Looking at the pigeon sitting on the balcony, a thought just struck my mind. It is free to fly, while human beings can't fly. Does that make human beings lesser mortals? No, we have so many different things, such as the brain, which we have created so many wonders on this earth. In fact, using the brain we have designed aeroplanes using which we can also experience flying in space. Does that mean the pigeon is a lesser mortal? No, it lives life to the fullest.
Where is the need for comparison? There are 12 houses in astrology, and when we examine the horoscopes of different individuals, everybody has some strong and some weak planets. Everyone has certain aspects of life represented by specific houses: some they have a natural strength in, and others they are bound to face challenges in. That's what makes every human being unique. Somebody will have a very strong house of Lagna and will therefore be generally healthy and decisive, while others may have affliction in the 2nd house and may therefore struggle with family. Someone may have a strong foundation in education, yet struggle with their health. Nobody has a perfect horoscope in this world.
Then why do we compare? Comparison is quite natural to human beings. Either they will brag about what they have, or they will crib about what they don't have. I think it has a lot to do with the framework of life. If somebody thinks that life is all about accumulation and the success or failure of a human life will be decided by the medals and achievements, such as achievements in career, how good-looking his spouse is, how well the children have done, the pay package of the children, and so on, then obviously one will compare. This comparison will always continue, and the finish line will always keep shifting away because the moment he achieves something, the people with whom he compares change, and now he will have a farther finish line. On the other hand, if the framework of life is to make the best use of what we have for exploring this world, comparison will subside, and one will have gratitude.
Suppose we are souls willing to take birth in this world, and this world is like a game we all want to play; we will decide how we want to play the game. Someone may be willing to play an easy game, while someone may choose to play the toughest level. Depending on our choices, we create the situations in our lives. If we remember that we have set the difficulty level ourselves, our focus will be on playing the game to the best of our ability. If we forget that we set the difficulty ourselves, our focus will be on reaching the finish line. On the other hand, if we remember that we have come here to play the game, we will focus on the game and enjoy it. Whether we take life as a game we have opted to play for fun, or as a game we have been thrown into just to reach the finish line, makes all the difference. The desire to reach the finish line brings restlessness. Playing the game of life for fun, with the whole of our capacity, brings equanimity and joy. We don't remember the times we sat comfortably at home, watching movies; instead, we always remember the times we worked hard, tackling a task that at first seemed beyond us.
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