Waves of life

Life is constituted of sequence of waves one after the other. by its definition waves have a crest the upper point and trough, the lower most point. The upper point in waves of life symbolizes the happiest moment and the trough is the saddest one. One pair of this crest and trough constitute one wave and there are continuous waves that constitute life. We feel happiness when the waves are rising their height is increasing we see the happiness coming but after reaching the highest point it starts falling and we start feeling sad even without any specific reason. It happens by the very definition of wave. After day night will come and after night sun will again rise and this keeps on happening in a smooth sequence. To escape this cycle of sequential, momentarily happiness/relief  and grief we need to understand these waves and that can be done only by separating ourselves from them.

"seer and the seen must be different"

This is the cardinal principle of vedanta. Just like to see object eyes must be separate from the object, to watch eyes mind must be different eyes. To know and understand the nature of these waves and free ourselves from the effect of them, we need to separate ourselves from them, to reach the state of eternal peace. 

Vedanta's answer to the question  "Who am I ?" is , you are the consciousness watching your mind, body, actions , thoughts etc. You are not mind,body. This individual consciousness of all people is a part of supreme consciousness, that is GOD.

Thus we should identify ourselves with the consciousness, a part of GOD and not with the thoughts that keep on coming in our mind. When somebody asked to Gurudev Vivekanand about how to control your mind, Gurudev replied "don't control the mind, just watch it".

Through this we can get over this cycle of joy and grief and enjoy watching waves without getting affected from them.

This by no chance means that we do not do anything and denounce "karma". on the contrary it means do your work (karma) and duty (dharma) without getting affected of these waves. Let your mind body do it you keep a watch over it.

Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma phaleshou kada chana,
Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani

The above verse of Bhagwad Geeta means, It is ones right to perform action but one does not have any right or control on the fruits of our action. Do not let fruits to be the purpose of your actions and you will be able to do your duty without caring about the results.

The eternal bliss and peace that we search is not in inaction but in our actions which are in harmony with our conscience, which are rightful and in the interest of society which are performed without any attachment to the fruits of those actions.