Deserve it and you will have it

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Deserve it and you will have it

By Dr. G.R. Vijayakumar

So long as your physical activities are not truly dedicated, the outer

upasana, or devotion is only a mere show and self-deception. Dedicated

upasana means that all your habits of food, drink, sleep and exercise

must be absolutely in accordance with the laws of Nature. We break the

laws of Nature, if we are slave to sense enjoyments and bad tastes, the

punishment of which is sorrow and suffering. How can you concentrate on Upasana

or devotion, when you are experiencing trouble and affliction?

The man whose mind is bent in accordance with the Laws of Nature, whose desires

are', as if those....of God Himself and whose habits are

natural, is in fact enjoying oneness with God and is in practice of singing

Sivoham (I am Siva) . How can he feel any sorrow or suffering? In Mundaka

Upanishad (II.4} it has been mentioned that " a man with weak strength cannot

attain Atma.. " His strength means physical, mental and spiritual. It is also

called " Adhyavasaya " and, in the terminology of Gita it is called " Prajna,

Pratisthita " .

Spiritual disciplines are many and varied. In the case of subtle

disciplines, however, much depends on the capacity of a seeker to

understand guidance that comes by indirect methods rather than by

explicit, verbal instructions from the guiding Master. One who can grasp Sri

Radhakrishna Swamiji's quick, spontaneous reactions to his innermost thoughts

and who can give the obedience demanded immediately

recognizes the Guru in him. Swamiji brings about a complete inner

transformation in such a seeker. He patiently and ceaselessly leads

those who place complete reliance on him, forward from the narrow

individual self to the realisation of the all-pervading Universal Self

which is their true being. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji is thus a Guru whose real

mission is to help the seeker turn his mind within and find inner peace and joy

through which he can attain Self-realisation.

 

One fine morning in 1978 or so, I went to meet Swamiji at the Sai

Mandir. He was deeply engrossed in reading a letter from a devotee from Madhya

Pradesh. The letter indicated that the devotee was in real

distress and had sought Swamiji's blessings.

 

He had written to him: " ......I have been reciting 'Vishnu Sahasra Namam' as

advised by you. But why do I face problems after problems. Is there any end for

this? ...... " Swamiji gave me the letter and said: " If a devotee is interested

in having the Guru to remove whatever obstacles or difficulties come in his

path, then he is behaving like a business man.

As for as worldly advantages are concerned, they are purely transitory; wealth

comes and goes, success comes and goes; it is wise to use the precious wealth of

Vishnu Sahasra Namam than to acquire these petty advantages? "

 

Exactly at that time, an old lady came and prostrated to Swamiji. She

was full of tears and was apologetic to Swamiji. On enquiry, she told that about

a week before, her only son was missing and she had come and told, Swamiji! " As

to what is use in the recitation of Vishnu Sahasra Namam and she is full of

problems. " Unperturbed, Swamiji had directed her to go back home and most

unexpectedly, her son had returned home. She had now come to Swamiji to convey

her gratitude for the turn of events.

 

As the lady left the place, Swamiji told us that one should not pray the Lord

for the removal of small, insignificant difficulties. After

all, pleasure and pain are purely transitory. Pain is followed by

pleasure and pleasure by pain. Pain did not exist before it came and it will not

exist after a while. Similarly pleasure did not exist before it came and will

not exist after a while. So why pray the Lord for things which are only

short-lived? It is as stupid as approaching the brim surgeon to help you pull a

thorn from your foot when it can be removed with the help of a needle by

yourself.

(to be contd...)

 

(Source Shri Sai Padananda October 1992)