Too Many Options

Lord Rama is describing the nature of the youth, demolishing its unjustified glorification.

In the vairagya prakarana of yoga vasishta.

Until the age of 14, a child doesn't have to suffer the consequences of whatever it does.

It is the acts of the youth that follow and haunt you till the end.
The bad acts.
At a worldly level.
At the spiritual level, the consequences do not end with death.
They follow you into the next birth also as karma.

Youth is an ocean with never-ending waves of dreams, desires, and alternatives, options.
Desires keep on coming one after another.
It is desperation until they are achieved.
It is fear of losing and pain of loss after that.
Choices, too many options that confuse you.
These are characteristics of the youth.

These dreams about achievement, this desire to achieve, can destroy the most educated mind, the most balanced mind, the most stable mind.
Youth is like a destructive storm.

Desire for selfish enjoyment kills qualities like kindness, sharing.
This is the time the organs of pleasure are most alive and active.
They overpower and overshadow wisdom and balanced thinking.
Youth is short like the seasons.
Just comes and goes.
People think it is forever and act foolishly.
They challenge, invite trouble, create enemies, thinking that the body is going to be strong and healthy forever.
No, after a few years it will not be.
But your enemies are still around to trouble you.
The enemies that the arrogant youth created.

The love and hate towards people and objects develop during the youth, and both of them sow seeds towards discontentment in life.
Love in the long term and hate throughout.

Someone who doesn't realize that the youth is short-lived, doesn't conduct himself accordingly, he is in a fool's paradise.
He is going to regret later.

Only those people are worthy of respect who cross this dangerous land of youth without losing qualities such as kindness, honesty, humility, and self-control.
Which is very rare.

• Youth is a phase flooded with desires, dreams, and endless choices, but most of them lead to inner restlessness instead of peace.

• Actions done during youth carry consequences, not just in this life but into future lives as karmic results.

• While childhood mistakes are mostly forgiven, the choices made during youth leave lasting imprints on one's life journey.

• The intense drive to achieve can destroy even a well-educated and emotionally stable mind if not handled wisely.

• Youth is seductive but short-lived — many act as if it will last forever and end up creating lasting problems for themselves.

• Desires during youth are not innocent; they hijack clarity, suppress compassion, and fuel selfishness.

• This is the age when the senses are at their peak and often overpower wisdom, leading to impulsive and risky choices.

• Emotions like love and hate get deeply rooted during youth and later become sources of disappointment and suffering.

• Enemies created in arrogant youth often linger into older age, becoming long-term thorns in life.

• Only a rare person crosses the terrain of youth without compromising values like humility, kindness, and self-control.

What does it mean that youth is filled with choices and desires?
Youth is marked by a flood of dreams and desires, creating a constant feeling of restlessness. Every achievement gives birth to another craving. There’s no lasting peace — just a cycle of desperation, fulfillment, and fear of loss.

Why do so many young people feel overwhelmed even with endless opportunities?
Because more options don’t mean more clarity. Too many choices create confusion, anxiety, and the fear of missing out. Peace comes from clarity, not abundance.

If youth is so vibrant, why paint it negatively?
It’s not about denying youth’s energy — it’s about exposing the illusion that energy equals wisdom. Left unchecked, that energy turns self-destructive. A storm looks beautiful from far, but deadly if you’re caught inside it.

Do actions done in youth affect future lives?
Yes, choices made in youth shape both immediate consequences and long-term karmic results. Karma is not erased by time — it follows the soul beyond this birth unless consciously transformed.

How can we make sure our youthful actions don’t become burdens later?
Act with awareness. Pause before reacting. Prioritize actions rooted in integrity over those driven by impulse or ego.

Isn’t karma from youth just a spiritual scare tactic?
Not at all. Even in practical life, actions have long-term ripple effects — legal records, emotional baggage, broken relationships. Karma is just the deeper layer of this same reality.

Why is youth called a destructive storm?
Because it can uproot balance, distort judgment, and scatter inner stability. The craving to prove oneself or grab pleasure pushes people into extreme decisions, leaving behind wreckage.

How can a young person remain calm in such a storm?
Through self-discipline, guidance from wise mentors, and reflecting regularly. Recognizing the storm helps you steer through it — denial pulls you in deeper.

Isn't it harsh to call youthful passion a storm?
Not if you observe honestly. Think of all the impulsive decisions, ruined friendships, addictions, and regrets born in youth. Passion is good — blind passion is dangerous.

Why does pleasure-seeking in youth dull wisdom?
Because indulgence trains the mind to chase stimulation and avoid reflection. Pleasure dominates, while empathy, restraint, and long-term thinking are sidelined.

Can’t someone enjoy and be wise at the same time?
Yes, but it requires a strong inner compass. Without self-awareness, enjoyment becomes escapism. Balance is possible, but rare.

Is it natural for young people to chase pleasure?
It’s natural, but not always helpful. Nature gives instincts, but dharma teaches when and how to act on them. Not everything natural is beneficial.

What makes people think youth will last forever?
Because the energy, attention, and excitement of youth create an illusion of permanence. But the body, like seasons, changes silently and suddenly.

How can we stay grounded during youth?
By reminding ourselves that time moves fast, and the choices we make now echo far ahead. Practicing humility and foresight keeps us rooted.

Isn’t it good to enjoy youth while it lasts?
Yes — but enjoy wisely. Reckless living for the moment often leads to lasting damage. Awareness enhances joy, while ignorance corrupts it.

How do love and hate in youth cause long-term suffering?
Attachments and aversions formed in youth often become lifelong emotional patterns. Love turns into expectations, hate becomes resentment — both disrupt inner peace.

Can young people avoid strong emotional entanglements?
They can’t always avoid them, but they can learn to manage them. Knowing emotions are temporary helps avoid making permanent decisions based on them.

Isn't it normal to feel intensely in youth?
Intensity is fine — clinging is the problem. Emotional depth is a gift, but when it breeds obsession or hatred, it turns poisonous.

Why is it foolish to think youth is permanent?
Because the body is constantly aging, even when you feel invincible. Time doesn’t announce its changes — it just moves.

What’s the harm in believing youth will last?
It makes people act recklessly — taking risks, creating enemies, ignoring their limits. Later, the same body won’t support those decisions, but the consequences will stay.

Aren’t such warnings too negative?
They’re not negative — they’re protective. Just like a road sign warns of a sharp turn ahead, these truths help prevent crashes in life.

Who deserves real respect according to this teaching?
Those who pass through youth without losing kindness, honesty, and self-restraint. These are the true heroes, even if they go unnoticed.

Is it really rare to retain virtues during youth?
Yes, because the temptations are strong and the mind is easily distracted. It takes inner maturity to stay rooted in dharma.

Why not celebrate those who enjoy youth freely?
Because freedom without boundaries becomes self-destruction. The ones who enjoy with awareness and uphold values are the ones worth celebrating.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi