Most beautiful things ever heard- II

Part 1-Glimpses of God

1. Lord Rama...

For a long time this question had been churning my mind. Should one live life for one's own sake or for the sake of others? Srimath Ramayanam gives the clear cut answer to this. If I live life for my own sake, only I am happy and it won't last long because people around me are not going to be happy and it creates conflict. If I live my life entirely for other's sake, sacrificing my small petty desires for the larger good, I start to feel a strange sense of peace, security and happiness. Lord Rama has exactly demonstrated this principle. By taking the human birth the Lord has taught us how to lead our life. It is impossible to be 100% Rama but even if we try to be 0.01% we are through. That is the greatness of the Ramayana. Reading any other story- one tends to feel bored easily. Ramayana never makes us bored. It rejuvenates, recuperates and replenishes our hearts as many times as we read or hear. 

Lord Rama has done nothing for selfish purposes. If one notices, his actions have always been for his people's sake. As a prince of Ayodhya, his top priority was to obey his father's words. As a husband his priority was to rescue Sita. As a king/ruler his priority was to protect his people and take care of all their needs. Never has his actions deviated from Dharma. 

Also in the Ramayana we find the opposite. Soorpanaka wanted to possess Rama, her nose and ears got cut. Ravana wanted to possess Sita, he could not control his desires and did not let go even though he knew she was Rama's wife. Ravana was a tapasvi, a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, the minute he lusted for someone else's wife, his power lost and he was doomed. 

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Another symbolism is that Lord Rama represents the Ultimate, the Purusha, the Lord of the universe and Sitadevi, the goddess of wealth, the Prakriti. All wealth, the entire universe belongs to the Lord. When one tries to possess wealth have an egoistic desire and greed towards it, one meets with downfall and sorrow. So 'Sri' must always be united with her Lord 'Rama'. Rama should never be seen separated from Sita and vice versa. How much the child suffers when its parents are not happily married together or divorced. Similarly, we the children of the Lord suffer when Sri is not with Rama. Who is behind the unison? Who helped reunite Rama and Sita? Anjaneya or Lord Hanuman!! He represents Sakhi-best friend or Sathguru. 

To accomplish any task we need human effort and the grace of the Lord. But most importantly we need motivation-either internal or external. Our best motivator is our teacher. If we are successful in our life today it is because of our teacher or guru who has guided us very well. Even a good friend is our teacher in one sense. I developed an interest in Biology and Maths because my teachers were my motivating factor and kindled my interest in the subjects. 

To attain the highest ideal namely unison with the Lord-(jivathma (Self/Sitadevi) to be united with the Paramathma(universal soul/Athman/Purusha/Lord Rama) one needs the help of the Guru. And that Guru is Lord Hanuman. Lord Rama himself tells Hanuman, "I am indebted to you forever, how am i ever going to repay you for what you have done to me! Whether people worship me or not, they will certainly worship you and celebrate you for ages to come!".

Buddhir balam yaso dhairyam

Nirbhayatvam arogata

Ajaadyam vaak patuthvam cha

Hanumath smaranaath bhaveth

Meaning:

You will be blessed with Wisdom, Strength, Fame, Valor, Fearlessness, Health, Determination, articulativeness (gift of the gab) by praying to Hanuman.

Anjaneya is immortal or Chiranjeevi and meditates in the Himalayas. Whenever, wherever hymns are sung in the praise of Lord Rama in Bhakthi or the Ramayanam is read he would be present there. He undoubtedly motivated me to write this post.