How to overcome evil tendencies?

How to overcome evil tendencies?

Just as darkness cannot be dispelled by darkness but by light alone, even so, the evil tendencies that have roots in ignorance can be annihilated only by divine wisdom. Divine qualities like unconditional love, wisdom, peace, joy as well as sinful tendencies like jealousy, hatred, anger, slandering co-exist in every human being.

We all want to make this world a better place by eradicating evil. But it is impossible for one person to do that. If each one of us only takes responsibility of himself by eradicating the wrongful habits and replacing them with good ones, then as a whole, we can make this world a better place. For most often than not, it is people who are creating problems for other people.

When we are unhappy, let us meditate on joy, and simultaneously eliminate the root cause of our sadness. When we are jealous, let us remind ourselves that we are all one big family, and therefore, we wish health, wealth and success for our brothers. When we are filled with hatred, let us meditate on courage, kindness and forgiveness. As we install these ideas in our subconscious mind, we begin to see physiological changes too as our body reacts accordingly. When a sad thought is introduced to our mind, for example, by watching a sad movie, tears start rolling down our cheeks. Similarly, a funny thought makes us laugh. Therefore, if we can learn to control our mind, we can control our body too. As the mind thinks, the body reacts.

Every saint was once a sinner and every sinner will one day become a saint. We are all evolving towards our highest potential. As we are all children of God, we have the potential to be God-like.

Instead of trying to control other people and situations, we must try to control ourselves. Let us make our life an upward climb, where we rise from gross lower chakras with sinful tendencies to purer higher chakras and thus exhibit divine qualities like love, wisdom, peace, compassion, forgiveness and joy.

- Shikha Narula (Author of 'Autobiography of a Shiva Devotee')