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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Benefit of perusing the scriptures

 

CHENNAI, OCT. 14. There is increasing awareness about the

necessity to prevent pollution of our natural resources like air

and water today with the knowledge dawning that the fragile

ecosystem is threatened. While it is possible to tackle

environmental pollution if there is a collective will to do it,

there is another subtle form of pollution which poses a threat to

the future of the human race about which there is hardly any

concern. This is the increasing wrong influence that the human

mind is being subject to in the prevailing materialistic culture.

 

Our spiritual tradition has ensured a holistic approach to human

life in the world so that every individual can enjoy both

material and spiritual well-being. The mind by nature is drawn to

sensory pleasures and it becomes a vicious cycle if one is unable

to draw the line with regard to satiating one's desires. Mental

pollution is more dangerous as it not only thwarts spiritual

growth in this life but also gets carried over in subsequent

lives as latent impressions (Vasanas).

 

Just as water is used for cleansing dirt, the negative influences

on the mind can be neutralised by contemplating on God. We can

extend this analogy further by comparing the scriptures like

Ramayana to a mighty perennial river. Valmiki can be likened to

the mountain from which the river Ramayana originated. Valmiki

came to be known by this name because a big anthill grew over him

when he sat meditating on the divine name ``Rama'' oblivious to

his surroundings. He emerged from it as an enlightened sage and

composed the life of Rama with the grace of the creator, Brahma,

and Sage Narada.

 

In his discourse Sri B. Sundar Kumar said that as the river

waters merge into the ocean, the Ramayana which had come down to

our age from the time of Valmiki, would enable the spiritual

aspirant to attain union with God. Another comparison that is

appropriate is that the river water gets the nature of the sea

water in the delta region as the ocean embraces the river which

flows into it.

 

Adi Sankara in one of his hymns says that the wave belongs to the

ocean; likewise man rightly belongs to God. The hand gesture

(Cinmudra) seen in the Dakshinamurti image denotes that man

merges with the Lord when he disengages himself from the

influence of the material world.

 

When a person peruses the Ramayana with the objective of

realising God, the Almighty facilitates the spiritual growth of

His devotee by imparting His divine nature to him. In the

spiritual tradition there is a saying that when man starts

walking towards God, He responds and embraces him by running

towards him.

 

 

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