Our life is like a flute. A flute has many holes, so also our life has many holes (miseries, sorrows, pain, stress, failures, disappointments, imperfections, weaknesses, etc.). Unless we know how to play the flute of life, it can be harsh on us and may crush us.

Lord Krishna’s favorite musical instrument is flute. The flute teaches us three important lessons and whoever can incorporate these into their lives can live with contentment and progress towards salvation.

1) Flute speaks only when we want it to speak.

The first life lesson from the flute is to speak only when we are required to. We should not speak when not required to and when it is not necessary. Even a fish won’t land in trouble if it keeps its mouth shut.

It takes around two years to learn to speak.

But it takes a lifetime to learn what NOT to speak.

We should not give advice when not asked for. The other person may turn around and say, “Who asked for your two penny advice?” We may not like it and we may feel hurt or insulted.

Similarly, we must never show off our intelligence or boast about our success. विद्या विनयेन शोभते / vidyaa vinayena shobhatay (Humbleness and humility are the ornaments of knowledge.)

2) Whenever it speaks, it speaks sweetly.

The second life lesson from the flute is that whenever one speaks, one should speak sweetly, which gives joy to others. We should avoid speaking harshly in a rough tone. Sometimes unpleasant things need to be communicated, but it can be toned down and softened to reduce its impact by right choice of words.

3) It always remains empty inside.

The third lesson from the flute is to always remain empty inside. We should declutter the mind. This means that we should always keep emptying the mind of past regrets or painful past. We should also not have anxieties and worries about the future. Both, the past and the future are distractions from the present. We also need to decondition the mind of all the conditionings that we have collected over lives together. A mind filled with garbage and useless and unnecessary data weakens our inner potential power and is an obstacle to joy of the present moment. Like the computer, we should use the delete button quite often with our mind as well.

Only a mind, which is devoid of all conditionings and past regrets and future anxieties, can be filled with peace and enjoy the present moment. Such a mind alone can help others attain peace and joy.

We must live like a flute and, like Lord Krishna, spread the peace and joy around us.

Shri Krishna says:

“For the one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for the one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be his greatest enemy.”

“The eternal peace is with them whose mind and Self are in harmony, who are free from desire and wrath, who know their own Real Self.”

“The Self cannot be cut to pieces by weapons, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor dried by the wind.”

“For those who wish to climb the mountain of spiritual awareness, the path is selfless service. For those who have attained the summit of union with the Real Self, there is stillness and peace.”