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VISHWESHA VANI
The thought, word and deed of great men are consistent and upright. To that category Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji belongs. He did what he said and said what he did. They were never contradictory. He was sincere. He was upright, His faith, devotion, aim and approach to achieve his goals were worth emulation. To elucidate his path of growth we have tried to give more than seventy-five utterances of his (which have been compiled). It is a collection of his utterances delivered in different sabhas and conventions and excerpts from his Gita Sarodhara, Tatwanjali writings etc. These were worth remembering and recollecting. These were categorized under different heads for easy location for the reader.
The world is arranged in a systematic method with a purpose. Everywhere we can enjoy every aspect of nature in it. Every corner of the world is in its precision. They are interlinked. Even if one link gets dislocated the things loose their validity. Our limbs, the flora and fauna, sun, moon the stars and the like wise we can find so many packed in precision, in our ambience for our harmonious habitation.The precision and cohesion is incomparable. Can it be an outcome of an accident? If a typist types for hundreds of years without an object he cannot attain Kalidas’s stature to write a drama. When it is so how can one believe that this extensive wonderful and colorful world is an outcome of an accident? There is a great source of strength behind this most complex creation of this mundane world which full of variety. That source we call it as God.
Jagannathadasa compares God to eye- lid because eyelids are close by our eyes and protects it always. It is so with God who protects us by being on our side, always. From this example we can infer another aspect also. Even though eye sees everything in and around, it cannot see the lid, which always protects it and lies by the side of it. It is so with us. We are unable to recognize the Lord who is with us always and stands by us always.
The trainer comes to the rescue of the learning swimmer when he is about to drown so that he can save him. It is so with God. He comes as the last resort. God incarnates when the righteousness depletes.
God’s ways are different. He is the savior of all both physical as well as spiritually. He saves on one’s merit. He doesn’t discriminate. His dealings might look as if he doesn’t care.His intention is to make us like the gold. To purify the gold it has to be put into fire. Then only it glitters. One should not judge God’s ways and get agitated and take extreme steps. The afflictions are temporary should be endured.
Sun evaporates seawater. He converts that saline water into pure rainwater and drops. So is God. He accepts our inferior, non-eternal offerings and gives us copiously his bliss and happiness.
Mother shows more affinity and care on the diseased,and exceptional(physically and mentally challenged) off springs. It is so with God. He likes the less privileged and He likes more of them who help the less and under privileged.
In this mundane world one might escape from the purview of the government and escape punishment but it is impossible in Lord’s governance as he is ‘Vshwata Chakshu’ He can see all from all angles. There is no way to escape. God’s ways are slow but sure and certain. One has to undergo punishment in his governance even though he might enjoy in the beginning.
This inanimate world has gravitational power. It attracts anything thrown above. It is likewise with regarding material attractions. They pull any one who inclines towards them. God too has the power of attraction like a magnet. His is different from materialistic attractions, which pulls you down. God’s charisma is uplifting and elating. He uplifts the degenerating humans towards higher altitudes He gives scopes, support and sanctions who incline towards him. Falling to His charisma is one’s entity’s worth.(jeevarashilakshana)
The imprisonment of criminals is to make them realize their folly and it is not to punish them. It is a corrective measure. Even God does the same-he imprisons us in the ‘Samsara’ in order to make the Jeevas (souls) turn towards Him and to get the real knowledge of Him.
God lives in pristine and pure places. Children have such hearts as they are not polluted or influenced by external forces. They are pure that is why he chooses children to be his closest.
Our parents, wife and children and our relations, these kith and kin are temporary and pertained to the present birth alone. God alone is our eternal kith and kin. He is different. Our relationship is linear. Our relationship in this mundane world is restricted. A father cannot be a mother, a mother cannot be a wife, sibling children cannot be parents and vice versa. He is mother, father, son, spouse and all other relationships. In this respect God is totally unique.
God’s’ acceptance:
God accepts any offerings made by devotee who follow his advice and not those who latently, hypocritically observe rituals. This is proved when he went to Hastinapura to make truse with Duryodhana. He did not accept their hospitality because they never followed his sayings at anytime.
