In all that we desire in this world, there are inherent flaws, notably three, known as *’dosha-triam’*.

As we saw, the first flaw in every object of desire that we seek for happiness comes with a non-discountable bonus of grief in disguise. It is called *’dhukka-mizrita’*. This we vouch from our experience.

The second inherent limitation is that there is no complete satisfaction from any object. There is always a gap or something amiss. Even the sense of satisfaction is momentary only. This flaw is called ‘atripti-kartvam’, or causing dissatisfaction.

The third and the most intense limitation is that the objects of desire eventually overpower us and ultimately bind us. This is ‘bhanda-gatvam’, or ‘to enslave’. Don’t we become totally dependent on things that we keenly desire! Addiction is the most intense desire that quietly takes away our freedom completely. In one way or the other, we are all enslaved to something or the other in life. Those objects of desire slowly and surely make us weak! As we desire more and more objects, we are bound more and more, losing our freedom. Appraise your life; you will discover that all your miseries are actually rooted only on such bondage.

Most often we falsely attribute this bondage to the love for others and justify. Again it is s misconception. Love is not attachment. Love lets go, attachment takes possession; love is thinking about what is in this for others, attachment is about what is in it for me;. Well, there are such confusions which we ought to resolve if we want to handle the ART of life. Otherwise by the piling of desires on objects, our natural state of freedom is lost.

Please remember these three inherent faults as the TROUBLES in the ART of life. A for actions, R for results and T for troubles – Veda has given the scope as well as the limitations of ART of life by giving three types of each as we saw.

‘So what’, you may ask! If this is how our life is designed, why do we have to look at the ‘half-emptiness’ and grieve? Instead why not just tread along as it comes?

Well, that is the default state for the most of us. But for a few, status quo is not ok; they need perfection and strive to know how well to handle the ART of life, in order to move towards totally unblemished happiness and complete freedom.

To them, there are few more messages for contemplation and far more decision points for reorientation. Any takers?

(to be continued – Mee. Rajagopalan – 11/06/2017)