Universal Sense
The Blueprint For Success
By
Balasa Prasad M.D
Smashwords Edition
Published by
Balasa Prasad on Smashwords
Copyright© Balasa Prasad 2010
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Acknowledgement
We thank Heidi Bell for being such a talented editor
&
Nishan for being so patient through the making of this E-book
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A few words:
The essence of our existence on this planet is survival—the struggle to lead secure, productive, and gratifying lives in a constantly changing and complex world. In times marked by rising unemployment and cost of living, a fragile economy, and global competition for limited resources, the quest for survival becomes even more challenging. It is therefore a breath of fresh air to discover a method of success that requires only applying specific principles and strategies to one’s life—the principals and strategies of Universal Sense. Universal Sense: The Blueprint for Success is a practical guide designed to help all people navigate life’s challenges.
We have developed and electronically distributed this book free of charge with the intention of sharing this common-sense wisdom with the world. Universal Sense can be used by any human being under any circumstance, hence enabling those with a willingness to learn and apply these principles to succeed in whatever they do. Although some of the information may not be new to you, we hope you find the ways in which we have woven the ideas together unique, powerful, and above all, practical. Our wish is that every person who journeys through the pages of this e-book arrive at a new level of insight and thereby a better life.
Balasa Prasad, M.D.
Preetham Grandhi, M.D.
Vasantha Prasad
Bindu Grandhi
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Universal Sense: The Blueprint for Success
Introduction: What is Universal Sense?
Chapter 1: Acknowledging Nature (Our Maker)
Chapter 2: Nature’s Mandate
Chapter 3: Knowing Yourself
Chapter 4: Finding Your Place in the World
Chapter 5: Defining Your Mission and Executing It
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Introduction: What is Universal Sense?
What is success? Is it making a billion dollars in a lifetime, attaining a powerful position as head of a company or country, or earning a Nobel Prize? I posed this question to a group of colleagues and employees at my workplace, expecting a straightforward answer. A few people equated success with wealth—earning lots of money, owning a nice home and a fancy car, and taking exotic vacations. Others believed that the manner in which one accumulates wealth is more important than wealth itself. They cited Bill Gates as an example of success, unlike drug kingpin Pablo Escobar of Colombia. Fewer people took a philosophical view, stating that success is having peace of mind and good health. In the end, while the question was simple, the answers were not.
If power, prestige, and privilege are not true indicators of success, then what is? While I pondered the question, I remembered a conversation I had had with my mother long ago. I was a brash young man who had just graduated from medical school, and I boldly presented my ambitious plans to my mother. I told her that I would seek out the best surgical training and open up my own center. I would author brilliant research papers, conduct seminars, and in short make lots of money. Maybe the world would recognize my accomplishments and a Nobel Prize would be in the offing!
My mother listened patiently to my rambling ideas. Then she gave a small smile and commented, “Son, listen to me carefully. If you want to be successful in life, don’t chase after fame and fortune.” I was taken aback by her remark, but I cared for, respected, and admired her too deeply to ignore her advice. After recovering from my initial shock, I asked her, “If I’m not supposed to chase after these things, what should I do? After all, aren’t fame and fortune the measure of true success?” She replied with an emphatic “No.” She said, “If you chase after fame, fortune, power, and privilege in life, you will remain a slave to them. Instead, behave in a noble fashion by utilizing your god-given talents and opportunities to make this world a little better, while at the same time protecting your self-interest. Then fame, fortune, power and privilege will chase after you and beg you to own them.”
She saw that I was even more confused and further explained, “Son, true success is a state of mind that is reflected in your outlook and attitude, not in the trinkets, prizes, and wealth that you amass. Strive to heal the illnesses of your patients because you care for them and are sympathetic to their pain and suffering. Only after you have thought of them should you think about your bank account.” She continued, “Son, you are a bright boy and a hard worker, and I am already proud of you! You do not have to win medals or build mansions to impress me or anyone else.”
That conversation left an everlasting impression on me. Over the years, the combination of my mother’s advice and my own knowledge and experience has culminated in the following insight into the true meaning of success:
Success is the elation and excitement triggered by a sense of accomplishment.
“Accomplishment,” however, is a relative term. Individuals feel a sense of accomplishment based on their own priorities and expectations. For example, a recreational golfer who enjoys the game and the social camaraderie that goes along with it is less likely to be disappointed about his performance compared to a professional golfer whose livelihood depends on the caliber of his game.
With my mother’s advice still fresh in my mind, at the ripe age of twenty-three, I left India with my eighteen-year-old wife in pursuit of a successful career and a bright future in England. But I was off to a shaky start, disheartened when I failed to obtain a residency in medicine or any surgical specialty. After months of hard work, I was offered a temporary assignment in a psychiatric residency program. Psychiatry was my last choice for a residency. Thus I experienced my first taste of patience and humility, which are the two most integral components of Universal Sense.
My options were to either accept the assignment or return to India. After due consideration, I chose to stay and accept the residency for several reasons. First, if I returned home to the security my parents provided, I would be acting as a dependent child rather than a grown man. Instead, I wanted to bear the responsibility of providing for my own family. Second, the world was unlikely to ever bend over backward to accommodate my whims and fancies; I would have to work hard for what I wanted. Third, I would have to make the best of the opportunity presented to me while waiting patiently for the opportunity of my choice. Fourth, in the face of adversity I could not afford to get upset and give up on my goals. Finally, looking down on the residency I had been offered—or anything or anyone, for that matter—was a mistake. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was this training in psychiatry that would enable me to have clear insight into the human mind. In fact, this book is the culmination of my experience and the knowledge I have gained by helping thousands of patients to combat stress and conquer addictions, fears, and phobias over the past the twenty-eight years.
