|| Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||
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| pic google images autumn fall |
||Aum Namo Narayanaya||
How wonderful it is at times just to sit back and marvel at
nature. Nobody has to remind her that it is now time for Autumn... and like
clockwork as if adhering to our calendar, Summer gently loosens its grip and
Autumn dutifully fills the void. Without any resistance, the trees raise their
boughs in surrender and one by one shed their leaves carpeting the earth below
with material just in time for the creatures to collect them in preparation for
the icy Winter to follow. This can only be through the power of a supreme being
who can so seamlessly co-ordinate the universe. Sometimes no matter how
co-ordinated to organised an event can be, there will still be some element
that has been forgotten. This is due to our limitations and imperfections. God,
however, is perfect and infinite. Can you imagine, if for an instant, God
forgot to maintain gravity or keep the Sun in position? But... forgetfulness
only belongs to the realm of the finite and limited.
Though we are limited and finite and may not have the power to
change the seasons at will, we however do command a greater power. We all have
the potential and ability to command God. This may seem to immediately
contradict my earlier statement where I proclaimed God to be the Supreme Being
yet here I say that we have the ability to command Him.
Sri Krishna Himself declares in the Srimad Bhagvatam that He is
completely under the control of His sincere devotees. Since the Lord’s devotees
are completely devoid of any desires, the Lord resides solely in the core of
their hearts and in an instant, responds to their call. This is clearly
illustrated by two incidents that immediately come to mind. Firstly, when
Draupadi was being dishonoured and de-robed in the Kaurava Kingdom... the Lord
came to her rescue and when Maharaja Ambarishi came under attack from a demon
created by Druvasa Muni... the Lord at once dispatched His sudarshana chakra.
To those who think that this is far-fetched and correlates to fables concocted
to keep children occupied before bedtime... then we may study the life of
contemporary saints who demonstrated the power of sincere bhakti for the
Lord.
Within a year of the Temple dedication, the head Priest, who was
the brother of Sri Ramakrishna, passed away... and Master was then appointed to
take his place. At that time, Sri Ramakrishna commenced a period of intense
spiritual transformation. He later said, "In that state of divine
exultation I could no longer perform the formal worship. ‘Mother,’ I said, ‘who
will look after me? I have no power to take care myself. I want only to talk
about thee. I want to feed thy devotees. I want to give a little help to those
whom I might chance to meet. How will all that be possible, Mother? Give me a
rich man to stand by me.” That is why Mathur Babu did so much to serve
me."
And so it was Mathur who undertook the role of supporting the
Master’s worldly concerns, thereby helping Sri Ramakrishna to fulfil His
spiritual mission. Mathur felt that the Temple was filled with an intense
manifestation of divinity due to the presence of the Master.
In the life of Swami Vivekananda:
Swamiji’s disciple: Swamiji, here’s your train ticket, and please
allow me to give you this money to pay for meals along the way.
Swamiji: Thank you very much. I appreciate your kindness. However,
I cannot accept the money. I’m determined to live at this time by the precept
taught to me by my master, Sri Ramakrishna, that a sannyasin (monk), like a
bird, should give no thought for the morrow. A sannyasin should rather depend
wholly on God.
Swamiji’s disciple: I’m worried that you’ll suffer along the way.
It’s a long trip.
Swamiji: If it’s the Master’s will that this body should suffer,
then so be it. Good-bye.
Swamiji’s disciple: May Sri Rama protect you.
On the train a trader started to taunt Swamiji about His vow of
poverty and how He could not afford to get His own meals and water. He
continued to take his meals in the face of Swamiji’s parched throat and hunger.
Then Lord Rama entered the dream of a sweatmeat vendor Apurva, and instructed
Him to immediately take food and water to Swamiji. Thinking it was a dream, he
turned about and slept again. Lord Rama angrily interrupted his sleep again and
Apurva immediately got to the task. Taking all the provisions, he met Swamiji
at the station to the jaw- dropping reaction of the trader who mocked Swamiji.
These little incidents give credence and endorses the words of Sri
Krishna in the Bhagvatam that the Lord is at the beck and call of His sincere
devotees. Saint Thirnavakarasur who was deeply devoted to Lord Shiva had an
intense longing to visit Mount Kailas. Through his sincere and earnest prayer,
he had the darshan of Lord Mahadeva and Mount Kailas in his very own
village. The secret to wield this power is nothing but unconditional, unalloyed
sincerity and devotion greased by faith in your Lord... and He will be at your
command.
May Shri Rama help us attain this devotion and sincerity as
practiced by Him, is my sincere prayer.
Love and prayers
Yogan Naidoo
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