We can achieve nothing; God will achieve all things

[Guest guest]

"Nine centuries have elapsed since Ramanuja's period. Is it possible

for the temples to get back to the state the way it was during some

centuries ago? Do you think we can achieve the result by being tender

and compassionate not only wrt divya desams but many dealings in

this "so called" modern world? It's a serious question"

[sow.Nappinnai].

 

Respected Sow. Nappinnai and members of the Ramanuja list:

 

I hope the following thoughts are marginally useful:

 

Firstly, regarding "Do you think we can achieve the result by being

tender and compassionate" let us be absolutely clear: WE can achieve

nothing. We are neither the Upaya nor the Upeya. But that does not

mean we should DO nothing. Let us follow the path of tenderness and

compassion - not because it may work or not work- but because that is

the path our Purvacaryas have told us to walk. After all, we are to

be prapannas, not pragmatists.

 

Secondly, 'money grabbing' in some Divya Desas should not distract

our attention from the fact that an overwhelming number of Divya

Desas, and the Archakas serving therein, are in an impoverished

condition. There are many postings on this list allowing us the

chance to get involved in excellent renovation projects. Moreover,

Swamy Varadarajan Sourirajan urges that not only can we provide

vastrams and essential articles (rice, ghee, cash for bhattars, etc.)

but we should also not fall shy of some good old fashioned kaimkarya:

 

"Get some broom sticks from the local market where the temple is, so

that we ourselves can clean the prakarams . . . .[post 979 on the

Ramanuja List]"

 

Society may yet become so irregular that anyone who follows the above

advice will be considered mad, eccentric or even a nuisance. Neither

heed nor condemn such critics. If you can, pray for them; otherwise

just ignore them. The only approval you need is that of your Acarya

as He claps and says "well played my faithful servant."

 

Yet one of the reasons why too often even sincere people do nothing

is a sense of 'hopelessness'. 'The problem is so bad, that what's the

point of trying to do something about it?'. Such apathy can only be

avoided if we remember that the struggle to revive our sampradaya is

not primarily our, but HIS, struggle. Ultimately, let us always

remember that whilst we can achieve nothing, The Lord will achieve

all things. So take peace from His faithfulness. He has seen our

sampradaya through worse times than the present. When the Divya

Prabhandhas were almost lost, He sent us Sri Nathamunighal; When

monism grew out of control, He sent Sri Ramanuja; when heresies

threatened to corrupt the truth He sent Sri Manavalamamunighal; when

we needed a champion He sent Swamy P.B Anangaracharya. Even today,

the divine presence of those as H.H. Vanamamalai Jeer and H.H.

SrimanNarayan Jeer is reassuring proof that the Lord will never

abandon us.

 

It is true we live in uncertain times. But dont get unnerved by

archakas, officials or other irregularities in our modern world. God

has the situation under control. Trust Him. Of all the people who

might let us down, Sriranganatha is not one of them.

 

Your servant, S. Ramanujadasan