Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Every Disappointment is His appointment
Every Disappointment is His appointment
“A man ought to enjoy whatever God has bestowed on him in the firm conviction that He besets everything, from behind and before, and on all sides and that whatever is bestowed on him by God must be for his good.” – Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. XX.
The problems and difficulties that we face in life are sent to us with a definite purpose; we can always derive benefit and wisdom from the most unpleasant experiences. This is why enlightened souls have always expressed gratitude to God in trying times.
It was Dale Carnegie who said, “When we have accepted the worst, we have nothing more to lose. And that automatically means – we have everything to gain.”
It is not possible for us, with our limited intelligence, to explain everything that happens in life. Why do I have to struggle, while others succeed effortlessly? Why do I have to face so many disappointments? You can analyze and speculate by all means – but the important thing for you is to accept – take life as it comes and get on with it.
It was a wise man who said, “Acceptance is not submission; it is acknowledgement of the facts of the situation.”
When you wish to take on the challenges of life, ask yourself first: What is the worst that can happen to me? The secret of facing life’s challenges is to be prepared for the worst – and to hope for the best! Anything in life that we refuse to accept will only impede our progress and constantly irritate us, until we learn to make with it.
The Irish dramatist, J M Synge, gave us a beautiful play called Riders to the Sea. It tells us of an old Irish woman, who loses her husband and all her seven sons one after another. She accepts her loss with fortitude and at the end of the play, when her only remaining son is to be buried, she utters the moving prayer: “God, Thou gavest. Thou has taken away. Blessed be Thy Name!”
By accepting the worst – the loss of her sons – the mother finds release and liberation from sorrow.
Here is a real experience of a devotee. She was in great emotional distress, and could not keep back her tears as she spoke. Her husband, a kind and devoted man, whom she loved dearly, had been posted abroad. She could not accompany him, for his organization did not permit the families to join employees on such an assignment, for technical reasons.
“I don’t want him to leave me and go abroad,” she said. “Ask him to give up his job. Or pray that this appointment should be cancelled.”
Perhaps the answer might appeared cruel to her at that time, “I do not pray, instead, that you may grow into an understanding of what God wills for you – and that you may cooperate with His Will and let it work uninterrupted, in and through you!”
When her husband went on his assignment, she bade him a tearful farewell. Her face clouded with grief, she said, “You did not do anything for me. You could have helped me if only you wished to do so!”
“Sister, do not despair! God fulfils Himself in many ways.”
After a few months, she was indeed a transformed woman! Her face was wreathed with smiles. She was joyous as a child with a new toy and said, “Thank you, now I do know what you meant – there is the Hand of Divine love and wisdom in all that happens. When my husband departed, I was utterly inconsolable. Then, gradually I thought of what you said: If God had willed my dear one to travel to a faraway land; it must also be for my good. And indeed, it has proved to be so. Now that I am alone at home, I have lot of time to spare. I utilize it to study the Gita, Sai Satcharitra and many holy books and lives of saints – something that I have always wanted to do and never had the time to do! I pray and meditate as often as I can. I attend the satsang everyday. I sing God’s Name and I serve the children and the lowly. And I feel so happy and blessed!
The philosophy of wise acceptance had turned her into a radiant soul!
http://vasukimahal.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Enemy Ego / Real Ego
Enemy Ego / Real Ego
The false ego - "I am," and "It is mine," which constitute the basic principle of material existence (temporary existence) – includes ten sense organs for material activities (temporary activities) (Bhagavad Gita 7.4.) The false ego in the sum total form of mahat-tattva (the sum total of the material creation) is generated from the marginal potency of the Supreme Spirit – God, and due to this false ego of lording it over the material creation, ingredients are generated for the false enjoyment of the living being (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.5.25.) The false ego or materialistic ego is endowed predominantly with active power of three kinds – good, passionate and ignorant. It is from these three types of material ego that the mind, the senses of perception, the organs of action, and the gross elements evolve (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.26.23 – 24.) Materialistic ego, or the sense of identification with matter, is grossly self-centered and hence is the main cause of devoid of real knowledge. However, there is a real ego also. jivera 'svarupa' haya -- krishnera 'nitya-dasa' (Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 20.108-109), means I am an eternal servant of Krishna. This is the real ego. Read the article below by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaja. This is an excerpt from the book: The Loving Search for the Lost Servant (see http://scsmathnj.com/media/CSM_PDF/lovingsearch.pdf ) .
Enemy Ego / Real Ego
by
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaja
Here, everything is but a reflection of the perfect world. Originally everything is there, including all types of service, but here we have only a perverted reflection. Leaving this variegated world behind, we should not attempt to merge into non-consciousness so that we won't be able to feel any pleasure or pain. At present we are under the influence of our enemy ego. Real ego exists in the spiritual world. All experience is found there, but it is full of beauty and charm.
Krishna consciousness means full-fledged theism. This means that we can have a relationship with the infinite up to consorthood. Everything that we need to help us and lead us in the right direction is really to be found in the spiritual world in its purest and most desirable position. What we find here is only a shadow, a black imitation. But reality means full-fledged theism – Krishna consciousness – where the infinite embraces the whole finite. The infinite comes down to welcome, to fully embrace the finite – that is Vrindavana. And this is full-fledged theism: through Krishna consciousness, one negligent part of the finite may experience the blissful embrace of the whole infinite. And in Vrindavana, not a corner is left neglected. Every grain of sand, every blade of grass, is well-represented there with personality. Here, what to speak of a particle of sand, so many things are insignificant. But in Vrindavana, everything is cared for. Nothing is ignored. That is fullfledged theism. This is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.21.5):
varhapidam nata-bara-vapuh karnayoh karnikaram bibrad vasah kanaka-kapisam vaijayantin ca malam randhran venoradhara-sudhaya purayan gopavrndair vrndaranyam sva-pada-ramanam pravisad gita-kirtih
Sukadeva Goswami reveals something astounding to Pariksit Maharaja. When Krishna enters the forest of Vrindavana by the touch of the soles of His lotus feet, the earth feels the pleasure of His embrace – the personal embrace of the Sweet Absolute (vrndaranyam sva-padaramanam). This is inconceivable! By the touch of the holy feet of Krishna, the sand and the earth feel the pleasure of consorthood! Glorified by His cowherd friends, He enters the forest of Vrindavana, and the earth, the forest, and everything that comes in connection with Him feels a higher, closer sense experience of pleasure to the happiest degree.