It was my patience and perseverance that enabled me to complete a psychiatric residency and a subsequent medical residency to become a general practitioner in one of London’s prestigious family practice centers. A few years later, I completed an anesthesia residency program in New York and shortly thereafter became the chairman of the anesthesia department in a community hospital. I am proud of my accomplishments in all aspects of my life. I firmly believe that if I can succeed, anyone with pride, patience, and perseverance can be successful in his or her life.
I owe my success to Universal Sense. Universal Sense is an English translation of the Sanskrit phrase vishwa jnanam. Vishwa means “all pervasive,” and jnanam means “knowledge.” Universal Sense reflects the laws of Nature, the awareness of which can empower an individual to lead a secure, productive, and gratifying life. Once a person becomes truly aware, he or she can then choose the correct path toward success. According to the principles of Universal Sense, when one is fully aware, success comes naturally, which is why Universal Sense is “the blueprint for success.”
We have no say about our arrival or our span of time on this planet. However, we have absolute control over how we lead our lives until we exit this world. Like it or not, here we are at the behest of our Maker, and we must make the most of what we have been given. To complete this assignment successfully, we must first comprehend the three dimensions that influence our lives on this earth: Self, Nature, and the World. Imagine your passage on this earth as a sphere, which I call the Sphere of Life, suspended in the center of an inverted triangle with little wiggle room. [Diagram 1]
Your task is to master the art of balancing this sphere forever within the tight space, standing alone at the bottom of the triangle. The other two corners are occupied by Nature and the World, which exert considerable impact on the Sphere of Life.
Be savvy and smart and take advantage of input from Nature and the World to better balance the Sphere of Life. If you approach the task as a chore, you will be disenchanted, disillusioned and discouraged. Eventually, you will end up drifting aimlessly—from one job to the next, one relationship to the next, one place to the next. Your search for easy answers might even cause you to seek out relief in the form of prescription medications or addictive drugs. But if you consider the balancing act a worthy challenge, you will forever maintain your spirit and stamina. Take the simple example of learning to ride a bicycle. Balancing on a bike is difficult if you’ve never ridden one. But if you give up without succeeding, not only will you never enjoy a bike ride, you will also never experience the pride and confidence that results from completing a challenging task. If you perceive balancing the Sphere of Life as a challenge rather than a burden, and if you persevere until you master the skill, the possibilities of what you might accomplish are infinite.
As we work to balance Self, Nature, and the World, our minds need an irrefutable, sensible system to guide them in their interactions with the universe, just as the body needs a strong backbone and a pair of legs upon which to stand. Universal Sense is such a system. It provides insight into the realities of life, enabling anyone who uses it to develop the necessary patience, foresight, and fortitude to reach his or her full potential.
Universal Sense reaches beyond religious differences, beyond ethnic distinctions and beyond geographical boundaries. Through Universal Sense, you can acquire, among many other things:
1. The skills to reach your full potential as a parent, athlete, or professional.
2. The wisdom you need to weigh the risks and rewards associated with crucial decisions.
3. The understanding you need to overcome obstacles on the road to success.
4. The discipline to combat adverse situations—including addictions, such as overeating, smoking, alcohol, cocaine, and gambling.
5. The strength to conquer fears, phobias, and insecurities.
Universal Sense can be achieved in four steps:
Step 1: Acknowledge Nature (Our Maker)
Step 2: Understand Nature’s Mandate
Step 3: Know Yourself
Step 4: Find Your Place in the World
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Chapter 1: Acknowledging Nature (Our Maker)
Traditionally, humans have looked to God to answer unanswerable questions, such as “Who made us?” and “Why are we here?” Unfortunately, when pious humans conceived of God, their conception was limited to a God they could see and touch, a higher power with whom they could actively interact. They assigned to God a physical form, a gender, and emotional attributes, thereby planting the seed for organized religion.
God in organized religion is often portrayed as a glorified human being—omnipotent, compassionate, and forgiving. The problem with the God of organized religion is that different groups identify God in unique physical forms, assign Him various characteristics, and create sets of rules to which they pledge their allegiance. Those who disagree with and question the veracity of one group’s concept of God become a threat to that group’s identity, beliefs, and security. Naturally, any group devoted to a certain God would protect their particular beliefs and interests at any cost.
Throughout history, priests and kings—men with influence—have used organized religion to advance their own agendas. They have found ways to control the masses by tapping into basic human insecurities and stoking passion in the name of God. In many instances, organized religion has been used by leaders as a political tool to enhance a particular powerbase. This use of religion has done a grave disservice to humankind by polarizing religious groups and nurturing mistrust among people, rather than uniting people under one banner to work for a common good.
How have we allowed religion to play such a negative role in human history? How have we failed to fix the problems that spirituality might so readily address? Religion, like a mother tongue, offers an individual identity and a sense of belonging. For fear of losing these benefits, we are reluctant to challenge an established religious ideology. We are usually unwilling to confront an entrenched concept unless it poses a direct threat to our survival.
