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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/08/03/stories/2002080300080800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

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Religion

  

 

God's precious gift to human beings

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

AUG.3

 

.. How many of us have seriously and sincerely thought as to why God had made us

appear as human beings? Is it by chance or by an accident that we are here and

will depart unknown? Is our existence meaningful; do we have a purpose in life;

what is the goal before us? Scriptures have told us that man is the crown of

creation. He is endowed with the power of discrimination. He can think, reason

out what happens before him and act rationally. Animals may be trained well, but

they lack wisdom to decide. Hence man should rise above the animal level, give

up baser instincts and remember the mysteries of Nature.

 

God's precious gift to a man is his thinking faculty with which he should be

able to realise as to why he was sent to the world. This can be done by

resorting to spiritual exercises, which will ensure him that he will not deviate

from the path of righteousness and that he will not be swayed by greed,

jealousy, hatred and violence. During his existence he will naturally encounter

various evil forces. To avoid their impact is the goal of spirituality. The easy

steps made available for him not to get involved in worldly ties, include mixing

with religious leaders, following their advice, meditating on God, chanting the

Divine Names and serving mankind.

 

Once a devotee asked a teacher as to how he can realise God? The latter who was

planting onions at that time, asked him to take some of them and plant them at

some distance. It was a puzzle and sounded simple but what was behind this

message was that if one takes his mind away from external things and plants it

in God, he will feel peaceful. God's creations are the same; the world is His

garden and men are His flowers. Only through spirituality can feelings of

fraternity be cultivated. Many ask why they should read scriptures and why

follow the ancient method in the modern world. For them spiritual progress has

no need and they will not listen even to valid explanations given by great

teachers and guides about the significance of various religious observances. To

convince them about religion is like burning a candle before a blind man or

throwing pearls before swine or giving excellent food to crows. Hence the

purpose of life is to utilise the golden opportunity provided to !

be born as men and women, to evolve spiritually, said Swami Musafir Anand in a

lecture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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