Wise counsel essential for
success
Deliberations with wise counsel are always
necessary to achieve success in an endeavour. The holy texts point
out the types of subjects to he discussed and the nature of persons
whose opinions are to be sought. The man whodesires to obtain such
advice should be keen to anticipate the shape of events to come and
take steps to prevent obstacles that may occur.
Men of distinction who wish to begin an
enterprise, after consulting advisers who are devoted to his
interest or whose views are identical with his and who invoke the
blessings of the Divine, are to be considered superior. Those who
take decisions by themselves are of a middling quality. Those who go
ahead without assessing the merits and defects of a project and
without concern for the rules of righteousness are of the worst
type.
Likewise, if the solutions offered are
unanimous and based on the rules of virtue, that scheme should be
reckoned as the best. The second best is the advice that has been
tendered on the issue has been arrived at, after many minds differed
I the initial stages, but later agreed. Where the discussions on the
subject had resulted in various shades of opinion and where there
was no positive contribution, the deliberations are to be
categorized as bad.
In the Ramayana, after having witnesses the
havoc caused by Anjaneya in Lanka, Ravana consulted his ministers on
how to face the impending crisis. Many boosted his morale by
claiming that they could face Rama easily and crush Him. All their
talks were indeed vain boasts. The only one who tendered sincere
advice, stating that the only way to escape extinction was to return
Sita to Rama, was Vibhishana, who asked Ravana not to underrate the
enemy.
“How had Rama offended you? On the other hand,
you have abducted Sita forcibly. Please surrender Her.” Vibhishana
also tendered private advice later, explaining how there were evil
portents ever since Sita was kept captive on the island. Ravana was
annoyed at these words and his attitude hardened. He retorted that
he saw no danger from any quarters, said Sri V. S. Venkataramana Rao
in a discourse. Ravana then held a council. Severe criticism and
censure also came from Kumbakarna that Ravana should
have held these consultations before he had taken the hasty action.
However, he agreed to support him.
April 12, 1993
Moral Law cannot be challenged
If man's life should be God-oriented, his
activities should be strictly governed by the Law of Virtue. There
should be no deviation from the directives contained therein. Should
there be a conflicting situation, the person concerned should not
try to avoid upholding the rules or adopting the line of least
resistance. He should not mind following the rules even should such
a step result in his personal sacrifice. This Moral Law is
unchallengeable and there shall be triumpth for the person who
respects it.
The Ramayana proves this by describing how
Dasaratha who first conveyed his decision that Rama should succeed
him and how within a short time, there was the “order” asking Him to
spend 14 years in forest. Rama could have stayed back opting for the
former but He chose the latter as it was of utmost importance to
show the significance of the Law. Those who obey the Divine
commandments will emerge triumphant.
How a rule under “Dharma” was scrupulously
followed is illustrated by the sagacity of a Pandyan king. On his
incognito night vigil, he overheard a conversation of a couple, in
one house. The man who has to go on tour, was worried about leaving
his wife alone in the house. The wife told him that under the able
administration of the king, there was no need for any anxiety. The
King, hence owing responsibility for her safety, guarded her house
during her nights. But before the scheduled day of husband's return,
there was some conversation in her room. Fearing the intrusion of
some outsider, he tapped the door but suddenly withdrew from the
spot as he feared that the husband might have returned and the
tapping may cause embarrassment to the woman. To avoid such a
contingency, he tapped the doors of a few more houses in the same
street and left.
The next day, citizens complained to him about
this event. “What is the punishment should the culprit who disturbed
your peace is traced” he asked them. “Severe his hand” they replied.
The king immediately got his hand cut.
Sri M.R. Nagasubramaniam in a discourse, said,
even if it may not be possible for one to help others, it would be
wise not to harm them. Never shold one ry to create rift between a
couple. This sin was committed by a servant maid who not only
corrupted her mistress' mind but also painted a grim picture about
her future should Rama become the King as His mother would assume a
dominant role. Indoctrination transformed Kaikeyi's attitude and she
forced Dasaratha to send away Rama.