While religious zealots were busy selling their version of God to the masses, a few intellectuals went on a spiritual expedition to understand our Maker as it exists. These philosophers and seekers remind us that neither we nor our ancestors created this world or the universe. In fact, with all the progress we have made in science and technology, we have yet to fathom the basic secrets of Nature. Consider a simple concept like gravity, which took a long time for us to theorize. Even now, we are unable to explain the source of gravity and the existence of dark matter that prevails in the universe. Who designed the universe? How do we explain our existence— the energy source that animates our bodies (i.e., our souls) and the time, place and circumstances of our arrival and departure from this earth? When we recognize the sheer number of inexplicable aspects surrounding us, in our own world and beyond, most of us conclude that there is a force much greater than us at work in the universe. I call this force Nature or our Maker, and I believe it is responsible for creating, regulating, and managing the universe and its inhabitants.
Once we acknowledge Nature and understand its attributes, we have the option to shape our actions accordingly. We all need a spiritual reference point to guide our thoughts and actions. Our Maker, Nature, serves this purpose, drawing a clear line between right and wrong. The absence of direct and corroborative evidence of our Maker’s existence does not mean it does not exist. Belief and faith in a higher power is a mainstay of human cultures the world over, despite the absence of absolute proof of its existence. We might even argue that spiritual belief is an inescapable part of human culture. Believing in a perfect and absolute higher power is a crucial step in life if any of us is to enjoy stability, as it is faith that offers a firm anchor to our thoughts and a balance to our baser tendencies. Belief in our Maker encourages us to both to care for ourselves and to think of how our actions affect our fellow human beings.
Belief in a higher power takes many forms. A Catholic and a Muslim both believe in one God and the possibility of a rewarding afterlife. A Jew believes in an Old Testament God and atonement during this lifetime. Hindus and Buddhists believe in God and reincarnation. While an atheist might reject the idea of God, he or she most likely has faith in the power of the Higher Self. Underlying the specific differences in these spiritual philosophies is a desire to hold individuals accountable for their actions. Good-natured Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and atheists strive to make this world a better place by holding themselves and others accountable for the good of society. Accountability balances the opposite human tendency toward selfishness and irresponsibility. Accountability is the cornerstone of an individual’s healthy attitude and the crux of a civilized society. When both individuals and cultures value accountability, the result is a peaceful, prosperous and productive world.
Let us examine what would happen if we felt accountable only to ourselves. History shows that the abuse human beings perpetrate on one another knows no boundaries. Many individuals even take advantage of a situation by asserting their belief in the greater good of humanity but acting in a way that benefits only them. We cannot expect individuals to police themselves and be accountable for their actions; the result would be disastrous.
We also cannot hold each other accountable on a spiritual level, since it is humanly impossible to survey each other’s thoughts and intentions. If an individual is cunning and crafty, he or she can commit venal acts without detection, thereby escaping any legal or social penalty that might exist. The very idea that one individual can cheat another and get away with it is temptation enough for many people to act on their selfish impulses. As a result, our ancestors came up with the following strategy: let each of us be accountable to a higher power—God.
This strategy would work without a hitch if only we could demonstrate how God handles the issue of accountability. Unfortunately, there are many instances in which a crafty villain cheats, loots, commits despicable acts, and lives happily ever after incognito. It would appear in these instances that both society and God have failed to recognize the misdeeds of that individual and hold him or her accountable. But has such an evildoer truly escaped from our Maker?
No two human beings are born with the same advantages or disadvantages in life. Some lucky individuals are born healthy, attractive, talented, and surrounded by loving, caring, affluent families. For these individuals, just by virtue of the circumstances they are born into, many opportunities are available to them, and they tend to enjoy stress-free, happy, wonderful lives. On the other hand, many unlucky individuals are born with mental, physical, spiritual, and situational challenges. For instance, a baby born to an irresponsible, immature, selfish drug addict or prostitute has to fight every step of the way just to survive. Unlucky individuals may ask what have they done wrong to deserve this kind of treatment. They might wonder why are they being punished for no fault of their own. The real question here is why are some people born with all the advantages while others are not?
To explain this inequity, some religions argue that our Maker punishes an individual soul for its past deeds through reincarnation. The idea of reincarnation says that after death, each of us returns to this world or another to pay the dues for our misdeeds in this lifetime. No one can demonstrate scientifically the validity of this concept. However, logic above even spiritual certainty compels me to believe in reincarnation. This concept has certainly put me on notice and prompted me to be accountable for my actions in every area of my life. My belief in reincarnation discourages me from behaving as I please without regard for the well-being of others.
Let us now, regardless of our individual religious beliefs, entertain the possibility that our ancestors made an unfortunate error in assigning human attributes to the force that made the universe and us, its inhabitants. Let us consider the possibility that our Maker is an enigmatic, eternal, invisible but invincible entity with an agenda of its own: justice in its purest form, light in its brightest form, energy in its cleanest form, and the truth in its absolute form. Our Maker is the one and only perfect force that permeates the universe. Its domain is beyond our comprehension. Our Maker, Nature, is not human or humanoid. It has neither a physical form nor a compassionate disposition. We are accountable to Nature; Nature is not accountable to us. Nature has set terms and conditions for the existence of this world and its inhabitants. Its priorities are not the same as ours. For instance, species have come and gone over the ages, but life has continued to exist in one form or another. While we should care about the preservation of other species to protect our own interests and the balance of life on our planet, we should also understand that Nature is concerned not with any specific life form, but only with the existence of a life form.
