50 DIVINE THOUGHTS - COURTESY : KANCHI KAMAKOTI PEETHAM

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PRIYA BHAGAVAT BANDHUVULLARA!,

 

50 DIVINE THOUGHTS - COURTESY : KANCHI KAMAKOTI PEETHAM

16 TO 20

 

16. Those who are the leaders of a group, society, or state should not

neglect the established religious customs and usages. For themselves the may mot

be in need of Church ceremonies, for instance, their advance in spirituality may

not require them. But if they begin to neglect them, the people for whom the

rituals are really helpful, will also start neglecting them. This would be

setting a bad example. In the words of the Bhagavad Gita, the wise one should

not unsettle the minds of those who are ignorant, and are attached to action: on

the contrary, he should encourage them to perform what they should perform, by

himself doing the appropriate actions well and with diligence. It is duty cast

upon the leaders and those that are at the top to lead the people from where

they are, and not to refrain from participation in the traditional ways of

worship.

 

17.Of all scriptures, the Gita has acquired a specialty of its own. Like this,

there are many other books of wisdom. In the Mahabharata, there are many

chapters teaching wisdom. Besides, in the Sivapurana, Vishnupurana, Skandham,

etc., there is Jnanopadesa.

So also in agamas. But what is the special importance of Gita due to? Not only

in our country but in countries like Java, people follow the Gita. My inference

is that because it was born in an atmosphere utterly free from attachment -

attachment to life, attachment to body, attachment to kith and kin, but out of

attachment only to Reality, it has become so famous.

 

18.On deep consideration, ahimsa appears to be good as an ideal or for

preaching. But practically speaking, it is difficult to follow fully. First of

all, we must love others. But if we love anyone too much, the end is sorrow.

Therefore we should love God who always gives happiness and not sorrow. I ask

myself if we love God, should we not love anyone else in this world? So long as

there is false knowledge which distinguishes God from the rest of the world,

there will be differences. If we attain Jnana that God is all, we will develop

the same love for all that we have for God; This is the sign of Ahimsa.

 

19. For the sake of food, clothing and shelter, everyone is toiling and

sorrow-stricken. If sorrow is to be banished and if we are to be ever happy, we

must dedicate all our actions to God. If we get His grace, then we need not do

anything and can be happy. God is a good master. By praising Him always, we

cannot please Him. He is indifferent to our praise or dispraise, action or

inaction. But all our actions are ordained by Him and are meant only to purify

our minds.

20.Why so many Gods? Is it not enough to have only one? Other religions speak

of one God only and not many. We are assailed by such doubts. We eat to satisfy

hunger, the stomach becomes full, there is no trouble or hunger. Then why can't

we take cooked rice alone? Why should we eat so many side dishes? So, if we eat,

it is just not to fill the stomach, but we want food tasty to the palate and

pleasing to the eyes. Whoever is attracted to a particular God he worships that.