Transformation of an insensitive addict
Raja began his day with Bacchus and ended it with consumption of more Bacchus. And during the day too he consumed
Bacchus. This was his quotidian routine which he
followed unflinchingly.
One particular night in an inebriated state, he went
to a parish in the neighborhood and broke down. The priest consoled him and
narrated his own story. Apparently the savant of God was once addicted to
morphine and snake bites.
Raja’s body chilled and he remained transfixed, gazing at the
cross and hoping for redemption.
But this inconsiderate person, hosting an insensitive mind over a period
of time had become a pitiless addict.
Next morning once again in a state of stupor, he landed at the
doorstep of Satya Sai Baba’s temple. The priest was performing Puja
and was taken aback at the entry of this unwelcome visitor and admonished him
for the glaring aberration.
He asked him to pray to Baba for grace and a speedy recovery. However the callous mind once again acted as a barrier for blessings to transmit and flow.
Raja’s behavior did not transfigure and he continued with the
consumption of alcohol. It had taken a severe toll of his system. He suffered
from a bout of jaundice.
Once
again on recuperation, he continued with the habit. His
drinking had become quotidian and there seem to be no light at the end of the
tunnel. He had become alcohol dependent and there seemed no respite from
the malady. His mind was filled with tenebrosity fervently hoping for luminosity.
Alcoholism is a defining moment in the life of an addict. It is
a debilitating ailment which needs to be appreciated by the family and society
and every addict requires treatment
to combat this illness. The healing apart from being mere physical necessarily
needs to be both spiritual
and metaphysical.
There were fights, repeated squabbles and altercations within
the family. His children were petrified and
in constant state of anxiety and tension,
while encountering their father. The mother ceaselessly
and incessantly cursed the day she got married to the ungrateful and insensitive person.
Raja began selling the
silverware of the family and even dipping into his provident fund, to procure
the daily quota of alcohol. The couple had minimal interaction.
But, she prayed for the
recovery of her husband to Lord Hanuman and recited Hanuman Chalisa
unfailingly apart from fervently praying to the
Vishistadvaita mystic Sri Raghavendra
Swami of Mantralayam .
Who is an addict?
A person who is addicted to any particular substance, say an
illegal drug or alcohol!
What is addiction?
A physical or psychological need of a habit forming substance,
such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the
substance being used and over a period of time requires increased amounts to
reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses, without which the
addict has withdrawal symptoms
“Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic,
be alcohol or morphine or idealism” wrote the preeminent psychologist Carl Jung.
How does one bring about a 360 degree change in their
lifestyles?
They need to seek professional help under the aegis of a
psychiatrist or get admitted to a rehab to metamorphose their lives. It is impinging on the addict to
surrender to a Divine Power and surrender without any strings attached and can
seek the help of professional bodies like Alcoholic Anonymous.
In addition regular practice of Yoga and Pranayama too have a salutary
effect on the mind and bodies of the
addict. Besides an addict can
undertake a course in the ancient Buddhist technique of Vipassana or join the Happiness Programme of the Art of
Living.
He should be made aware about the problems faced
by the society and emerge as a
welfare oriented citizen. The idea and spirit of performing service / Seva to the society would
channelize energies towards
a positive direction. The problems encountered by the addict should appear smaller than
those faced by the
society.
.
The addict needs to live in the present moment and lift his
level of Prana / Chi. Breathing technique like Sudarshan Kriya , has
a palliative effect and bring about the awareness in
the individual to start living in the present moment and he makes amends with
himself, the family and society.
Raja, is sober today and recovered with the
abundance of love and blessings he received from several masters
and by undertaking the Art of Living course. There are
several people like Raja who are in the
cesspool and quagmire who require
immediate help to help themselves and their families.
As the talismanic Barrak Obama
says,” Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some
other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for the change we seek.”
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