It is in our best interest to understand Nature as it exists and relate to it on its terms. Nature is a perfect force; therefore forgiveness is not a necessary part of its vocabulary. Forgiveness is in fact human rather than divine. Because we are human and thus imperfect, we make mistakes. Resolution of our mistakes does not come from Nature. The only resolution is to acknowledge what we have done wrong, correct it if possible, and learn a valuable lesson from it. Most importantly, we must endure the consequences of our mistakes with courage and strength. Finally, we must forgive ourselves and one another to close the chapter and move forward. We must strive to be perfect like Nature but at the same time understand that we never will reach that goal. It must be enough for us to improve—to learn and grow—knowing that perfection is not possible in this lifetime.
It is not uncommon or unrealistic, however, to expect our hard work to pay off within our lifespan, although we must keep in mind that Nature’s awareness of time is vastly different from our own. The time between a human birth and a human death is a speck compared to eternity. Indeed, future generations often reap the benefits of a current generation’s hard work. We must understand that despite all our efforts, progress may be delivered to us piecemeal or otherwise not in the manner we expect. Building beautiful lives for ourselves while also trying to make this world a better place may take a very long time, because progress is scheduled on Nature’s timeline, not on ours. Once we realize the nature of progress, we are suddenly able to keep sight of the noblest of goals, to move forward with patience rather than disappointment or discouragement. Acknowledging Nature helps us to focus on the process and not distress over the final outcome.
Connecting with our Maker, Nature, helps us to recognize the realities of human life on Earth. It encourages humility. It helps us to avoid the kinds of mistakes that come with characterizing God in human terms, and it also gives us the courage to accept responsibility when we do make mistakes. The more fully we understand Nature and the closer we are aligned with it, the more refined our behavior will be, and the happier we will be in our lives.
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Chapter 2: Nature’s Mandates (The Laws of Nature)
Our Maker, Nature, is responsible for the creation of the universe and all its inhabitants. It has set the fundamental guidelines for our survival. While ultimately our Maker will remain a mystery to us, when we connect with it on a personal level, we gain valuable insight into its terms and conditions for our existence. Our Maker has provided each of us with a powerful imagination. By utilizing it, we can recognize our Maker’s true intentions and use them to our further our missions. Because each of us is unique, we each have a unique relationship with Nature. Therefore, we must each connect with Nature alone, without relying on our fellow human beings’ interpretations of how to carry out Nature’s mandates.
What if an individual is incapable of recognizing the mandates of Nature by virtue of a mental or physical disability? It is an unfortunate and bitter reality of life that an individual born with a disability is destined to struggle more than the rest of us and to depend more upon on the mercy of fellow human beings just to survive. We are obligated to remember that Nature has created—for its own reasons and purposes—those of us with disabilities. We must also remember that lucky people born with few or no disabilities have the added responsibility and duty to care for and protect our less fortunate human counterparts. Rendering assistance to a less fortunate individual without expecting any kind of reward is the most refined form of human behavior.
What of those of us who are not confident in our understanding of our Maker, Nature? When we are comfortable with ourselves, we can rest assured that our interpretation of our Maker’s rules is as good as or better than that of other people. Comparing notes with other people about this issue is tantamount to the blind leading the blind. Although the majority of us instinctively understand the rules our Maker has designated, many of us do not like them. Thus, we try to ignore them or interpret them to our liking. A person who is willing to recognize, accept, and implement Nature’s fundamental rules and regulations without manipulation will have fewer problems in life. For instance, if Nature has provided a person with a healthy body, according to Nature, it is that person’s primary duty to take good care of that body if it is expected it to serve the person well. Is it difficult to understand this fundamental rule of our Maker? No. Yet many people disrespect their bodies in more ways than one and take their health for granted.
One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand, for example, that the lungs are designed for specific purposes—to provide vital elements such as oxygen to the body and to remove unwanted toxic gases such as carbon dioxide from the body. Yet, in spite of warning labels and the possibility of arrest, people in cultures the world over continue to smoke poisons such as tobacco, marijuana, and crack cocaine, which harm their bodies and, often, their chances of success in the world. Why? Many people find ingesting chemicals soothing or thrilling to the mind, and they are less inclined to pay attention to the long-term effects these substances have on the body. Similarly, people who overeat focus on the pleasure they derive from eating food rather than paying attention to their physical health. Sensible eating is another fundamental rule of our Maker. Most of us understand this fact but are unwilling to follow it because it is not to our liking. People often indulge in behavior whose reward is immediate gratification rather than paying attention to the long-term effects of such behavior.
In addition to food and chemical substances, power, prestige, and privilege are major factors that corrupt people and prompt them to manipulate Nature’s ground rules. These three p’s are indeed appealing and enticing, especially in the political and corporate arenas. Acts of political corruption and corporate greed are purported by none other than the elite—the well-educated, sophisticated, and intelligent—members of society. These perpetrators need no lessons in Nature’s mandates. They understand the rules all too well, but they have chosen to ignore them, perhaps because they see themselves as exempt from such moral regulations. However, one of the fundamental rules of Nature is that we must not hurt others for explicit advantage. Similarly, Nature forbids us from hurting ourselves, for when people do not care about hurting themselves, how can they truly care whether they hurt others? Unless we respect ourselves, we will be incapable of respecting others.
Individuals, such as terrorists, who commit atrocities in the name of God, are the worst kind of cowardly barbarians. They claim they are doing God’s work to make this world a better place, but they are motivated not by Nature’s mandates but by their own agendas, causing tremendous damage to others and to this world. Despite their declaration of holy work, such people—like all of us—will be held accountable for their actions. By the same token, their followers who may not have directly committed any violence will be held equally responsible for blindly supporting these individuals. Our Maker never bends or alters its mandates of survival to accommodate anyone.
