Guest guest Posted May 2, 2005 Report Share Posted May 2, 2005 Hare Krishna. Pranam to all Vaishnavas, Sri Rama’s Charity Times without number, scriptural texts refer to the need for everyone to extend charity to deserving persons and causes. While listing the benefits which will accrue due to the act of philanthropy, certain rules have also been laid about the manner in which it has to be extended. Essentially, there should be absolutely no compulsion and however insignificant it may be, the help should be voluntary and out of a genuine feeling. Charity should not be done just to display one's opulence or merely to earn name. It should go to the needy when the recipient is in distress. The money so distributed should not have been ill-gotten and the man to whom it is given should also use it for a noble purpose without diverting it to his personal welfare or misusing it. The Vedas clearly indicate the restrictions governing this glorious gesture of goodwill, important of which is the care not to yield to misplaced sympathy. On his death, a Vedic scholar was taken to the court where people's deeds in the world are assessed. In spite of his extraordinary pious acts, he was charged with having committed a sin, which he denied. Once he had given a good quantity of rice to a poor man (who was indeed not in its need) who sold it and started a fish trade in a simple way but which later turned out to be big business. But since the ``capital'' for the venture was initially ``donated'' by the scholar, he was liable to be hauled up. The moral is that charity should also reach a proper place. The Vedas refer to the good which will result from contributing to the performance of some of the special rites for humanity's progress. Of course, all the religious traditions which are followed even now have significance. The Ramayana mentions how people observed these customs and details of Rama's interest in them particularly prior to the preparations for His coronation which was postponed at the last hour. Rama , summoned to the palace of His step-mother, Kaikeyi, to convey to Him about her two boons demanded from the king, was stunned to see His father's miserable plight and his face parched with grief. Conveyed about the decision to send Him in exile and to crown Bharata, the Divine Prince was absolutely calm. Valmiki uses one of the most remarkable similes to express Rama's shock on looking at His father: ``He was frightened like one who had trodden on a snake unawares.'' While leaving Kaikeyi's palace, Rama told her: ``I am not after the world's goods and do not live for them. I am like a sage in my total dedication to virtue.'' All that he wanted was a little time to console His mother and wife before leaving for the forest. Srimad Bhagavatam says in Canto 1 , Chapter 2 : TEXT 30 sa evedaà sasarjägre bhagavän ätma-mäyayä sad-asad-rüpayä cäsau guëamayäguëo vibhuù (In the beginning of the material creation, that Absolute Personality of Godhead [Väsudeva], in His transcendental position, created the energies of cause and effect by His own internal energy.) TEXT 31 tayä vilasiteñv eñu guëeñu guëavän iva antaù-praviñöa äbhäti vijïänena vijåmbhitaù (After creating the material substance, the Lord [Vasudeva] expands Himself and enters into it. And although He is within the material modes of nature and appears to be; one of the created beings, He is always fully enlightened in His transcendental position.) TEXT 32 yathä hy avahito vahnir däruñv ekaù sva-yoniñu näneva bhäti viçvätmä bhüteñu ca tathä pumän (The Lord, as Supersoul, pervades all things, just as fire permeates wood, and so He appears to be of many varieties, though He is the absolute one without a second.) TEXT 33 asau guëamayair bhävair bhüta-sükñmendriyätmabhiù sva-nirmiteñu nirviñöo bhuìkte bhüteñu tad-guëän (The Supersoul enters into the bodies of the created beings who are influenced by the modes of material nature and causes them to enjoy the effects of these modes by the subtle mind.) TEXT 34 bhävayaty eña sattvena lokän vai loka-bhävanaù lélävatäränurato deva-tiryaì-narädiñu (Thus the Lord of the universes (Sri Krishna) maintains all planets inhabited by devatas, men and lower animals. Assuming the roles of incarnations, He performs pastimes to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness.) OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA!!! SriKrishnaDasa RajeevSend instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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