|| Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||
|| Aum Namo Narayanaya||
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Bhagawan Sri Krishna
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I am
yet to see anyone or anything disprove the timeless knowledge of our ancient
religion and way of life which has over millennia turned many Jivas into
Shivas. "Athithi Devo Bhava" - treat all guests invited or uninvited
as God Himself... that is one of the instructions that came from the ancient
seers. I had two such guests over the last two days. The drastic change in
weather conditions saw me play host to a virus of flu which left me resigned to
my bed, saturated with hefty doses of medication. Concerns on how to displace
the boredom that may set in were removed when I received my second visitor in
the form of a book from my very dear friend - "God lived with them".
Being an avid collector of books from the Vedanta Bookshop, it surprised me how
even at the behest of Swami Vimokshananda who read wonderful accounts from this
book during sathsangs, it did not form part of my collection. The book delves
into the life stories of the sixteen monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna.
Although feeling a bit embarrassed about not making a concerted effort in
reading their lives on account of placing much emphasis on Master and
Swamiji, I took to the book 'like a little child to candy'.
Here
again, I skipped the introductory chapters of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami
Vivekananda and approached the Life of Swami Brahmananada or Raja Maharaj with
uncertainty as to how would it compare with Master and Swamiji.... but enroute,
was left dumbstruck at the greatness of these disciples... who were regarded as
"Ihswar Kothis" (inner circle with an avatar). The life of Raja
Maharaj came as a tonic to my convulsing mind that failed to cognise the
reality of life. The very questions that taunted my peace were dealt with
by Maharaj in various accounts of His life.
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Once,
Maharaj wrote in a letter to a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna: Who can understand
the divine play of God? Man experiences happiness and misery according to his
karma. This is true of every man whether he is learned or ignorant, good or
wicked. Rare indeed is a person in this world who enjoys uninterrupted peace or
bliss! Blessed is he who is free from desires, for he lives in the kingdom of
peace. There is more misery than happiness in the world, and most people live
in misery. If God is all mericiful then why do His children suffer so much?
Only God knows the answer to this mystery, and not ordinary human beings. Man
suffers because of his ignorance which manifests as 'I' and the 'mine'.
The really happy and fortunate man is he who has given up his ego and has
surrendered his life, mind and intellect to God... and ultimately, has nothing
to call his own. The nature of the mind is to dwell on worldly objects, because
it is created out of three gunas which also constitutes the outer world. It is
only through divine grace that a man can withdraw his mind completely from
external objects and fix it on God.
In
reading this letter, it comes to light that the question as to why is there so
much of suffering and pain would have been entertained by one, at some time or
another. Taking note that the letter was written by Maharaj whilst He was on
pilgrimage in the holy city of Vrindavan
-where Bhagawan Krishna grew up- I
paused for a while in contemplation on the beautiful Lord and came across a
divine idea which I would like to share with respect to the above conundrum.
Deep
in the woods of Vrindavan which were lined with rows of flowering trees and
lakes... streams and hills were buzzing with bees maddened with flower nectar
and chirping with many kinds of birds. The Lord, whilst tendering His cattle
began to play His flute (murali). The woman hearing the notes from the flute
-some engaged in milking- put down the milking pail and ran; some kept the milk
on the hearth for warming , but forgot to take it down; and others forgot to
remove the pot of porridge from the stove... all stopped whatever they did and
hurried towards the sound of the flute.
Just
as Sri Rama is adorned with His bow and Mahadev His trident... Krishna Bhagawan
is never seen without His flute. The flute is a symbolic representation of this
creation. Life can be described as the momentary moment when our attention
deviates from being absorbed in the Lord towards the 'Murali Maya' or the
enchanting sound of the flute. The little session that the Lord plays His flute
is creation, and when He stops, creation ceases. It is all a period of illusion
or maya which I like to call 'Murali Mayam'.
Ignorant
of joy, peace and the Lord who is right with us always - we run after this in
the enchanting world like a donkey carrying hay on its back to feed the cows.
Inebriated by the stimuli of the senses and the sojourn of pleasure it
returns we find ourselves on our knees banging our heads on the temple floors
asking God: “But why have you abandoned me? Why do you let me suffer this way?”
To this question, He never answers but simply smiles, because He was always
there offering His unconditional love and attention. It was us who ran away
from Him enchanted by 'Murali Mayam'.
As a
tree deepens its roots lest it be uprooted in a gale... cling to the Lord lest
you be found suffering apart from Him. We see even Swami Brahmananda felt a
great depression and agony after Sri Ramakrishna’s passing... for it is only in
union with God and in His company that we really are in peace.
May
we all find that peace, is my sincere prayer.
With
love and prayers always
Yogan
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