In reality, it is not difficult for an average person to understand Nature’s straightforward, fundamental terms and conditions, but it is not so simple to follow them. Our Maker has given us the freedom and privilege to define our missions and choose our goals in life, but it holds us accountable for following the path that it has laid out for every goal we choose. If we attempt to reach our goals but fail to take responsibility for our actions, not only do we suffer a great deal, but the world also suffers. Even though we are Nature’s own imperfect specimens, we cannot expect our Maker to come to our rescue when we make mistakes. Nature is an unfettered, rigid, and perfect force. What irony—that we exist as an imperfection within the perfection that is Nature.
The principle is clear: we can accept Nature’s terms and utilize our talents wisely to make the most of our limited time on earth, or we can attempt to live carefree, exciting lives on our own terms and hope for the best. Unfortunately, most people opt for the latter choice and are rudely awakened when faced with the consequences of their decisions and actions. Nature applies the law of cause and effect across the board without exception. A clever few explore a third option: they accept and abide by the laws of Nature that appeal to them and ignore those that don’t, hoping to lead a healthy, happy life. The truth of the matter is that we cannot break the laws of Nature and spend life behaving just as we please and expect to come out ahead. Nature’s mandates forbid it.
At times, we might feel that certain rules of Nature are unfair. As has been established, Nature does not concern itself with what is fair or unfair on human terms. When we meet our Maker, we are free to present a list of grievances. But there will very likely be a long line with no sympathetic ear at the end of it. Human beings do not have the luxury of taking action based solely on our likes and dislikes. We must instead base our actions on what is and what is not in our best interest. Consider, for example, the two most common self-inflicted problems that face affluent societies (such as the United States)—alcoholism and obesity. An alcoholic who wishes to tackle his addiction has two choices. The first is based on his terms, which are fraught with cheap excuses and explanations such as:
1. My body craves alcohol due to its genetic disposition, making it impossible for me to quit.
2. I enjoy the effects of alcohol on my psyche—it is soothing, comforting, and relaxing. Even though I’ve gotten traffic tickets for driving while intoxicated, and my drinking has disrupted my home life, work performance, and finances, I’ll try to reduce my alcohol consumption, but I am not willing to cut it out of my life.
3. Many of my friends can control their liquor consumption, so I can, too.
These individuals are trying to have their cake and eat it, too. They break every law of Nature in attempt to reach their goals of comfort and ease, only to fail miserably in the end.
If you are tuned in to Nature, it will teach you valuable lessons at every step of your life. Brilliant individuals learn such lessons the easy way; intelligent people learn them the hard way; and ignorant people never learn any lessons and blame the world for their misery. Learning lessons from Nature is not only a gratifying experience, but also a humbling one. An alcoholic who is committed to cleaning up his act must follow the laws of Nature, which dictate:
1. We must acknowledge that ultimately we are responsible for bringing any scourge into our lives—not our genetics or environment.
2. Nature will accept no excuse or explanation for human inability or unwillingness to take proper corrective measures. It holds us responsible for our actions and dispenses consequences accordingly.
3. It is impossible to control an addiction to our liking. We must instead conquer the addiction by accepting that we must give up the addiction, such as alcohol consumption, permanently, without asking any questions. The recovering alcoholic may miss alcohol for a short period of time, but he or she, once having accepted Nature’s mandate, will never have to face strong urges to indulge in alcohol again.
4. Nature requires that we make adjustments in our temperament, disposition, expectations, and lifestyle to succeed in beating an addiction permanently.
5. Alcohol might have helped an alcoholic to relax, to unwind from a hard day’s work, to be more creative, or to enjoy a good social life. But in return it demands an individual’s soul. No one should sell his soul for any kind of benefit—mental, material, or monetary. In order to retrieve her soul, an addict must stop caring for her addiction and command it to exit her life permanently.
6. There is no free ride. Nature dictates that we must give something to get something back in life. When we give up an addiction, we are giving up the pleasure, thrill, or comfort in return for our health, peace of mind, and prosperity.
7. The philosophy of reincarnation characterizes alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and other addictive substances as devils. Whether we see these things as devils on a literal or symbolic level, we must remember that bargaining with a devil will never work out to our advantage.
8. As no two human beings are identical, no two addicts are identical. The bond between addict and addiction is defined by the individual and not by the substance. Each alcoholic must first understand the reasons for drinking and the need to drink. He or she must then design corrective measures that will suit his or her mental disposition and lifestyle. Only then will it be possible to renounce the addiction forever.
Similarly, the overweight among us may offer cheap excuses and explanations for their problem such as slow metabolism, time constraints, or unwilling to part with favorite foods. We look for shortcuts—appetite suppressants and fad diets—the first indication that our desire to maintain a healthy weight is not a commitment, but wishful thinking. If we are truly committed to maintaining a healthy weight forever, the laws of Nature dictate:
1. Food is primarily nutritional fuel for our bodies and not an emotional pet.
2. Our relationship with food must be determined by the body’s need for fuel rather than emotional needs. Some people burn more calories per day while others burn fewer. Through trial and error, we learn our bodies’ caloric and nutritional needs. Then we are free to select the type and quantity of food that also results in mental satisfaction.
