Three Things We Must Never Allow to Control Us
The noble maxim, "We must never allow three things to control us,people, money, or past experiences," reflects the deepest truths of human existence.
Although human beings are born free, over time, they imprison themselves within social structures, desires, and their own memories.
To live life with its complete meaning and to attain true peace of mind, it is essential to break free from these three fetters.
1. People (The Trap of external Approval)
While it is natural for humans to live together as social beings, losing one's identity to the fear of "What will others think?" is the ultimate ignorance.
When we attach excessive importance to the criticisms, expectations, and judgments of those around us, we stop living for ourselves.
Mortgaging our individuality for the praise of others, or sacrificing our legitimate desires out of fear of their anger, is tantamount to allowing ourselves to be controlled.
When a person understands themselves fully, the unnecessary opinions of others cease to affect them.
Recognizing that respecting others is entirely different from shaping one's life according to their whims is the first realization of this philosophy.
2. Money (The Tool that Must Not Become the Master)
In today’s modern world, there is absolutely no denying that money is indispensable for survival.
However, money should remain a good servant that fulfills our needs,it must never become the master that governs our lives.
When greed and the obsession with accumulating wealth take control of a human being, they completely lose their morality, humanity, and peace of mind.
If money controls us, it means we are constantly running after it, destined never to be satisfied.
We must learn to view money merely as a tool, realizing that contentment and healthy relationships are the true wealth of life, far greater than material possessions.
The moment it becomes the power that dictates our moral values and happiness, we become enslaved to it. Learning to live with contentment by minimizing our desires is the only way to break free from the grip of money.
3. Past Experiences (The Cage of Yesterday)
Another weakness that easily enslaves the human mind is past experience.
The disappointments, failures, betrayals, or losses of the past cast a dark shadow over the present for many.
The fear that "it happened that way then, and it will happen the same way again" paralyzes people, preventing them from taking new initiatives.
The past should be a collection of lessons we have learned, not a prison that locks us away.
We must understand that we can never change the days that have gone by, but the power to shape the days to come lies solely in our present efforts.
The bitter memories of the past can only be transcended through 'forgiveness' and 'forgetting.'
The non-violence, mindfulness, and detachment taught by the Buddha point precisely toward breaking free from these three bondages.
Liberation from the grip of people grants freedom to the soul.
Liberation from the grip of money brings a sublime bliss free of greed.
Liberation from the grip of the past bestows a mindfulness that transcends time.
When a person brings these three aspects under their own control, they no longer seek the validation of others, they do not cling to material objects, and they do not waste time dwelling on old stories.
They transform into a completely free, peaceful, and evolved human being.
Life is a sublime opportunity granted to us only once.
It is unwise to mortgage it for other people, for mere paper money, or for a past that has already ended.
Life attains fulfillment only when we look beyond these three things, listen to the voice of our inner self, and live on the path of righteousness (Dharma).
Breaking the shackles that surround us and living with self-reliance and peace of mind is the true philosophy of life and its most magnificent reflection.
With Love,
Sakthi Sakthithasan
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