The Lover's Life - 11b

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Shloka 9 ½ - 11 <br><br>"etat sahanam atroktam

Azrayo 'to nirUpyate" (9 (1/2)) <br><br>"aihike pAraloke

ca sarvathA zaraNaM hariH <br>duHkhahAnau tathA pApe

bhaye kAmAdy apUraNe" (10) <br><br>"bhakta drohe

bhaktya bhAve bhaktaizcAtikrame kRte <br>azakye vA

suzakye vA sarvathA zaraNaM hariH" (11) <br><br>Now I

will introduce the third teaching- <br>Refuge in Hari.

<br><br>In this world, or <br>In any other, <br>In every

situation, <br>Hari is the refuge. <br><br>In pain and loss

<br>in sin and in fear, <br>in the obtainment of the

object of desire, <br>in anger towards other bhaktas-

<br>in the absence of devotion, <br>in conflict with

bhaktas- <br>in the powerless state, <br>as well as in the

position of power- <br>in every condition remember that

<br>Hari is the refuge. <br><br>Reflections: <br><br>When

she is ready for Him, she discovers the Beloved's

shelter everywhere. His romance and service becomes the

true dharma, the dharma of her inner soul. Then, for

the blessed one, other activities begin to feel

unrelated. Her activities are never undertaken for any other

gain. She knows unrelated karmas will create a delay, a

separation from her Beloved; snags in sustaining His

pleasure. <br><br>With devotion, everything in her life

becomes connected; her life becomes simplified and

transformed. Now, her only effort is to submitt to her

Beloved's aspirations. She arranges the palace of her home

and heart and anticipates His early arrival. All

other activities are seen as diversions. <br><br>Even

if she experiences a state of weakness, the

protector Hari stands besides her and makes her situation

lila-perfect. She sources all of her power into Hari and

crosses everything else on her way to Him. She reflects

upon every condition in relationship to the Beloved,

to her Hari, who is blissful, the remover of her

obstructions and the destroyer of her sorrows. <br><br>His

grace and compassion are inspiring. She finds refuge in

His side-long glance and feels worthy. In His

inviting shelter, she no longer manipulates anything. She

resides in a loving world and knows the perfection of His

will. <br><br>In knowing she is nothing she becomes

replete. With humility, that rare combination of being

firm and gentle, she submitts to the lila and lives

happily. She attains refuge effortlessly without any sense

of self attainment, all with His grace and glance.

<br><br>(continued...)