3. Ultimately, caloric balance is a simple equation between input and output. When we eat more calories than our bodies burn, we gain weight; when we eat fewer calories, we lose weight; when we eat just the right amount, we maintain weight. We must resist turning this simple law of nature into a complex mathematical or chemical puzzle.
4. Our bodies need fuel on a daily basis. Therefore, those of us who tend to use food in ways other than as Nature intended must be vigilant and monitor why we eat, what we eat, when we eat, where we eat, and how much we eat for the rest of our lives. It is a difficult task, but those of us who struggle with obesity can’t escape it.
5. Our bodies need physical activity, and exercise makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Set aside at least thirty minutes a day or 3.5 hours a week for some form of physical fitness routine. Remember, the more weight we have on our bodies, the more difficult it is to exercise. We must avoid the catch-22 excuse—that we cannot possibly exercise until we lose some weight, and that we cannot lose weight until we exercise. The bottom line is that without an exercise plan we can neither lose weight nor maintain proper weight.
6. Whether a prominent or ordinary citizen of the world, managing a healthy weight has to be a daily, ongoing ritual forever. The sooner we embrace this concept, the sooner it will become a comfortable routine.
Let’s consider another example to illustrate how Nature’s mandates work in our lives—raising a family. Raising a family is an enormous challenge for all involved. If the trials of family life are taken in stride, it can also be a wonderful experience. When we entertain the idea of raising a family, there are many things to consider beforehand:
1. It is important to do our homework and take as much time as necessary to pick a compatible partner.
2. We must develop solid bonds with our partners through mutual caring, mutual respect, and mutual trust before we embrace the idea of bringing children into this world. If any one of these three aspects is missing in a relationship, the partnership will likely dissolve.
3. Both partners must be ready and willing to take on the task of raising a family before that task is begun.
4. To provide a safe and sound family environment for the arrival of children, we must make the necessary adjustments to our lifestyle.
5. Despite good intentions and preparations, taking care of children and guiding them toward a strong and productive adulthood is an on-the-job learning experience for any parent. However, parenting is more fruitful if there is a good understanding and working relationship between parents.
Parental infighting, parental addictions, and parental separation have great negative impact on the psyche of a child. A disruptive family environment fosters confusion and insecurity, which can lead to learning disabilities, poor social skills, lack of interest, lack of focus, and inability to engage in and complete a task. Ultimately, a child may withdraw from his immediate surroundings to escape the confusion of the home environment. To make matters worse for the child, such behavioral problems are often incorrectly labeled as depression or ADHD and treated with medications, the effects of which lead to more mental and physical problems.
Unfortunately, children of dysfunctional homes suffer serious consequences through no fault of their own and pay a heavy price for the rest of their lives. Make no mistake, parents’ emotional and behavioral problems certainly visit themselves on their children. The younger the child, the greater the impact. A few lucky children survive disruptive homes unscathed, but they are in the minority. Most children grow to be adults with adjustment problems. For these children and the adults they become, learning to abide by Nature’s mandates, whether through philosophy or psychotherapy, can address these adjustment problems. However, unlike adult behavioral difficulties such as obesity, some children’s behavioral problems are not the result of their environment but of genetic or innate deficits. Still other children have a combination of innate and behavioral deficits. It is important for the sake of a fulfilling family life that we understand these deficits and how Nature’s mandates can help overcome them.
Based on my study and experience, all behavioral issues stem from deficits in the brain, in the mind, or in a combination of the two. A computer model is useful in describing how the brain works, where the physical brain acts as the hardware, and the mind acts as the software; they are two separate but interdependent entities. Hardware problems—such as autism—are innate, whereas software issues—such as some mood disorders—are acquired. These differences make it imperative that we identify the roots of a childhood behavioral problem and treat it accordingly.
Many parents despair to learn that no device or drug can treat autism, since nothing can correct the traits in the brain that cause this ailment. Only intense personal attention and psychotherapy can make an appreciable improvement in an autistic child’s behavior. It is a tragic fact that the stress involved in managing autistic children has broken up many families. When both parents of an autistic child share the responsibility and support each other, however, the child can only benefit.
Similarly, evidence suggests that clinical depression is due to a chemical imbalance or defect in the hardware, or the brain itself, and should be treated with appropriate medication, supported by psychotherapy. However, the sensitive among us may react to disappointment and disenchantment with behavior resembling depression, which is frequently diagnosed as clinical depression and treated with medication to no avail. In such cases, it becomes apparent that the problem is a problem of the mind and should be treated instead through philosophical psychotherapy.
Generally, ADHD is treated with medications such as Adderall and Ritalin, because these conditions are considered to originate in the hardware, or brain. However, many children have been misdiagnosed with ADHD, and thus when they are treated with such medications, the results are disappointing. I have come to believe that many of these behavioral conditions are mainly software problems and have little to do with hardware. In these cases where hardware problems have been ruled out, psychotherapy based on the laws of Nature is an appropriate approach and yields gratifying results. However, many individuals with ADHD are too young to understand and adapt sound philosophical ideas. They may therefore need some form of pharmacological therapy until they are mature enough to make the best use of psychotherapy.
Nature’s essential message is clear: in this complex and complicated world, we can drum up excuses and rationalizations for refusing to take charge of our lives and as a result struggle needlessly and to no good end, or we can choose to look clearly and honestly at what Nature requires of us, simplify our struggle for survival, and enjoy our short passage on this planet.
