Lessons from the Ramayana

Even as a bird which soars high requires wings in perfect condition, a human being who desires to achieve spiritual progress should, besides being knowledgeable, think how to apply practically the guidelines learnt by him. If these two factors are not incorporated in his life, he may continue to grope in the dark. Despite being provided with eyes, he would be as good as blind if he does not focus his vision within himself and experience the presence of God. A Vedic master like Narada too wanted to know the nature of the soul and the methods towards gaining this knowledge.

Manking is fortunate in having a text like the Ramayana which contains directives fro a man to behave perfectly, confining himself to Moral Law. If the Bhagavad Gita projects the theoretical aspects as to how a man should conduct himself theoretical aspects as to how a man should conduct himself during his brief sojourn, the Ramayana serves as a practical book to make him lead a life based on virtue. Its hero, Rama was an integrated, ideal man for us to emulate.

During is life, man's activities are governed by three types of influences: one which promotes(a) purity and goodness: (b) a thirst for pleasures; and (c) inertia. The reading of the disciplined life of Rama and chanting His name will equip s with moral courage.

The narrative in the epic commences with a lesson o how  to approach a master seeking spiritual wisdom. We must go to him with a mind that should be ready to absorb and retain what is told. The character of Ravana was such that he obtained advice from many, but refused to follow them. Sage Valmiki sought edification from Sage Narada to tell him if he knows any man in this world who possesses 16 great qualities. Narada replies that the only one who is a reservoir of all of them is God-incarnate Rama.

Sri Chinna Sriman Narayana Jeeyar Swami referred to Valmiki's first query, `Who is Gunavaan or a person whom all people will praise for this exceptional quality which will be rare and outstanding'. The word does not merely indicate development of character. It connotes the nature of one who inspite of his nobility by birth, his immense wealth, his enviable status and rare intellectual attainments and wisdom, chooses to move with natural intimacy and grace with those, who lack all of them.

Broadly, the term may mean, `affability'. To illustrate this, Rama, despite being placed in a very high position, befriended a hunter Guha whom He held in such a high esteem and on His return from 14 years exile, asked Anjaneya to find out how he was. Secondly, Rama forged ties with a monkey king Sugriva, not out of any compulsion but due to His mercy. Lastly, He took into His fold, a noble man though hailing from the demon race, without any reservation.
                                                                                   July 7,1994

Truth alone can help one reach the Divine

A person whose heart is filled with peace, whose speech is suffused with truth and whose body is dedicated to service, will be unaffected by the torments of the present age. Human life is noble, sacred and precious. Only they are endowed with the faculty to experience that they are part of the Divine. The human body is constituted by the five elements of Nature and five sheaths. Man is encompassed by attachment to worldly desires, which produce delusions of various kinds. To secure liberation, he has to rid himself of the desires.

Everyone feels proud of his body, mind and intellect forgetting the soul, which has no birth or death. It is like the root of the tree which sustains the branches, the leaves, the flowers and fruits. It is the basis on which the super- structure of life rests. The Vedas declare that man can attain immortality by renunciation. This means that a person has to renounce bad qualities. Men today are human only in form but have beastly traits. They should cultivate love of God, fear of sins and should adhere to social morality. When they cultivate both, they will not indulge in immoral deeds. It is hence meaningless to born as a human being if he leads an animal existence.

God can be known only be experience and not by experiments. For this, constant practice of spiritual exercises is needed. Of what use are experiments aimed at exploring space, if there is no genuine cultivation of human qualities and adherence to basic virtues like showing reverence to the parents and preceptors, said Sri Sathya Sai Baba in a lecture, urging everyone to live up to the motto “Help ever, hurt never.”

Lord Rama had established an ideal for the society to follow. Urged by all to return to the city from His forest stay one of the sages even advocated certain arguments which smacked of atheism. Raffia said: “I have given my word to carry out My father's command. How can I go back on it. It is better to give up the body than to do so. One should be grateful to one's parents, whether they are alive or dead. “The sun renders blind those who are ungrateful. I shall be the worst sinner and all people will follow Me and will also thereby become sinners. Do you want Me to set such a bad example.” Parents who train their children and provide comfort to them the preceptors who guide them in exercising their discrimination and the “conscience” which enables them to decide judiciously are the guides for everyone.
                                                                                   August 4 ,1994

Right way of life gives peace

All of us perform actions with a purpose. Each one may be working to achieve a different goal, but not without a purpose, because actions then become worthless. What we are all seeking ultimately is happiness and peace in our lives. Though we all work hard for it, we are unable to get it. By a careful introspection we will understand that we act in the world only for the fulfilment of our desires. Our lives are dictated by our wants, likes and dislikes, for we do not know the way of right living (Dharma).

Man can never be peaceful when he acts out of desires, but only when he learns to act according to his duty and abides by values relevant to his station in life. Dharma is something which has to be followed. The Rishis of yore understood human psychology very well and they realised that in the name of religion they cannot impose their teachings and values on man. It is human nature to spurn anything which is forced and so only the Law of N ature can take care of man's failings.

Moreover, our sages were not dictators and never wanted to intrude on man's freedom. They had only his welfare in mind and so have showed the ideal way to lead a life through the Ithihasas and Puranas. Through the portrayal of the characters of the people they convey contrasting values, both, a life of sensuality and that of an ideal, righteous way of life giving man the freedom to exercise his choice.

Swami Swaroopananda in lecture on the Ramcharitamanasa of Tulasidas said, the Ramayana depicted two contrasting characters, Rama and Ravana to convey the importance of leading a life of Dharma. Rama was an embodiment of Dharma and culture who adhered to duty through the travails of life and on the other hand Ravana lead a life of sensuality.

Ravana had conquered the three worlds, but not himself, and so was always afraid, even while enjoying all comforts. When one does something wrong, there is always fear and cowardliness and so he can never be at peace. Rama on the other hand, had conquered the slavery of his mind and so was peaceful even though He had to live in the forest.

Another reason why we do not have peace in our lives is because we do not have love in our hearts. Loving is giving one self totally without expecting anything in return. . Reciprocal love tantamounts to a bargain. Rama is depicted as a personification of love for He embraced even the brother of His enemy. The moment we understand true love there will be peace.