The Rama story is ours
THE five basic elements that compose
the Universe are cognised by the sense organs in man as sound, touch, form,
taste and smell. The response of the person to these impacts can be either pleasure
or pain, beneficent or maleficent, for it depends on how and in what spirit
they are welcomed and accepted.
Man has three vital tools which can
handle these impacts---body, speech and mind--capable of deed, word and
thought. The body is essential for every act and achievement. "Man is
human because of the body, it is the first requisite for moral living."
Man has been blessed with the body in order that he may realise the purpose of
life---revering elders, serving parents, and loving God.
The body has to be sanctified by the
study of scriptural texts and the lives of holy personages; further it is
rendered pure and sacred by engaging in the promotion of the happiness of
others and earning affection and appreciation of all.
The second tool is speech. This tool
has to be sanctified by adhering to truth and love and avoidance of violence.
Speech has to be free from harshness and frenzy. It must be soft, soaked in
love and pleasing. The words must be so sweet, that the listener desires to
hear them more often. He should love to bring them back to memory, in order to
relive the joyous moments.
Man has ten indriyas to pester
him
The third tool is the mind. It
requires persistent effort to sanctify the mind. It is named manah since
it is ever busy with manana (recapitulation) of the past, confronting
the present and planning for the future. It alternates between likes and
dislikes, yes and no. It is carried away by fits of passion or panic. So, it
has to be curbed and cured by patient persuasion. Above all, one must prevent
it from catering to the greedy senses and thereby losing both health and
happiness.
The mind is described as the
'husband' (pathi) of the senses (Indriya). Dasaratha allowed one
of his three wives to lead him so far astray that he forfeited his own life.
Utthanapada had two wives, their conflict to establish mastery over him cost
him his own son, Dhruva, who left him, and later, his life. Man has ten indriyas
to pester him. If his mind yields to their demands, woe be
to him!
Tongue demands, "Bring me tasty
delicacies or else, I won't speak to you." Ear demands, "Bring me
pleasant music and tell me delightful counsel or else I will stay deaf."
So Eye is adamant. She shouts, "Take me to some attractive Exhibition.
Show me fine films, Video tapes or T.V. programmes; or else, I will no longer
stay in this home!" The poor mind is tormented thus by every sense organ.
So the mind gets feeble, faint and stunted.
When controlled, mind becomes a
sacred tool
Therefore, the mind must be saved
from being enslaved by the senses. The master should never allow himself to be
the servant of his servants. The mind has been provided with a master, whom it
is neglecting and ignoring, through its degrading subservience to the senses.
That master is
Buddhi (intelligence), the faculty of
discrimination. When controlled and directed by this faculty, the mind becomes
a sacred tool.
This day, the birth of' Sri Rama is
celebrated in all lands. Rama had deed, word and thought, body, speech and
mind, ever pure and totally free from blemish. Really speaking, one ought to revere
the story of Rama as a profound allegory. Every act and actor in that story
attracts attention and gets imprinted on the memory because the allegory is
personal to each of us. For example, consider Dasaratha, the Ten Chariot King?
He represents the human body with the five senses of perception and the five
sense-organs of action. He has three wives---the three Gunas or dispositions,
Satwa, Rajas and Tamas---named Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. He has four
sons, who embody in themselves the four goals of human life, Dharma, Artha,
Kama and Moksha. Rama is the very embodiment of Dharma (Morality,
Virtue, Right conduct). The other three goals can be achieved only by steady
adherence to Dharma. We find, therefore, the
brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha and
Satrughna following the footsteps of Rama.
Rama had mustered so much spiritual
strength through his consistent observance of Dharma, that he could
wield and bend the mighty bow named Sivadhanus. That was the proof of the Jivi (the individual)
having overcome delusion. Janaka, the Ruler of Videha, had the bow in his
custody.
He was on the look out for a hero who
had mastered the fatal flaw.
Supreme Wisdom cannot co-exist with
duality
The story relates that Janaka, the Videhi,
(ruler of Videha, that is to say, 'without body' or 'bodyconsciousness')
offered his daughter (the awareness
of Brahman) to Rama. Wedding Sita is another way of saying 'acquiring
Supreme Wisdom', for, from where was Sita gained? The story says, 'from a
furrow on the Earth', that is to say, from Prakriti (Nature). This
statement reveals that Brahma Jnana can be won by meaningful involvement
with Prakriti.
The next stage in the career of Rama
finds him. in the thick jungle of life. The jungle was infested with
attractions and aversions. The Supreme Wisdom cannot co-exist with duality. It insists
on the renunciation of both aspects. Rama pursued the golden deer, which Sita
longed to possess. Brahma Jnanam disappeared as a consequence of this
lapse.
Rama (the representative jivi) had
to undergo many spiritual austerities to regain the Supreme Enlightenment. He
reached, according to the story, the Rsyamuka peak, the abode of total detachment.
