Thus Spake Sri Rama

[Guest guest]

Even for the virtuous, duty is subtle and not easy to grasp; the soul

residing in the heart alone knows what is right and what is wrong.

 

Timely doing of good actions and obeying the age-old laws, are

especially necessary to gain Mukti.

 

But if these good deeds are done with a sense of ego, they only bind

you to this world. So to gain knowledge you should work without the

least trace of pride.

 

Pure knowledge is that which kills all desires and attachments. Any

work with a particular motive behind it should be given up, it only

binds you to the cycle of birth and death. It is harmful for your

attaining real knowledge.

 

Life the fowler spreading his net, egoism creates various fascinating

illusions in the minds of men. Terrible grief arises from egoism. It

is the Rahu for the moon of peace; it is like frost for a bed of lotuses.

 

As long as a man is egotistical, he is bound to suffer. And when there

is no egoism, three is no suffering. So the best course is to remain

without egoism.

 

It is egoism that has spread the net of attachment for the wife and

children -- a net out of which no magical spell will bring escape. So

all mental pain automatically vanishes when egoism is eschewed.

 

Rama to Kaikeyi:

 

O Mother: Why do you say thus to me? I am prepared to give up even my

life for the sake of my father. I can drink deadly poison to serve

him. I will renounce the kingdom, Sita or Mother Kausalya for his sake.

 

Discharge of Swadharma (duties alloted to you) is only a Sadhana,

means to an end, namely, gaining Atmajnana. It is not an end in itself.

 

Therefore always meditate upon the Atman on the lotus of your heart,

realising that it is something other than intelligence, senses, etc.

Then you will not be sorry. Bear all the Prarabdhas that are alloted

to you, whether it is happiness or misery.

 

Doing your work as if being carried away by the current, you will not

become attached to it. Whatever work you do outwardly, O Raghava, let

your mind and character be pure.

 

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