PAROPAKAR – THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS
God has produced various creatures to beautify this earth, but the most beautiful creation of God is the human being. Perhaps we understand it but we do not realize it. Had we realized it, we would have spread beauty everywhere. Beautiful flowers make a garden beautiful and please others but how much we please others or how much we are pleased is a question which nobody can answer truthfully. Our mind is full of anxieties and under despondency whether we will get the desired object or not, and this despondency is permanent because as soon as we are in the possession of that object we use it for a while (we call it Bhoga) and try to use (bhoga) something new as the charm and beauty vanishes of that used object. Every day it happens and we make a mindset that this process of using different objects (of Bhoga) is called life.
Life however is a journey with a beautiful purpose and when your purpose is beautiful, despite difficulties you look happy and beautiful. For instance if you organizing a party at home you are busy and get tired but still you welcome your guests with smile and treat them well. Now the question is – what is that beautiful purpose which pleases us throughout our life?
And the answer is ‘Paropakar’, which means to help and bless others.
Hindu mythology considers it as one of the beautiful ways to attain the enduring happiness and God. God is the greatest donator who donates everything without any expectation of a return. According to a Shloka in Sanskrit:
‘Paropakaraya Falanti Vrikshah, Paropakaraya vahanti Nadhyah, Paropakaraya duhanti Gawah, Paropakaraya vayam shariram’.
Meaning: – Trees are fruitful for others not for themselves, Rivers flow for others, Cow’s milk for others, similarly our body is an instrument for benefaction.
One more shloka concludes the 18 Puranas (great epics of Hinduism), written by Vedavyaas:
‘Ashtadasa Puraneshu Vyasasya Vachanadwayam, Paropakaraya punyaya, Paapaya Parapeedanam’.
Meaning: – Eighteen Puranas which were written by Vedavyaas can be concluded with only two statements, Paropakar (benefacting others) is the best morality and hurting others is the biggest sin.
The reason why Paropakar is the source of a permanent smile is that when we give something without any expectation from the receiver, we are not worried about any result in the future even an appreciation and when there is no expectation or anticipation, it becomes ‘Nishkaam Karma’ (an action without any expectation.) It means the result of that particular action will not affect my feelings. One more thing to learn is that a Paropakar is done when our heart is full of mercy and love. Mercy and love take us near the almighty and we attain the everlasting pleasure which we look for the entire life.
