uestion: I have a vision defect which, with other problems, leads to despair
and a feeling that I am only awaiting death. What can I do?
ri Gurudev: What a pity. Why should you await death? Don't think that seeing with
the eyes is the most important thing. Do you think people who can see well are
happy just because of that? In a way, you are fortunate. I tell this even to
blind people. How many problems are caused by the things people see? The
physical senses can be a tremendous distraction. If you have them, take care of
them and use them well. If you don't have them, don't worry about it; just
forget it. You still have your beautiful mind, your beautiful soul. Many, many
people who have limited physical sight, or even no physical sight at all, do
great things. You shouldn't be discouraged.
f there is an operation that will help your condition, certainly try it. If
there is no possibility of correcting it, it doesn't matter. Accept it as what
God wanted you to have. The minute you learn to accept something, it is no
longer that troublesome. You can live with anything and everything. Haven't you
known of people in worse conditions living happily and usefully? The problem is
in the mind. If you just accept it, it becomes very easy, very light.
f you want to feel bad, you have many hundreds of excuses; but if you want to
be happy, you can be happy without any of these things. It's useless to worry
about them. After all, it's just a body. The so-called limitations should not
spoil your joy. Remind yourself: "I'm not the body. I'm not even the mind.
I'm the spirit." Laugh at it and be brave.