SAMSKRUTHI (CULTURE)
By attaining Excellency in various faculties (para jnana) one helps himself to achieve monetary and material benefits but for the blossoming of the souls we require the knowledge of spirituality (apara jnana). It is like electric or gas lights, which dispel the darkness of the night, but they are unable to bloom the Lotus. Lotus (for blooming) requires Sun’s rays alone. The dawn of Sun alone can do that none else.
If the home has to be called as “Bhavana , then it should be a place for prayers and chanting of Lord’s name Other wise it becomes Bhavana without letter ‘Bha’, that is it becomes Vana- which means a forest ,a dwelling for founa and not for Sajjana (good souls). It becomes a dwelling place for beasts and not beings (humans).
Offering sins to Lord:
Even a blade of grass does not move without Lord’s concern or approval. So all our activities are predestined. They are happening at the behest of the Lord. Hence everything should be offered unto Him which include both punya as well as papa karmas. God accepts our punya karmas alone as offerings to him. So it is our duty to offer only such things, which pleases him.
God does not sleep, does not feel hungry but still we offer him Neivedya and Shayana sevas. It is for our internal awakeninge sevas. We do this for our growth and for getting blessed. We see in him a father, mother and a child. When we do these owpacharika sevas we get elated and our internal upliftment takes place.
Some times those who are satvik, who follow rituals sincerely face unprecedented difficulties and problems where as those who do not care the principles and rituals enjoy lives in luxury. This should not deter us from following and believing the rituals.
Hanuma Bhima encounter:
In the Mahabharatha epic there is an anecdote where Bhimasena encounters Hanuma (his previous incarnation) while he goes in search of Sowgandhika flower. Bhima ignores Hanuma in the beginning and in the end he enters into truce with him.- It is a thought provoking incident that has great significance to the present day. Bhimasena was destroying any hindrance that came on his path-(the plants, trees and hillocks or anything for that matter which came as an obstacle) Today’s scientific advancement is like Bhimasena. It is in a haste and speed. Like Hanumman’s tail, which obstructed the hasty Bhimsena, the Sanathana Dharma (eternal) is like a stumbling block hindering the hasty scientific advancement. Bhimasena showed how his haste was checked by Hanuma so also Sanathana Dharma is putting breaks on the Scientific pace, temper and, spirit which has become hasty and weak. Like Bhima even the scientific temper should come to truce with the Sanathana dharma. The inference is that truth and duty should work together in unity for the growth of humanity.
It is a wrong notion to think that once you perform ceremony for your ancestors at places Like Gaya, Badri etc., will suffice and you need not perform it annually. It is not so. God is self-contented. He does not require our pooja and other offerings but still we do it with a meticulous care all this as our daily duty. We are doing all this for our sake, satisfaction and duty consciousness. Our performance at places like Badri, Gaya might have made our PITRUS (ancestors) to attain sadgathi but indebtedness make us to perform annual ceremony regularly. It is an act to show our gratitude.
Wick lamps without oil:
Wicks, which might be very good to look but without oil it, cannot bring the light, for which it is meant. (We cannot throw the blame on God and sit quietly. It will not fetch us anything. Without efforts and trials we cannot achieve anything.)
Criticism and appreciations alone will not help us to progress in the path of knowledge. Even though they are essential they should not be based on fanaticism and blind beliefs, if it is so it will end in disasters.
Our culture should have broad outlook so that it could accommodate all the salient features of other cultures but this does not mean that they should overlap or eclipse our own culture. It is like allowing the air to enter from all four sides but it should not blow off our own roofs.
Emulating the Lord.
To keep up the promise made to his father Sri Rama left forests giving up rpyal robes. The devoted Bhishma, to make his father Shantanu happy he has remained a chronic bachelor throughout his life. He just followed the lord, in making sacrifice. such is the devotion of that devoted bhakta Bhishma.
We should know the difference between Caste and Religion.Religion belongs to one’s conscience. One has full freedom to choose his religion. Caste is in born. It carries with it its own traits. One cannot imagine that one can become a Brahmin if he follows brahmanical norms . It is so with Brahmin born cannot keep up his brahminical traits if he starts eating meat and drinking intoxicating drinks.