May 1, 1993
One should discharge duties with dedication
Acquisition of spiritual knowledge and carrying
out the duties ordained by the scriptural authority are the two
important assignments given to a man to gain enlightenment. But they
are being neglected and hence the resulting confusing
situations.
A couple may bear a number of children but even
if one among them turns out to be Godly and upholds the rules of
virtue, the family's name will be written in gold. If the size of
the family is restricted and if even the only child becomes a liquor
addict, its reputation will get tarnished. The purpose behind the
apparently two contradictory statements, one asking men to raise a
large number of children and another forbidding big-sized families
is to highlight the necessity to bring up one son to be a
disciplined and a well-behaved one.
The role played by Kaikeyi in the Ramayana is
well known. When the Divine drama ended and when the Lord went back
to His abode, a list of persons who had done good and so who had to
be sent to heave and those who had resorted to bad deeds and who
were reserved places in hell was presented. Surprisingly, Kaikeyi
who was accused as being responsible for Rama's exile was given an
exalted status.
The explanation was that though she might have
committed a mistake, she had given birth to a son, Bharata, whose
sacrifice was unparalleled and who gave up an empire for the sake of
the Lord. Whatever may be the mother's record, her blemish was
removed by a noble son. God will excuse our failings and grant us
His blessings when we uphold His directives. “This does not mean
that we should become Kaikeyis. The moral is, we must be good like
Bharatas.” Said Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swami in a discourse.
Those who were born as human beings must know
what they have done in their lives during this temporary sojourn.
Sri Madhwacharya has urged people to gain spiritual knowledge that
will provide them wisdom. They should also do the duties assigned to
them which will fetch them God's pleasure. Whatever may be the task
one performs -- as a businessman discharge the obligations with
dedication and honesty, sticking to scruples.
One should think of God throughout the day
instead of concentrating on Him only during the few hours of worship
in the mornings. Religious exercises will help the mind to become
pure and entertain God in it even as the reflection of Sun can be
seen only in clear water of a lake and not when it is
turbid.
July 5, 1993
Significance
of reciting “Hanuman Chalisa”
Man's needs have been classified by sages under
four categories. Their primary requirement is wealth which is to be
earned through honest means. This will naturally lead them to enjoy
worldly pleasures. The third end which some pursue is righteous
living, capable of giving greater joy and peace. Rare indeed are
those who seek liberation from bondage.
All
these four goals can be secured through prayers. To obtain them
however, men have to ask only the source that is capable of granting
them and without any doubt, it is God who has these powers. The
Loard is the loving essence within our hearts.
The
famous hymn in Hindi – Hanuman Chalisa – by Tulsidas spells out the
procedure to be adopted to seek Divine blessings. Anjaneya (Hanuman)
possessed a spotless character and when he is adored, a devotee's
mind will be cleansed. The first attitude of a person who approaches
God should be humility.
Invariably,
people become arrogant due to their opulence, their charm and
thirdly their intellectual attainments. While wealth and beauty may
wither, arrogance arising out of intellect will remain, making them
ridicule others as being devoid of wisdom. Hence stress is laid on
cultivating humility while offering prayers an on retaining God's
vision within. Anjaneya was a personification of this enviable
triat.
In
his lecture explaining the significance of a few initial verses of
the Divine poem, Swami Swaroopananda said an aspirant should recite
and sing God's praise. Tulsidas surrenders at the feet of his mentor
expressing these inadequacies and pleading with Him to give him
strength, intelligence and knowledge.
To highlight how one should seek only the
minimum needed, a story can be recounted about a miserly merchant.
He was sailing back with goods and money, when the ship was caught
in a storm. He was advised to pray and to give charity if he reached
the shores safe. He agreed to donate one rupee and God appearing as
a beggar, claimed the rupee. But the miser dodged him, asking his
servants to say he was not home. He went to the extent of asking
them to say he was dead. He went to the extent of asking them to say
he was dead. He was also carried on a bier. Even when the pyre was
lit, the stingy man did not budge. God appreciated his
one-pointedness and granted him a boon. `Do not ask for the rupee'
was his plea.
February
19, 1994
