Many a time your parents, relatives and friends might have wished you a long life. What an auspicious wish! Our scriptures also express this wish by stating—'May we live for hundred years!'
Let us understand the implicit meaning of a long life.
A life, whether it is short or long, must be a good life. A good life is marked by virtues like love, compassion, service etc. It is also marked by love of God. It is vibrant with enthusiasm for others' good. A long life bereft of these marks is only a burden which Mother Earth carries on her shoulders. A short but good life is far better than a long life minus the marks of a good life.
Let us narrate to you a very inspiring incident of our hoary old past.
Sage Mrikanda worshipped Lord Siva for a long time to fulfil his desire to beget a child. The Lord appeared before him and said, "Do you want a child blessed with a long life but bereft of virtues or a virtuous child destined to live for a short period of time? Make a choice and tell me." It was a difficult question which kept the sage perplexed for some time. At last he said, "I want a virtuous child." The Lord said, "You will beget a virtuous son but he will live for sixteen years only." [And a son was born. He, Markandeya by name, pleased Lord Siva by his ardent devotion to him and was blessed with a long life.]
Note the noble choice made by Sage Mrikanda. Do you now understand that a virtuous life is far more valuable than a long life? It does not mean in any way that a long life is not desirable. What we are stressing is that it should also be a virtuous (good) life.
May you be blessed with a long life! Your life is not going to become good automatically. You have to make it a good life with conscious efforts. Ask your elders to tell you how to make your life a good life. Be in company with the saints to learn the lessons of a good life. Make every effort to make the flower-garden of your life fragrant with the flowers of goodness—of virtues. The whole Earth will then be filled with little messiahs of virtues in the forms of children like you.
Do not be charmed by the words 'Long Life'. A long life is not necessarily a good life. It should be disciplined by cultivating virtues, then it will become a good life.
Dear children, tell us what you think about what we have stated in this letter.
We await your reactions.
Affectionately yours,
The Divine Life Society Headquarters |