After the death of Vali, Sugriva accepted his wife Tara as his. It looks odd to this age. It was acceptable for that age. The seers prescribed norms according to the need and necessity of that age. It is called Yuga Dharma. These norms are to control man’s weaknesses. It is like diseased are prone to many constrains (pathya-restrictions regarding food) than a healthy one.
God rotates this entire world like the giant horse wheel of children in a circus. He does it without any effort and not to shows his prowess. He never wants to exhibit his omniscience or omni- potency. That is his style of functioning.
Philanthropist is more a miser:
A miser who hoards the treasure without shelling out a single paisa is lesser miser compared to a philanthropist who gives out everything he has to others because the philanthropist does it with an eye on heaven and reserves his berth by emptying everything he has in this world whereas the miser leaves everything he has when he departs to paraloka– Who is the real miser?
Who should be given charity:
The physically challenged and poor people should be given charity as we give it to noble and scholarly people. We should show compassion to all creatures. God gets pleased with these benign actions, says Acharya Madhwa. The charity given to the noble and scholars yield more beneficial consequences.
The temporary ministership:
One can have lavish unquestioned life as long as you are in the ministerial berth. Once the post is lost you become an ordinary member of the society. It is so with Swarga Suka. As long as you have foreign currency you can enjoy- once it gets finished you would be deported.. “Ksheene punye martye lokam visanthi” Swarga sukha is temporary. So let us not aim at it.Let us aspire for eternal moksha, it can be attained by performing duties without expecting any selfish results.
There is no hard and fast rule that riches alone will fetch salvation. When with sincere devotion anything is offered to Lord one can attain their objects of welfare. One should utilize the riches to the deserving causes. That is all the requirement is.
We allot places at our homes for each and everything, but we do not have separate allocations for light and air, still they occupy all places, Even ‘Dharma’ does not have a separate time allocation in our daily schedule,So we should practice the dharma in our each and every activity and form part out daily routines.
The rituals to be followed and not to be followed in our daily routine have been well defined and pronounced in the scriptures. We find it difficult to adhere to them in these days. We cannot totally ignore them also. So we should follow them in the least minimum way. So we have categorized them into four point programme.
They are Ga, Gaa, Gii and Go. { aÉ ,aÉÉ ,aÉÏ, aÉÉå }
Ga {aÉ} - means Ganga Snana- everyday while taking bath, pray Ganga and request her to be present in the bathing waters with which we bathe. Gaa {aÉÉ} - meanss Gayathri japa- immediately after bath, instead of getting into daily routine of mundane duties, allocate time for Gayathri japa-, which implies Gods omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience. His capacity to guard, guide and be the driving force is implied in it. Gee {aÉÏ} - means Gita parayana- recite or read Gita slokas with the meaning and the fourth one is Go. Go{ aÉÉå}- means Govinda - worship Govinda and to think of him while performing any activity. These four points spiritual programme has summarized the entire scriptural guidelines and directions for our lives.
Any literary piece, which proclaims its time and nationality, has a confinement or limitations with its time and place of origin. It is the limitations, which makes them not universally applicable. In this respect Vedas stand apart. They are Apurusheya (not written and uttered by any human so they are defect less, deficiency less). It is not confined to any time or region. It is universal, “Yavoo Brahma Vishititham Thavathee Vak” Vedas are as eternal as Brahma.
Vedas are constitutional codes for entire humanity. It dictates the principles on which entire humanity has to conduct. These are the revelations of those visionaries of God. It is an eructation in their natural utterances.
Literature can be of Prabhu scriptures, Suhruth Scriptures and Kantha scriptures. Upanishads do not come under these categories. It is a unique literary scripture- a mother scripture. It is a literature, which blooms the soul. It has maternal influence on its reader and transforms him / her.
Heart blooming scriptures:
Present day literature evokes sentiments. We do not want such literatures. We need heart blooming scriptures and they are vedas.
