It has been rightly said that a person fashions his destiny and the world around him by his thoughts.

In a very thought- provoking essay, As You Thinketh, James Allen observes, “Impure thoughts of every kind crystallise into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting and adverse circumstances — beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallise into habits of grace and kindness which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances — loving and unselfish thoughts crystallise into habits of selfforgetfulness for others, which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.”

Allen thus drives home the point that though one cannot directly choose his circumstances, he can choose his thoughts and hence indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances and destiny. On the root cause of one’s suffering, Allen also notes that suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction and ceases for him who is pure.

Practical experience in daily life would also point to the potential inherent in obtaining one’s true aspirations in life, which had thus far proved elusive. Nevertheless, the process is not simple because regulating thoughts is very difficult. Refinement and empowerment would involve different stages involving particular exercises for the body, mind and spirit — known in Indian parlance as sadhana.

The beginning is through the age old Sanskrit adage, attributed by some to Kalidasa, sariramadyam khalu dharmasadhanam (the body is indeed the first step for all noble attainments).

This physical discipline, spartan food habits and right lifestyle would bring about the needed bio-chemical changes in one’s psycho-somatic system and thus influence positively the thinking process. For, a physically fit and a vivacious person in control of himself and his world would hardly be visited by negative or bitter thoughts. The resultant harmony would positively influence not merely one’s behaviour, transactions and effectiveness in life but also his very physical appearance, demeanour and carriage.

Radiating peace and cheer, he would be blessed with the coming together of right relationships and situations in life. This indeed is the application of W E Henley’s concept (in his poem, Invictus), of, “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”