There he secured two allies, Sugriva (Discrimination) and Hanuman (Courage).
The alliance was sealed by an act of service from Rama, which indicated his
loyalty to Dharma under all conditions. He slew Vali, the vicious victim
of wickedness. Vali had dethroned his father, forced him-to take refuge in the
jungles, associated with Ravana, of evil fame, and ill-treated his brother
Sugriva for no reason at all. Vali succumbed so low, because of the company he preferred
to be in. He serves as a warning to everyone. Einstein said, "Tell me your
company; I can tell you what you are."
Ramayana in real life of every
aspirant
Rama installed Viveka on the
throne of Vali. With his allies, he entered on the quest for the Wisdom that he
had lost. He found across his path a wide ocean of Moha (delusion). His
ally, Hanuman (Courage) had a vision, unclouded by desire or ignorance. His
only desire was fixed on the Name of Rama and the Form of Rama. So he was able
to leap across the ocean, smooth and safe.
Rama reached the other shore. He slew
Ravana (the embodiment of the Rajasic, passionate, impulsive, possessive
traits) and his brother, Kumbhakarna (the embodiment of the Tamasic, the
dull, the self-destructive, the lethargic, traits). Rama recovered Sita (Brahma
Jnana) now confirmed by striving and struggling, and more convincingly
precious as a result of constant meditation. And, Rama returned with Her to
Ayodhya (the impregnable city, the
Source and Spring of Wisdom).
The consummation of the soul's
journey is the Coronation, the Maha Pattabhishekam.
This is the Ramayana which needs to
be gone through, during the life of every aspirant. The heart is the Ayodhya.
Dasaratha is the body, the Gunas are the consorts, the Purusharthas are
the sons, Sita is Wisdom. Attempt and attain this Realisation by purifying the
three tools--body,
speech and mind.
Hanuman's greatness
Hanuman is the brightest example of
such a realised soul. When he first presented himself before Rama and offered
his services, Rama turned to Lakshmana and said, "Brother! Listen! Notice how
Hanuman has mastered the Vedas. His speech is saturated with the
humility and dedication which the Rig' Veda embodies, the retentiveness
and reverence that the Yajur Veda promotes and the intuitive vision that
the Sama Veda grants. Hanuman knows all the scriptural texts. He is a genuine
devotee. Sugriva is fortunate to have him as his minister, Hanuman, whose
thoughts, words and deeds are offered to God." When these three are in
perfect harmony, the person wins the Grace of God, as Hanuman succeeded in
securing.
Sugriva fumbled in this Sadhana. He
failed to keep his word. He had not commandeered his forces, though the rainy
season had ended. So, Lakshmana vented his anger at his ingratitude and inequity.
"You can never cleanse yourselves of the sin of ungratefulness and breach
of promise. Your conduct is so reprehensible that even vultures will desist
from feeding on your corpse."
When the terrified culprit fell at
the feet of Rama, seeking pardon, Rama said, "Lakshmana! Safe and happy on
his throne, Sugriva is blinded by pride, power and ignorance. Misery alone can open
the eyes of people to the values they have neglected. He has been holding on to
the trivial
and the temporary which intoxicate
man with fleeting joys. How can such a person follow the path of Dharma?"
Hanuman, who heard this compassionate reaction, returned with Sugriva and advised
him to repent and reaffirm, his rectitude and thankfulness. One has to
recognise one's faults and remedy their consequences by sincere
self-examination and repentance.
It is often said that Rama followed Dharma
at all times. This is not the correct way of describing him. He did not
follow Dharma; he was Dharma. What he thought, spoke and did was Dharma,
is Dharma for ever.
Purify speech by adhering to truth
The recitation of Ramayan verses or
listening to the exposition of those verses must transform the person into an
embodiment of Dharma. His every word, thought and deed must exemplify that
ideal. Sraddha (steady faith) in Rama, Ramayana and oneself is essential
for success. And
for what end? To become good and help
others to unfold their goodness. To be totally human with every human value
expanded to the utmost and promote those traits in society to help others too. Purify
the body by means of holy activity. Purify speech by adhering to truth, love
and
sympathy. Purify the mind, not
yielding to the clamour of the senses and the desires they breed. But, the
tragic truth is that learned people do not accept any moral responsibility now.
The world is therefore enveloped in
fear, for people whose thoughts, words and deeds are vitiated by inhuman and
nonhuman motives have gained control over science and technology.The senses
supply material to the mind. The mind is a by-product of the ego. The ego is a reflection
of the Atma. The Atma is wave of the Paramatma, the Universal
Consciousness. Everyone must trace the ego to its spiritual origins and direct
his life on the lines of that heritage.
Discourse
on Sri Rama Navami day at Prasanthi Nilayam on 18-4-1986.
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