The cattle are of different complexions but do they yield milk in different colours?. The ‘Vysa Sahitya’ and ‘Dasa Sahitya’ are written in different languages, but the philosophical truths which they dessipate is the same.
Ray’s of Moon light:
The literary splendor and grandeur of the Sanskrit Scriptures cannot be comprehended directly by all. But at the same time the same spiritual knowledge is revealed in the simple commoner’s language of Dasa’s, which reaches the people easily. It is like Sun’s rays, which cannot be faced directly, but it could be solicited when it gets reflected from moon. Is it not true?
“Ithihasa puranabhyam vedam samupabrumuhayathe” Veda’s knowledge can be enriched with the knowledge of purans and ethihasa’s (epics). This does not mean that Vedas should be ignored. When eyesight gets affected we go for spectacles which does not mean that eyes are not required. It is like ignoring Vedas are not necessary when we have puranas and ethihasas. Without eye man is called blind so alsowithout the knowledge of Vedas, true knowledge cannot be abtained. the knowledge of ‘Ithihasas’ and ‘Puranas’ alone will not suffice, we become short sighted. We require the knowledge of Vedas.It is the Veda that is the true knowledge.
IDEALS
To reach the aim bow alone or arrow alone will not suffice, it requires both. Bow’s strength and arrows’ speed and agility should combine, and then alone arrow reaches the aimed destination. Like wise in our society also, experience of the elderly men and the energy of the youth should go hand in glove. It should synchronize. If youngsters enthusiasm is not guided properly by the experienced elders its like an arrow without bow. If youngsters ignore elders experience it becomes a bow without an arrow.
Water should always flow. If it gets stagnated in a cesspit of pool it gets polluted. So also the flow of love, it should not get stagnated in self-centered me and mine pools. It should over flow and over flow towards the ocean of God. Then the river attains piety.
We have diversity of traditions and conventions. Let it be, but they should not become impediment to progress or unity. Lets try to find unity in this diversity. Then diversity becomes tolerable.When different instruments are played in their own accord it results in jarring sounds but if they are tuned to rhyme and rhythm then, it results in melodious music.
When you bring your five fingers together into a fist, you can use it for reaching and picking deep dwelled precious gems from the ocean and it can be used for combating and entering into fisticuffs if required. It is so with unity of men. This unity could be used for good as well as bad purposes. A wise man will use it for good purposes.
If a vacant land is there government will confiscate as it has legal provision. It is so with our brain. Empty brain is a devil’s workshop. One should not give chance for it. You should fill it; occupy it with noble thoughts from all sources so that it can yield good character.
Mahabraratha is not just the clash of cousins- the Pandavas and Kauravas. It is the reflection of entire humanity as a whole of all times. Pandavas were of five in number; they are five characteristics features of a man. Dharmaraja represented Righteousness, Bhima-wisdom, devotion and renunciation, Arjuna- inquisitiveness, Nakula- noble character and Sahadeva - restraint. Kauravas who were hundred in numbers represented the sum total of all evil qualities. Sakuni represented atheistic attitude. Sakuni initiated these evil elements to pounce upon the good. In the beginning the evil had upper hand. Pandavas were driven to forest for twelve years. They even had to spend one year in incognito. Krishna stood on the side of Pandavas who were good and made them win at the end. We should fight the bad and be with the good, This is what we have to infer from Mahabharatha.
Arjuna and Yogeshwara Sri Krishna together represent victory and prowess-that is why Veda Vyasa says “Yatra Partho Dhanurdharaha”. Here we have to infer that mere devotion alone doesn’t fetch victory, one should become duty bounded then victory is lest assured.
Lakshmi originated from the churning of the ocean and straight away she went to Narayana by discarding unwanted desires, demons and sensuous objects. She garlanded Him and got married. Lakshmi Narayan’s wedding brought the world harmony and happiness. When wealth comes to us, there are a variety evil forces waiting to gulp it. If we avoid and ignore these forces and use the wealth in the service of the Lord then it helps for the development of the welfare of the society.
Elephant headed Ganadhipa - Vigneshwara has Ankush in his hand. In faact it should be with Mahout the elephant rider. The inference is different. Ganadhipa has it to control himself. He wants us to emulate him because the self-control is the best policy and not others to control us.
