Faith column | March 4, 2026

Can a person enamoured by a shadow ever hope to catch it, when its very nature is illusory? Worldly pleasures are like shadows —appearing attractive, yet lacking substance. By running after them, one can never attain lasting peace or true happiness, for they are impermanent and fleeting.

Likewise, building a house on water is like living without discipline; such a foundation is unstable and may collapse at any moment. Therefore, we must not allow our minds to be driven by unchecked influence from the physical senses; instead, we must anchor them in restraint, clarity, and discernment.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that when the mind follows the wandering senses and indulges in their objects, a person’s understanding is swept away — just as a ship on the ocean is carried off its course by a strong wind (chapter-2-Verse 67).

In a discourse, Thanneerpalli Sri Krishnan Swami emphasised that one should not allow the mind to run after worldly objects, but instead turn it inward toward self-realisation. Echoing this teaching, Krishna declares in the Gita that we should engage in actions that constantly remind us of Him. Such actions are not arbitrary; they are those enjoined by the Srutis and Smrtis. By performing prescribed duties with remembrance of the Lord, the mind is purified, disciplined, and gradually led away from illusion toward true knowledge of the Self.

If we engage in actions that are ultra vires the Sastras and Smritis and yet pray to God, it is doubtful whether such worship will truly please Him. Prayer cannot compensate for conduct that contradicts scriptural injunctions. True devotion lies in aligning one’s actions with what is ordained by the Sastras and Smritis; only then does prayer become sincere, meaningful, and acceptable to God.