Supreme Gratification

Even today, death and reputation are some of principle concerns of the common person. As the Bhagavad-Gita explains, "for a man of honor, shame is worse that death" (36.34). When someone is shunned by society, to some, it may appear as if death has engulfed them. For us to become "gradually tranquil, firmly controlling his understanding; focusing his mind on the self, he should think nothing" (68.25), we should be unconditionally grateful for what we have. Only by this shall we lack the desire of that which is not up to us, that which binds us to our fears and cravings.

According to The Handbook of Epictetus, we must consider the worst of possibilities in order to be grateful for the way our life turns out: "Let death and exile and everything that is terrible appear before your eyes every day, especially death; and you will never have anything contemptible in your thoughts or crave anything excessively" (16.21). We must discipline ourselves to be confident of the joy we find within ourselves, for, as the Gita teaches, "an ignorant man is lost, faithless, and filled with self-doubt; a soul that harbors doubt has no joy, not in this world or the next" (56.40). We must be eternally content with what we have and find joy within ourselves to be rid of the shackles of fear and materialism.