Sorrow of any kind can be classified in 3 ways : 1) Spiritual ignorance 2) Weakness 3) Lack. To the extent one overcomes these 3 sorrows to that extent man experiences bliss.
Because of spiritual ignorance man’s viewpoint gets tainted. Since he does not understand spiritual knowledge, he thinks wrongly and works incorrectly too. Thus the more he tries to unwind his sorrows the more sorrow he encounters. Man fails to execute his righteous duties when he is under the influence of selfish sense enjoyments, greed, ego, lack of generosity and desires. Thus he renounces far-sightedness and gets attached to lowly thinking and thus acts wrongly. As a result his very thinking and actions become sinful. Sins definitely result in sorrow and pain. On the other hand because of spiritual ignorance, he fails to understand the root causes of his own and others’ worldly actions. As a result he continues to delve deep into impossible hopes, desires and imaginations. Because of this wrong thinking, all ordinary happenings gives him sorrow only and he thus cries out in anguish. It is but natural that one encounters situations of death of one’s beloved, varying circumstances but a spiritually ignorant person thinks that everything should happen as per his wishes and that nothing untoward should happen in his life. When these events of exact opposite nature occur, he starts raving and ranting in madness. Also due to spiritual ignorance one makes many mistakes. One has to make do without material comforts and therefore is a cause of anguish. In this manner man encounters various sorrows due to spiritual ignorance.
Lack of energy leads to weakness. Due to bodily, mental, social, intellectual, spiritual weakness man can no longer take on his shoulder the burden of his natural birthrights. Thus he has to go without them. It is futile to be surrounded by tasty food, beautiful females, sweet music, wonderful scenes etc. when one is not in good health and has to face dire illnesses. He does not get any joy despite having a lot of wealth. If he is intellectually weak, he gets no joy in perusing literature, poetry, philosophical thinking etc. If he is weak from the soul viewpoint, he gets no bliss from saintly association, devotion to God etc. Not only this but nature’s principle of “protection of the great” is at work so as to overcome all those who are weak. Many facts manifest in order to harass and destroy the weak. Even innocent, good-natured and straightforward elements oppose the weak. Cold weather that augments power in the mighty and gives excitement to jovial people becomes the cause of pneumonia, arthritis etc. in those are weak. Those elements that are responsible for the death of the weak, are known to help those who are strong. The poor weak goat is not only a prey of wild beasts but is also one of Mother Durga. And the jungle’s lion is not only attacked by other forest beasts but is killed by hunters so as to adorn the drawing room of rich people. The weak always experience agony and even elements of good will are of no hope for them.
Sorrow due to lack occurs when you do not have enough material comforts. When there is lack of food, clothes, water, house, animals, land, helpers, friends, wealth, medicines, books, scriptures, teachers etc. one has to undergo various types of pain, hardships etc. One has to force one’s mind not to ask for them and thus life’s precious moments have to be renounced. A capable and strong person who lacks enough material comforts too experiences anguish only.
Mahatma Gandhi says – Chanting the Gayatri Mantra incessantly is very useful to cure diseases and attaining high spiritual growth. When Gayatri is chanted with a steady psyche and a serene heart, it helps in overcoming dire situations when facing trying times.
Swami Vivekanand says – One should ask for only great things from a King rather than ask for petty gains. In the same way one should ask for only a pure intellect from the almighty Lord instead of perishable material comforts. Whenever God is happy with his devotee, he gives this devotee a pure intellect. Via a pure intellect one walks on the path of righteousness and thus one attains all kinds of joys. When a man follows the path of truth, he automatically attains all joys. Gayatri is a Mantra of a pure intellect. Thus amongst all Mantras, Gayatri is a crest jewel.
Swami Shivanand says – By chanting the Gayatri Mantra between 3.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m. everyday (Brahma-Mahurat), one’s psyche is purified and the heart becomes sacred. The body overcomes diseases, the character becomes pure, one attains far-sightedness because the intellect becomes subtle and one’s memory sharpens. Under trying circumstances the power of Gayatri Mantra comes to your aid. As a result, one realizes that all-pervading soul (God).