A sapling grows into a tree. This theory doesn’t apply to humans. Sapling grows into a tree that means an incomplete one becomes complete. This rule dose not apply to God. God in any form is total, whole full and complete. He is never deficient. Humans are incomplete as a child as well as a grown up adults. So they cannot become God.
It is correct to proclaim Acharya Madhwa as a wonderful Researcher and not as the founder of new philosophy. He brought Tatva Vada (which was concealed) to light by his wonderful analytical research. He with his truthful analysis proved his logic.
Dual Realities are essential:
Atheists believe that this mundane world alone is real and not the Brahman (God). The theists believe in Brahman alone and are totally engrossed in it. It is Acharya Madhwa who insisted that the world as well as Brahman both are real and it is our duty to perform our duties in this world with sincere devotion to God. That is why Acharya says “kurubhunksha cha karma nijam niyathham Hari pada vinamradhiya sathatham.
If we want to see the reflections clearly in water then the water should be free from scum and froth. There shouldnot be any ripples even. It so if you want to have vision of Lord Sri Hari in your inner heart (Antharathma) it shoud be devoid of sensuous pollutions and disbeliefs. It should be serene and sober. That is whyAcharya Madhwa insisted on virtuous living and good discerning capacity.Virtuous living cleanses the inner pollution and good discerning thoughts keeps the mind clear of doubts.
God is omnipresent still he cannot be seen with naked eye. He is like electric power. Even it cannot be seen with naked eye. It’s presence can be seen in the burning bulbs force with a variation on what it’s capacity. Likewise depending upon one’s intrinsic capacity one can see God or ‘God’sVaibhava’ or ‘Mahima’ or ‘Presence’.
- Sri Sri Swamiji.
Who observe ‘Nirjala’ Upavasa ( Not even taking water in any quantity exept Theertha) on ‘Ekadashi’ thinks of ‘Dwadashi’day’s menu only. We may become physically week but our palate never becomes inactive. Even when branches of a tree is pruned it grows again when the tree is watered. If one does not control palate our mental diseases cannot be controlled.
-Sri Sri Swamiji.
How grateful we are?
We always complain that God is unkind and not showering his blessings on us. Before making a complaint we should introspect ourselves. We have more faith in a goorkha (a watch-man who is also a human with limited capacity) and in a domesticated dog and leave the house in their custody than to believe all protective and potent God.
What a faith we have?
We make scurrilous remarks on Sugriva who got totally engrossed in mundane pleasures and forgot the promise made to SriRama but we totally forget how far we are different from Sugriva? God has given this Shareera (body) to help for sadhana and uplifting from this rotation of the life cycle. How far we are living up to this expectation.
Meaner than a dog:
Dog which we call as mean, wags its tail faithfully and gratefully even to a person who feeds it once or twice. Where as the so called intellectual being(human) never thinks of God who has provided food throughout his life and protects him always. Aren’t we ungrateful? Aren’t we meaner than a dog?
When demons seized the King Manu- God came to his rescue and saved him from the demons. We are also in the same plight. In this materialistic world demonic elements start devouring us. It is misleading us to bottomless deteriorations. It is like intoxicating drinks devouring drunkards. If we have to save ourselves from these clutches we should surrender to Esavasyopanishad and practice its message.Its message being that of sacrifice,duty and devotion to God. Then only we can become inaccessible to these devilish elements.
Vibhishana was a satvik as he took asylum in ethics and righteousness. Ravana was a rajasic by trait so he involved in nonviolence and misconduct. Kumbarkarna was the manifestation of thamasik. He was known for sleep and procrastination.Even though all of them were siblings they were different in characters.In the end Vibhishana succeeded and got coronated by Lord Sri Ramachandra. They do not belong to Srilanka alone. They are in us also. In us the Rajasa and Thamasa qualities eclipse the satvika quality and dominate the character. It is because Vibhishana surrendered to Sri Ramachandra.Like Vibhishana we should seek after the Lord so that we can have his benigh care and we become successful.
