July 2017 archive

Time is very precious. We should not waste even a second. It is highly valuable. Our elders often tell us to utilize the available time judiciously. We read the same in books too. It is very fine with people who have this sense but those who do not have it are quite dubious. They only want to enjoy the life and are least bothered about anything else. There is a beautiful story to convince such set of people.

A boat was ready to ferry. Meanwhile, a bird landed from somewhere on the sail of the boat. The boat ferried into midway of the ocean. The bird flew into air, saw a particular direction and assumed it to be east and continued to fly to find the shore. Nevertheless, it did not find the shore even after a long time. Then, it understood that it is not moving towards the east direction and hence flew backwards towards the boat and sat once again on the sail of it. It then looked towards another direction and assuming to be west, flew again. Once again, despite flying far distances, it did not find the shore. It could only find water all around. So, it learnt that it is not the west direction. As usual, it came back to the sail of the boat and sat on its position. The bird tried its best by going in all the four directions but soon had to come back every time failing to find the shore. While the bird tried to find the shore, the boat reached the shore. The bird happily flew into the sky.

Here, the bottom line is about the “efforts” that we put in. Despite being in the midway of the ocean, the bird tried many a time to reach the shore. But, it never actually could. Similarly, a man is also entangled in the ocean of samsāra (cycle of births and deaths). Keeping aside about reaching the shore, he is not even putting any basic efforts and offering prayers to God. One must never restrain from putting in human efforts. Many do not consider it. They simply remain idle without any effort. Some or the other day, we must reach the shore called ‘moksha’ (salvation).

Hence, without wasting time, man must ascend the boat called ‘God’ and hold on to the sail called ‘God’s names’. Only then, God will make us reach the shore.
God is somehow making us travel in this life. Just like the bird, we are trying to do something by wasting precious time, money and other resources. This is not good. It is mere waste of time. The bird reached the mid of the ocean. It had no compass. By merely holding onto the sail of the boat, it reached the shore. Likewise, we never know towards which direction the samsāra will drag us. We must surrender to God, who is our boat to cross the ocean called samsāra.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Once, Dharmaraja posed a question to Bhishma. Which of the two is greater – God or human efforts? Bhisma told that the same question was asked by sage Vasista to Lord Brahma. Bhisma described what Brahma had answered.

The human effort is like a field. God is like the seed. The karta (doer) will get results only when both of these mingle with each other. God will not give any results if there is no human effort. If karma is done by putting human efforts, then God will give results according to it. Just like a fertile land cannot produce any yield without a seed, without efforts even God cannot give any results. We get produce only after the land is tilled and ploughed rightly. We must understand that effort implies karma. Satkarma (good karma) gives good results. A good seed will give good yield and vice versa. This has been our experience in the world. The atom sized fire flares up and intensifies into a large flame. Likewise, gradually God will also become favorable with our human efforts. A lamp will not glow if there is no oil. Similarly, a man will deteriorate without the purification of karma.

Parashurama, Bali, Bhrugu and others had to face many hardships despite putting in many efforts. It was because God was not favorable to them. There are many such instances. Hence, we must never assume that either karma/efforts or God are inferior to each other. At the same time, we must understand that human efforts or God individually will not give any good results. Hence, man must couple both of them and reach the destination called Satphala (good results).

Good results will come to us only of we work hard with a good resolve. Even if we do not get good results despite our good determination, we still feel a sense of peace and satisfaction for doing our duty. But, we certainly do not get any results without a good resolve and efforts. To get good benefits and results, you must do your duty with good resolve and good behavior. Merely doing something will not give any results. How do you get good yield when you have not ensured good manure for the land or ploughed it enough? You will not get the crop. Despite all your efforts for a crop, if a cyclone hits and all your hard work goes in vain, then we must understand the tattva (principle) of God. We may worry if it happens so but it is meaningless to worry for not obtaining any results without any efforts. You have all the resources but you do not want to work hard to achieve results. Hence, you do not succeed. Let us discuss about this further.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Who is responsible for our destiny? Yudhistira (Dharmaraja) worried that Kauravas were killed because of him. He brooded over the matter time and again. Hence, Bhisma told a story to pacify him and make him understand that he was not at all the cause behind the killing of Kauravas and it is in fact the “karma” that is responsible for their death.

Long ago, the son of a Brahmin lady, Gautami was bitten by a snake. He died immediately. Gautami cried terribly in front of her son’s dead body. Meanwhile, a hunter named Arjanaka came there holding a snake in his hand. He told Gautami hastily that the snake was responsible for his son’s death. He asked her permission to kill the snake into pieces. But, she rejected and instead questioned Arjanaka that the snake is no way concerned with his son’s death and that it happened because of his karma. So, she asked him to free the snake. However, the hunter in a severe fury did not agree with Gautami. He strongly determined to kill the snake. Suddenly, the snake started to talk. It listened to the entire conversation of the lady and the hunter. It gave explanation that nothing is in its hands and it acts as a tool in the hands of God of death. It also clarified that it had bitten the boy only with the permission of the God of Death. Then, the God of Death appeared and told about her role. She explained that it is wrong to blame her too because she has control over nothing and that she is governed by the God of Time. She further added that she merely followed the words of God of time. Then, the God of Time appeared there and told that it is wrong to blame him too for anything that happens to anyone. He said that he is just a tool and it is only one’s karma that drives everybody and is the cause behind everything. Gautami intervened and endorsed the words of the God of Time so as to make the hunter understand. She requested the hunter to free the snake because nobody is responsible for her son’s death and that it is only his karma. Feeling ashamed for his ignorance, the hunter freed the snake. Thus, Bhisma explained about the principles of karma to Yudhistara.

Hence, nobody is responsible for one’s sorrow or happiness. It is one’s own karma that causes everything. We unnecessarily worry that it is because of a person, thing, etc that we suffer. But it is not so. It is destined to happen, so it happened. It is the predestined karma that is decided by time. Sometimes, Swamiji tells that karma is computerized. Our future is prewritten. Our disappointment is pre-appointed. We face disappointment as a result of that destiny and no one else is responsible for it. The persons who seem to be the reasons behind our sorrow have just coincidently met us. That’s it. The sorrow might have taken a form because of them but no one is behind our sorrow. If we have a strong karma with us, God himself cannot help us avoid it. We must face it. We must pray God for his grace so that we get the energy to bravely fight against it and forget the sorrow.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!