Over the years, I have observed that human beings are drawn to concise truths. A single sentence, if held deeply, can shape a lifetime. We call them aphorisms, maxims, or commandments. In our tradition, we call them sutras — threads of wisdom that quietly hold life together. 

Dharma itself is vast and evolving. It cannot be confined to rigid instruction. Yet within that vastness, certain principles emerge again and again — not as rules to be imposed, but as reminders to be lived. 

In reflection, four such sutras have continued to return to me. 

The first concerns our personal life. Purity in personal life is not merely about outer conduct. It is the sincerity of the heart. It is the absence of hidden motives, of manipulation, of quiet deceit. Relationships do not collapse because of imperfection; they collapse because of insincerity. When the heart is clean, forgiveness arises naturally. Communication becomes honest. Commitment becomes effortless. Compassion ceases to be an effort and becomes a disposition. A pure heart simplifies life. 

From personal life we step into professional life. Here too, clarity is essential. Professional relationships are often built on exchange — effort and reward, responsibility and recognition. Yet even in this sphere, transparency determines strength. When dealings are clear, trust grows. When intentions are concealed, instability follows. Transparency is not only about how we appear to others; it is about how honestly we stand before ourselves. Do we honour our work? Do we fulfil what we promise? When professional life is transparent, it carries dignity. 

Between personal affection and professional pursuit stands family. Family life requires balance. One may achieve success outside the home, yet feel incomplete within it. Overindulgence in ambition weakens intimacy; neglect of responsibility disturbs harmony. Balance does not mean equal time for everything. It means appropriate attention at the right moment. Just as the body remains healthy through equilibrium, life remains steady through balance. 

And then there is spiritual life. At its centre lies love. But love is often misunderstood. Love that seeks personal fulfilment is attachment. Love that seeks the joy of the other is devotion. When action is centred on the self, it binds. When action is offered without self-interest, it liberates. True love dissolves calculation. It softens pride. It transforms desire into surrender. 

“Sacho ek Radharaman, jutho sab sansar.” 

When love is directed toward the eternal, it refines every other dimension of life. 

Purity stabilises relationships. Transparency strengthens action. Balance sustains harmony. Love elevates consciousness. These four are not separate compartments of life. They are interwoven. When one strengthens, the others follow.

Perhaps life does not demand complexity. It asks only for alignment — of heart, conduct, responsibility, and devotion. 

When these are held together, life becomes coherent. 

And when life becomes coherent, it becomes peaceful.

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