which makes our lives even better.

So, the next time you find yourself stuck in life’s monotony, remember the wisdom of Karma Yoga. While we may never escape the repetitive nature of existence, we possess the power to transform our perspective. By becoming the joyful hamster, we gracefully navigate life’s twists and turns.

Accept reality. Become the joyful hamster on the wheel. In it lies the key to contentment, inner peace, and joy.

Love,
Sri Devi Om