Hanuman became the messenger between Sri Rama and Sita (abducted by Ravana) in Lanka. We are also in Lanka. Our body, which is totally submerged in Samsara, is Lanka itself. As Lanka is infested with demons so also our body which is infested with many bad qualities and bad attitudes (occupations). If we want to get rid off them and reach Sri Rama, we have to seek Guru Anjaneya the mediator.
Rudiments of Bhakthi:
It is said that Sri Rama did not know how to distinguish between Sugreeva and Vali while they were fighting. To save him, Sugreeva wore a garland and then Sri Rama could easily kill Vali and save Sugreeva. Even in our lives we encounter good and bad people, as our society is a mix of theses two. God also waits till the noble declare their nobility. When noble peoplehave the garland of good conduct and devotion then God stands by them like a rock.
Wife can sacrifice her comforts and happiness for her spouse’s sake. That doesn’t mean that she should give up her interests and beliefs. The spouses should behave in such a manner they don’t interfere each other’s independence but should work in unison.
One’s light of the soul, which was kindled by its association with charitable institutions and their communions, should kindle many who come in to contact with them. It should not get extinguish when they come out of the premises of these ambiences as the evil forces are blowing outside these arena.
A king requested a scholar to advice his son to give up drinking coffee. The scholar wanted a fortnight’s time for accepting to advice. He did it after a fortnight. King after the assignment asked the scholar, why he needed a fortnight for accepting the assignment. Scholar said that he required that time so that he could give up the habit of drinking coffee. He added when he gave up the habit of drinking coffee then only he got entitled to advice his son. The inference is to practice before preach.
“Service to mankind is service to God”- that does not mean that people by themselves are God. It is like Idol (which we worship) is not God, the flag (which we salute) is not the nation itself. They are symbols. We should consider the society and community as replicas of God and serve them. Then the service to mankind becomes real Janardhan seva.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING GIVEN BY THE GRACE OF THE GOD DEDICATE UNTO TO HIM TO LIVE WITH PRIDE
· Paramathma is the Image and we are his reflections. If our reflections are to be viewed good, we should not decorate the mirror instead we should decorate ourselves. If we the reflections have to have progress and prosperity, we should do all requisite poojas (shodasopachara pujas) unto God and thus welfare of the mankind can be ensured.
· Temples are the lighthouses of Hindu society as lighthouses are to the vessels in the ocean.
· Sudhama’s a handful of pounded rice had unimaginable consequences. It is because the impeccable devotional attitude behind it. Any trivial duty done with sincere devotion will have leaps and bounds of consequences.
· Yajna is not mere sacrifice offered into Agni(fire).Yajna is any good deed done with devotion and with a pinch of duty devoid of any results.
· Our religion is determined with our birth and we should not meddle with it. We should sincerely follow it.
· A cloth doesn’t get cleansed by rinsing in the water. It should be washed well before rinsing. So also our souls. Gaining materialistic knowledge does not elevate them. It should be complimented by performing duties without expecting results then the souls will get elevated to such a samadhi status that we can have the vision of the Lord imprinted.
· Technological surroundings have polluted the atmosphere extremely. Soul’s internal atmosphere is polluted by deceptive and conspiring thoughts nature. If this situation of these two have to get purged them mantra wave should over lap them..
· Hard earned wealth is the best, ancestral one is better. One wealth got by fighting with sibling is worse and dowry is the worst of worst. That is why youth should under take an oath of not accepting dowry or asking for it. As the wealth got as dowry is the worst of the ill gotten wealth.
Temples are the only source of tranquil ambience for souls, which are ridden with day-to-day mundane monotonous routines. Temples are the places, which are far from these tangles, and they don’t entangle. It is like an oasis for parched dry ridden lives.
To safe guard and keep the vessels (ships) on the right track the lighthouse shows the way. As the lighthouse is for vessels, so are the mutts and temples for those who are totally dissolved in the samsara and material world.
We can change or transform any house, shop or any other business concern. It should not happen to temples for any reason. We should not change the pious environment of the temples. Temples should be kept apart from our negative influences then alone the temples can serve the purpose for which they have been consecrated.
