Article from "The Hindu" The Lord, man's true relative

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Date:12/11/2002 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/12/stories/2002111202100900.htm

 

 

Miscellaneous - Religion

 

The Lord, man's true relative

 

CHENNAI NOV.12. Devotion to God develops only through stages. One who

pursues the spiritual path cannot expect devotion to take root

instantly. It is natural for some to become impatient but it must be

remembered that the mind, which is naturally attached to worldly

relations and material pursuits will not turnaround suddenly and

become totally interested in devotional and spiritual practices. The

process is gradual and worshipping God with form helps the mind to

focus on Him. Though the scriptural texts like the Bhagavad Gita

dilate on all the methods to realise God, it is not possible for

everyone to adopt them till a certain level of spiritual evolution is

reached. The incarnations of God help to focus the mind easily as

each devotee can worship a particular form according to his

preference.

 

A devotee once asked Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa how devotion

sprouted in the heart and the saint enlightened him that it developed

gradually by giving an example. When someone wants to meet a king he

has to observe the protocol and pass through various gates in the

palace before he is given an audience. So also is the progress in the

path of devotion possible only in stages till love of God for His own

sake blossoms in the heart. This stage is true devotion. To reach

this end a devotee has to persevere by regular worship and meditation

on His forms. It is akin to educating a child. First it has to go to

a kindergarten school and graduate from one class to the next till

finishing at the university.

 

In his discourse, Swami Gautamananda said devotion resulted in the

understanding that man's only true relation was God and that He would

always stand by His devotee. Family, relationships, power and pelf

will not be constant in anyone's life whereas when a person becomes a

true devotee of God, the special relationship of love that forges

their relationship, will never be severed. Devotion to God as it

matures will result in detachment towards worldly preoccupations and

relations. A devotee need not forsake his family and the world to

follow the spiritual path. When someone entrusts something precious

for safekeeping the person does not get attached to it because he

knows that it does not belong to him. So is the case with all the

material bounties and family relations one is blessed with in this

world. For this a shift in focus is necessary by accepting all that

one enjoys in life as God's grace and remaining detached even while

engaged in the world.

 

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