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It may seem absurd that we need to make time to understand ourselves. Yet many of us have little or no idea who we are. We are under the impression that self-knowledge should happen automatically. As we have established, the onus for balancing the Sphere of Life lies with each one of us. We must first know ourselves before we take on the world. Taking the time to understand ourselves enables us to develop a set of personal views—namely, who we are, how we are different from others, how we might balance our strengths and weaknesses, and what we would like to accomplish in this life. We cannot shy away from objectively and sensibly taking full measure of our assets, our shortcomings, our interests, and our values. However, we must also understand that our view can only be one-sided and incomplete. To make this perspective complete and meaningful, we can compare it to Nature’s view.
Begin your own self-evaluation with your physical appearance—stand in front of a mirror and take a good, hard look at yourself. If you are lucky, the image you see is appealing in various ways. If you see nothing attractive about your reflection, first consider that your expectations might be unrealistic. Nature endows each of us with gifts. Even if you cannot approve fully of what you see in the mirror, accept what our Maker has given you to work with. Learn to respect your body’s strengths and tolerate its shortcomings. Then proceed to improve upon those aspects of your appearance that you might improve upon without harming yourself in any way. Don’t concern yourself with what others say about your looks. Comfort with the appearance Nature has given you leads to freedom and self-confidence.
A person distressed about his or her appearance becomes anxious and self-conscious in public settings. Eventually, such anxiety leads to exhaustion, bitterness, and depression that affect other areas of life. Such a chain reaction is triggered by a vanity complex, the irrational concern with physical appearance, which can transform a person into a socially awkward, professionally inadequate, sexually inhibited, and spiritually deprived individual. Naturally, such a person isolates herself or insulates himself from the world, perhaps by turning to alcohol or other prescription or non-prescription substances to soothe insecurities. This path is not what Nature has in mind. Acknowledging and accepting the physical body Nature has given you is an indispensable step in the quest for success.
Additionally, you must evaluate your physical health. The human body is a durable and amazing piece of machinery, aptly designed by Nature to meet its obligations. However, you must take good care of your body if you expect it to serve you well. Don’t overlook the nutritional aspects and physical activities that are vital to maintaining your health. Good health only occurs if you appreciate the body with which you are blessed and never take it for granted, regardless of what you see as its shortcomings. If you have been born with disabling attributes, understand and accept that these attributes are no fault of your own. All of our attributes are simply a reality of life. Clinging to bitterness or resentment over any shortcoming, real or imagined, can only make life more difficult. Capitalize on whatever physical strengths you might have, and whenever possible and appropriate, take advantage of sophisticated technology that mitigates your disability. Regardless of what Nature has given us, we are obligated to be the best we can be.
Next, explore the talents Nature has bestowed upon you. Most of us are born with a variety of talents and skills. By tapping into them, we develop tools for our survival. However, we should also aspire to go beyond our own survival and consider how we might utilize our talents to make this world a better place. We are all human beings trying to get by. Some of us are born into comfort and plenty, while others are born into hardship. But we occupy the same planet and all depend upon its vast resources to survive. Because we are all connected by this need, each of us is obligated to safeguard this world and help those who are less fortunate. This effort is hardly empty altruism, since the survival of our species depends upon our care for one another. Find ways to affect others in a positive way, and you will find a wonderful smile on your face. That sense of satisfaction is the key to experiencing unadulterated peace of mind, perhaps the most valuable commodity one can possess.
Determining our talents is relatively easy compared to the task of converting them into marketable assets. Before you can begin this task, you must first understand the internal dynamics of your mind—that mysterious entity capable of devising ingenious maneuvers to help us survive a harsh and ever-changing world. Your mind’s job is to protect your interests and to manipulate environmental factors to its advantage. When it fails to do so, your mind has no choice but to adapt grudgingly to the environmental requirements in order to survive. Unfortunately, when the environment and the goals of the mind are incompatible, the mind suffers, and the individual pays a heavy toll in health, happiness, and even survival. Obviously, the mind has an extremely difficult assignment, with little room for error.
The mind has three divisions— instinctual, intellectual, and emotional. Let’s examine the three divisions and the interplay among them to better grasp the role of the mind in relation to Nature and human survival.
THE INSTINCTUAL DIVISION: The instinctual division is the unconscious counterpart of the intellectual and emotional divisions. This part of the mind plays a crucial role in our struggle for survival, as it holds directives from Nature. Nature expresses its intent in the instinctual division via three basic directives:
1. Protect the self
2. Preserve the surrounding environment to support the self
3. Propagate the self
These fundamental directives operate in our minds as basic instincts: to secure shelter, to eat, to drink, to procreate. However, Nature has also made this division of the mind home to countless acquired or learned habits that help us fulfill Nature’s directives.
For lower-order animals, whose learning capacity is limited by meager intellect and a narrow range of emotions, instinctual behavior is much more prevalent than learned behavior. Humans are the opposite. Our wide range of advanced emotions complement an array of primitive emotions, both of which are interpreted by a powerful and versatile intellect. In this context, our learned behavior is not only capable of overshadowing instinctual behavior but also of modifying it. On an individual basis, we humans are even capable of interpreting Nature's directives and then choosing which habits we’d like to acquire in order to carry them out.
THE INTELLECTUAL DIVISION: This division harbors the pragmatic component of the mind, which we know as human intelligence. The components of this intelligence include reasoning, judgment, logic, discretion, calculation, imagination, analysis, and anticipation. By virtue of these components, the intellectual division is also known as the rational division of the human mind. It is the most complex and evolved section of the mind. Each aspect of the intellectual division exhibits a unique, natural gift of its own which comes in handy in fulfilling the responsibility of the intellect. The intellect is responsible for absorbing and analyzing the barrage of sensory information it receives from the environment and to program an appropriate response.
