Acharya Mahaprajna
Change is born of two originals: The material cause and the instrumental cause. Competence becomes operational by combining with favourable circumstances.
If competence is ab initio absent, circumstances can be of no avail. Change occurs only when both original competence and favourable circumstances combine. The heat of the Sun makes the Earth intensely hot, but it has no effect on the sky. Even the sun cannot heat that which has no capacity to absorb heat.
Circumstances do not constitute merely an external environment. They are intertwined with both internal and external strands. Everything has its own natural characteristic. The first stra-nd in the texture of circumstances is the limitation of the natural characteristic.
Millet ripens in the rainy season, while gram ripens in winter. The second strand in the texture of circumstances is the limitation of time. A house has electricity. But if there is no one to activate the switch, the house is not lit. The third strand in the texture of circumstances is the limitation of human endeavour.
Man has in him an inherent instinct for light. Inherent instincts do not merely knock at the door of future achievements, they open it wide. The fourth strand in the texture of circumstances is the limitation of genetic traits or destiny.
The world is regulated by universal laws. One of the laws is constancy or eternality. Anything true is constant or eternal. The second law of the world is changeability or variability. Anything true is variable. The world has changed or transformed and will conti-nue to change on the basis of this law. Therefore, something changes and something becomes the cause of change. The fifth strand in the texture of circumstances is a fixed order of things of destiny - a universal law.
Many potentialities of a thing do not manifest themselves for want of proper circumstances. Even accumulated karmas do not fully fructify in the absence of suitable circumstances. Geographical environment affects the size, look and complexion of the body. Mental ups and downs and thoughts are influenced by external contacts. No man is immune to the effects of circumstances, so long as he is within their zone of influence. Happiness, elation, fear, grief - all these emotions are expressed as a result of circumstances. They disturb the balance of the mind. As a result, the mind becomes restless.
A mind firmed up by an understanding of transcience does not get afflicted by the joys and sorrows of meeting and separation. A mind firmed up with the knowledge of shelterlessness never feels helpless. A mind inspired by the feeling of oneness does not become sad in the face of social struggles. A mind animated by the feeling of friendliness is freed from the vicious circle of apprehension, mistrust, doubt, fear and malice. A mind given to mirth is not infested by jealousy. Cruelty disappears from the mind filled with compassion. The mind not given to extremes saves itself from anger and disappointment.
Contemplation, peace and happiness are causally related. No one can acquire peace without first destroying the inherited traits responsible for unrest. He who feels intensely happy in favourable circumstances cannot avoid being intensely sad in unfavourable circumstances. That man remains unaffected by circumstances who consecrates his consciousness and dedicated efforts with the experience of truth. Fire destroys many things, but it cannot destroy the non-existent. Only that mind is afflicted by circumstances which has not been animated by the contemplation of truth.