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

 

All wealth in world belongs to God

 

CHENNAI, NOV. 17. The mind of a human being, apt to give room for

impure thoughts, will always yield to worldly pleasures. On the

other hand, if it surrenders itself at the feet of the Lord, all

base instincts will be driven away. How to achieve this

perfection of diverting the mind from the attractive but elusive

forces is to abjure pride. Invariably, persons always boast that

``We have done this stupendous task. We have achieved success in

our endeavours through our own efforts.'' This ego should be

totally given up. Whatever we do is at God's behest and through

His guidance. When one sheds the ego, there will be peace of

mind.

 

Persons who have chosen to lead a detached life and who have kept

their mind cleansed of impurities may also be seen to suffer.

This is because of the operation of the Law of Action and

Reaction. Punishment for past deeds cannot be avoided but during

such trials, these pious men will hold to God's feet so that in

their next births, they will be placed amidst blissful

atmosphere. Such godly men will be immersed in deep prayers.

Religious duties, performed with detachment, will condition one's

mind.

 

As one gets up in the morning, he should recall what good he had

done and whether he had yielded to ego and decide what should be

done for the day. Our scriptures declare: ``See God everywhere

and in every creation. Your mind will not harbour vicious

thoughts''. Many instructive lessons on spiritual life and

morality are expounded in the narratives and the hymns dealing

with one of the incarnations of God. Before the Lord truly

blesses a devotee, He puts him to severe trials to efface his

pride, displayed either due to wealth or his position. Bali, a

king, who struck terror by virtue of his power, though truthful,

was proud of his achievements and generosity, forgetting that all

the wealth of the world belongs to the Lord. He scoffed at the

Lord, who assumed a diminutive form, for asking a ridiculous

pittance of three square feet of land.

 

The events in His incarnation as ``Vamana'' clear the doubt in a

few that God goes wrong sometimes with all powers at His command,

and why should He go and seek a small gift. In every action of

His, there will be reason. He needs nothing and He cannot commit

any mistake, explained Sri N. Babu Dikshitar in his Bhagavatham

discourse. Bali realised that before the infinite puissance of

the Lord, his own prosperity was insignificant. After he was

chastened, he was rewarded. In helping the celestials, God has

not shown any partiality. This incarnation reveals how a

religious rite conducted while one is very young will provide the

growing child with memory power and will also enable God's vision

being seated within his heart before lust and desire occupy it.

 

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