If the input from the environment were processed only in the intellectual division of the mind, without any interference or influence from the emotional division, the impression would be uniform and universal. Even people of diverse ethnic and geographical backgrounds would interpret a similar environment in the same way, as long as they were of similar intellectual caliber. But in reality, while many of us possess similar intellectual abilities, no two human beings are alike. We have not had the same life experiences. We do not have the same interests or make the same connections between data. We see the same set of facts from individual perspectives. Such diversity is caused primarily by the influence of the emotional division.
THE EMOTIONAL DIVISION: The emotional division of the mind, which we might characterize as the conscious counterpart of the intellectual mind, accommodates two sets of emotions—primitive and advanced. Primitive emotions include anger, rage, pain, pleasure, comfort, thrill, fear, fright, and selfishness. Humans share the capacity for primitive emotions with almost all larger (macroscopic) terrestrial organisms. Advanced emotions include love, caring, affection, passion, compassion, concern, grief, deceit, jealousy, hatred, greed, pride, and prejudice. We share advanced emotions with animal species of a higher intellectual order, such as primates and cetaceans. The type and the number of advanced emotions are determined by the level of intelligence of the animal species. On Earth, human beings are the only animals who display all levels of emotion, but the primitive emotions often remain the most potent. Love, affection, compassion, and concern are refined and under stress take a backseat to more powerful, primitive emotions, such as jealousy, greed, hatred, and vengeance. The human propensity to wage war comes from acting upon such primitive emotions.
All human beings are born with the same capacity for feeling and expressing emotions, but the influence of different emotions on the mind varies between individuals. For example, in some people rage and anger may have a stronger influence than compassion and tolerance. Likewise, in others, greed, jealousy, and selfishness may mute the influence of other advanced emotions. The emotional division, then, defines an individual’s overall disposition, attitude, and outlook. In fact, it is the emotional division that shapes each person’s character, response to the environment, and drive to initiate action. Without emotions, human beings would remain passive reactionaries. With emotions, we are often aggressive activists.
Human beings with intellect but no emotions would be closer to robots collecting data than human beings—expressionless, mechanical zombies programmed to survive. To illustrate, suppose a person crashes a car into a group of people, causing many injuries and deaths. Obviously the car, being a mechanical contraption, cannot show any emotion. It is under the control of the driver and does what it is directed to do. The driver, being in possession of an emotional division, might exhibit various responses to the accident, including grief, sorrow, fear, remorse, and self-loathing. In the aftermath of the accident, the driver may feel an overwhelming sense of fear for his safety. He might be overwhelmed by the physical, legal, and financial consequences of the accident. In this case, the emotional division of this person’s mind might, in order to ease its distress, direct the intellectual division to flee. Fear, an emotion, sets the tone, but the actual flight response is concocted in and implemented by the intellectual division. In an alternative scenario, the driver’s feelings of grief and compassion might lead the intellectual division to choose a different action—helping the victims and calling for an ambulance.
Our emotional division is like an orchestra, where different musicians represent different emotions. As we know, each musician and instrument in an orchestra is important. However if the musicians were not organized by virtue of their instruments’ pitch and tone, and if they were not in sync with the maestro and one another, the result would be pure cacophony instead of a melodious composition. Universal Sense, like an efficient maestro, knows how to organize each and every emotion, making sure that each emotion exerts the appropriate amount of influence on the policy-making process that is beneficial to the individual. Thus, Universal Sense maintains a balance within the emotional division and maintains harmony between the three divisions of the mind.
Understanding the internal dynamics of our minds enables us to recognize that talent alone is not enough to guarantee success in this world in our chosen field. Sometimes, Nature gives us intellectual talents and emotional interests that do not match. Unfortunately, it is only when the intellect and the emotions are playing in harmony that we can both recognize our talents and use them as tools of survival. With the backing of our emotions, the intellect can sharpen our innate talents and utilize them to our advantage. When an individual’s innate talent coincides with his interest, he will easily sharpen that talent into a marketable tool. On the other hand, when a person’s interests do not align with her talents, she will experience an internal conflict between her emotions and her instincts.
Consider, for example, a person who dreams of being an accomplished musician, but is born with little or no musical talent. Instead, she has the talent to become a good engineer. This person has three options: Option A: She accepts the disparity between her talent and her passion, and pursues an engineering profession. However, she may never rejoice in her achievements as an engineer, because her heart is not in it. Option B: She ignores her lack of natural talent and pursues her passion for music. But she must be prepared for disappointment if she is unable to reach her professional goals. This option may make her slightly unhappy, but she may also be at peace with herself and her choice. Option C: She disregards the disparity and agonizes over the cards that she has been dealt—feeling trapped and never finding her purpose in life.
The most prudent way to handle this dilemma—the way dictated by Universal Sense—is for her to utilize her talents and build an engineering career. Simultaneously, she can pursue her musical passion as a hobby and accept whatever level of musical proficiency she attains. In this scenario, she accepts and utilizes the strengths Nature has provided rather than becoming crippled by her shortcomings. Living with constant internal conflict saps our physical, mental, and spiritual energy. It is imperative that we connect with Nature in order to resolve any internal conflict between our strengths and weaknesses, our passions and priorities before we attempt to find our place in the World.
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