Date:12/11/2002 URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/12/s...1202100900.htm
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Miscellaneous - Religion

The Lord, man's true relative

CHENNAI NOV.12. Devotion to God develops only through stages. One who
pursues the spiritual path cannot expect devotion to take root
instantly. It is natural for some to become impatient but it must be
remembered that the mind, which is naturally attached to worldly
relations and material pursuits will not turnaround suddenly and
become totally interested in devotional and spiritual practices. The
process is gradual and worshipping God with form helps the mind to
focus on Him. Though the scriptural texts like the Bhagavad Gita
dilate on all the methods to realise God, it is not possible for
everyone to adopt them till a certain level of spiritual evolution is
reached. The incarnations of God help to focus the mind easily as
each devotee can worship a particular form according to his
preference.

A devotee once asked Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa how devotion
sprouted in the heart and the saint enlightened him that it developed
gradually by giving an example. When someone wants to meet a king he
has to observe the protocol and pass through various gates in the
palace before he is given an audience. So also is the progress in the
path of devotion possible only in stages till love of God for His own
sake blossoms in the heart. This stage is true devotion. To reach
this end a devotee has to persevere by regular worship and meditation
on His forms. It is akin to educating a child. First it has to go to
a kindergarten school and graduate from one class to the next till
finishing at the university.

In his discourse, Swami Gautamananda said devotion resulted in the
understanding that man's only true relation was God and that He would
always stand by His devotee. Family, relationships, power and pelf
will not be constant in anyone's life whereas when a person becomes a
true devotee of God, the special relationship of love that forges
their relationship, will never be severed. Devotion to God as it
matures will result in detachment towards worldly preoccupations and
relations. A devotee need not forsake his family and the world to
follow the spiritual path. When someone entrusts something precious
for safekeeping the person does not get attached to it because he
knows that it does not belong to him. So is the case with all the
material bounties and family relations one is blessed with in this
world. For this a shift in focus is necessary by accepting all that
one enjoys in life as God's grace and remaining detached even while
engaged in the world.

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