Devotion should be devoid of blind belief:
Icons or idols are mediums though which we express our devotion. That doesn’t mean that we should consider idols as the God. God should not be seen as an idol, an icon or a statue because God is most dynamic potent entity. He should not be equated or treated as an inert statue or an insentient object. If we consider idols as God himself then we are having blind faith or fanatical devotion. We should have discerning capacity and devote.
We respect a small piece of cloth when it is considered as national symbol of flag. In the same manner we bow down to idols in the sanctorums. Idols are replicas of the Lord of the World.
When we ask for water we fetch it in a vessel or glass. It is so when the devotees entreat for God the great men or seers who take pity on us give us these icons. As we drink water alone and dejecting the vessel, we should develop capacity to discern God from the idol and develop devotion.
Let the god will enliven the ambience and let all live in tranquility and harmony.
The moral and ethical norms are called Dharma. They are the causes of established universal behaviour that exists. The Shastras are the true mirrors, which show dharma in their unblemished way. They impart the Dharma in their truthful manner most authentically.
Society’s harmony has been protected by dharma and devotion to God. Even atheistic people who do not give their concurrence to this view, accepts the ethics and good character as the nourishing factors of our social life. Truth, righteousness, love-helping nature, sacrifice are the good qualities which make the society alive otherwise violence, untruth will destroy the very existence of the life of the society. It is undisputable that Dharma and Devotion becomes the basic driving force for the ethical and righteous life.
Some ethical norms has become part of our lives. These norms are passed on (imbibed into) to us since generations.. Men of moral fore- thought have done it. Even atheists too inadvertently got influenced by these norms. Due to narrow mindedness and selfishness the theists have yielded to amoral dealing which of late taken upper hand. Unless we root out these harbingers of amorality, we cannot safeguard the ethical codes, which guard the society’s harmony.
In this materialist world there is no place for impeccable character, compassion and sacrifice. We do not see one’s sacrifice of wealth and happiness of others in this era. Man has stooped to such low levels of betrayal and deception to achieve his self centered goals. If these become the objectives how can we stop them? To elate the eternal soul and to surrender unto God’s will are the only means to get rid off from this situation and they become prime movers for harmonious ethical awareness- (it is the only way for the great escape)
Our dharma is eternal and everlasting. That does not mean that we should show lesser importance and be careless in protecting it. Atma (soul) is eternal and still it take refuge in physical body for its growth and development, even dharma seeks our help. We are the foliage and dharma is the tree. Tree for its existence depends upon the foliage and foliage cannot exist without a tree. They are interdependent.
If science is compared to a horse, Dharma is its blindfold. Horse cannot be controlled if there is no blindfold. It falls into ravines of abysmal depths along with its rider. Science without dharma is like that. Horse gets uncontrollable energy as it gallops at fast pace. The necessity of blindfold is more here. Science is advancing at a fast pace due to unprecedented encouragement it is getting now. So the dharmic blindfold is imminent to it to keep it in it’s grew.
There is no discrimination or an iota of difference among the different avataras (incarnations) of God, but customarily we say Krishnarpanamasthu at the end of every satkarya.We never say Ramarpanamasthu or Vamanarpanamasthu.Why? Krishna in his incarnation says” Yathkaroshi Yadashnasi Thathkurushwa Madarpanam” that may be the reason which has come into usage since ages.
The dark house becomes the dwelling place of all sorts of insects like cockroaches, worms and unwanted organisms. It becomes a welcome entrance for thieves and robbers. So is our inner-self (antarathma). This is encircled with darkness of ignorance. So it breeds ill- feelings and evil thoughts. If we want to keep them off, the light of devotion to Lord should be kindled (it should be lit). Thieves do not enter the house, which is lit. Demonic forces and devilish ideas will not make an entry into the house with lights, which are lit with devotion. As light dispels the darkness our mind also should be filled with the radiance of Bakthi. In this context we should pray daily with the knowledge of Tharathamya (hierarchical veneration) to get blessed accordingly.
- Sri Sri Swamiji.
