Pain - The hammer of GOD

[Guest guest]

Pain is the hammer of the Gods to breakA dead resistance in the mortal's

heart,His slow inertia as of living stone.If the heart were not forced to want

and weep,His soul would have lain down content, at ease, And never thought to

exceed the human startAnd never learned to climb towards the Sun.

 

- Aurobindo

Souce: Savirtri.

 

Sairam dear Sai family!

 

I am doing simply great! I wish the same on your side. Just thought I would

share some of my thoughts with you.

 

In the past few days, I have been involved in some Swami's work and things are

going so well and I am happy about it. Swami said, "You do My work, I shall do

your work". It's being proved

 

If Swami got Roy a job without all these miracles (The Johannesburg Leelas), I

dont think it would made such a big news and brought the delight to thousands

of people all over the world. Isn't it?

 

After Swami got His fracture, in the very first Discourse He gave, Swami said,

"I am very happy for what is going on in the past few months!" And what was

happening from those past few months?

 

Swami was not even able to sit or walk properly. His body is suffering from

acute pain as if being pierced by needles (He described it so in one Discourse,

you should have read it for sure).

 

And Swami says He is happy. He explained it further, "Because of this pain,

devotees all over the world have been praying to Me to get rid of this pain.

There were Bhajans in every home and Swami's Name has spread all through-out.

What more do I want?"

 

This is how Swami views pain.

 

Once when Swami did a miracle and saved Vijaya Kumari, the author of "Anyatha

Sharanam Nasthi", from some problem, she said to Swami, "Swami! Thank You for

removing these difficulties. We are always bound to Your Feet. We prayed and

You accepted."

 

Swami replied, "Yes. This give and take should continue."

 

He meant that hardships are natural in human life, they are intentionally placed

by God as they are the ropes which tie the devotees to the Feet of the Lord.

 

In general, I try to derive lessons based on my own experiences. In my life,

till now, Swami has always been creating some or the other problem - physical,

mental or spiritual. And because of these, every two or three days, I need to

pray ardently to Swami to give me strength to overcome them.

 

Last year, when I was in Chennai, I went through a wonderful period of agony....lol.....

 

I had an ulcer in stomach, which just did not allow me to eat normal diet. For

three months, I lived completely on fruit juices and curd. Can you imagine? My

weight reduced by 12 kgs. Every night and sometimes through-out the day, I used

to suffer from severe stomach pain.

 

I cannot stop any of my other activities because of this. I had to go to office

and work and come back in the evenings, attend my music classes and practise in

the nights. Sometimes, when I was singing, my pain used to increase and I would

go to Swami's photo and complain...(I had an amazing snap of Swami in my

bedroom...the best ever I have seen till now....I guess I have it with me

still....will scan and send it to you all.....You just look at His smile and

you will forget every thing else.....the world appears a damn to you...)

 

OK, I complained, "Swami! I am singing. This is Your work. Can't You reduce my

pain at least when I am doing Your work?" And Swami would just sport back the

same smile.

 

That period taught me many more lessons. During those two months, many of my

friends got VISAs and there were parties every other day! I used to go to each

one of them, sit beside my friends while they eat my fav. dishes and I keep

sipping an orange juice with a gulp of curd in between. Swami taught me control

over tongue through those incidents and I am extremely thankful to Him for

giving me that opportunity.

 

One night, the pain increased beyond limits. And I was sad, not because of the

pain but because I somehow cannot get any acknowledgement from Swami for my

prayers!

 

I told Him, "Swami! I am not even a bit upset about this pain.

 

I do not complain that when my friends who drink liquor and eat non-vegetarian

food, are perfectly healthy, why should I suffer, when I follow Your words and

do not eat non-veg? No, I am not complaining about this.

 

I dont complain to you that You made me live on liquids for 3 months.

 

I am absoultely ready to bear any amount of pain.

 

What all I want is just one single acknowledgement from You. That You know that

I am suffering. Just let me know that You know my pain. I would happily bear

it. I am not asking You to remove my pain, I just want a word from You."

 

And then I opened some random Sanathana Sarathi of 80s. The very first para that I read was:

"Do not give importance to physical suffering or pain. Those pains come and go.

They should not hinder your enthusiasm and happiness. I shall remove them when

time comes."

 

This is what I love in Swami. He makes me suffer, but He speaks to me! He

replies to me. He listens to my prayers and acknowledges them so directly and

sweetly like this bringing tears to my parched eyes.

 

And then I stopped all the medicines doctors gave me. I only took Vibhuti mixed

in a glass of water every night. Can you believe that the pain vanished in a

week's time? I never got it again till now.

 

The moments of adversity have been the best moments in my life till now.

 

In fact, if we observe the lives of three great devotees, Annamayya, Tyagayya

and Ramadasu (they are the three persons who have inspired me the MOST in the

world till now.), we would see one thing that is common to them. Can you guess

what it is?

 

Poverty. lol....

 

Tyagayya lived on alms and agriculture. Ramadasu's condition was even worse. He

suffered an imprisonment for 10 years, I guess! And all the wonderful Kritis

(songs) he has composed have happened in the jail! Amidst the beatings and

whips of the king, amidst that terrible treatment he faced in the prison, came

out beautiful Ragas and heart-touching songs.

 

Have you heard the Kirtans of Bhadrachala Ramadasu (also known as Kancherla Gopanna)?

"Paluke Bangaaramaayena Kondhanda Paani"

"E theeruga nanu dhaya joochedhavo"

"Charanamule Nammithi"

 

Amazing Keerthanas! We feel the devotional longing flowing through them like honey.

 

Tyagaraja lived in dire poverty, many times ridiculed by his neighbours and

relatives, but always in supreme ecstasy of Rama's Love! Towards the end of his

life, his situation becomes even worse, he even looses his idols whom He

worshipped. He turns almost insane and wanders all over searching frantically

for them. Finally, the Lord, who is the abode of Miracles, does a wonderful

Leela and gets the idols back to him!

 

Annamayya is probably not as lucky as the other two .... he enjoys a better

material life than them. He joins royal patronage and has a smooth life for

quite sometime. You would find some sensual Kirtans in Annamayya's compostions,

romantic ones, which you do not find in the works of Tyagaraja and Ramadasu.

 

You see, when things go well, man will have time to think about art and romance,

beauty and poetry. His mind can turn a little naughty

 

Well, Annamayya sang in the king's court and was being amply rewarded with money

and riches (which Tyagayya has very wisely avoided, though he was offered the

same by his king - remember "Nidhi chaala sukhamaa, ramuni sannidhi chaala

sukhamaa?" - Does material wealth confer bliss or is it Rama's companinshiop

that does it? - He inquires and sings thus before rejecting the king's offer).

 

So, all was going well for Annamayya and his TWO wives (not just one) . And

suddenly the Lord turns compassionate, and ignites the king. The king comes and

asks Annamayya to compose a song on himself and his queen! Now, this is the

limit.

 

Annamayya has to reject the request. The good thing he has been doing is -

though he has been singing sensual songs, he has doing so in the Name of God

alone - thus not really getting into the danger of being completely lured by

the senses. Now, if he sings them with the king's name, it would be atrocious.

He would become a cinema music director.

 

He rejects the royal request (or command) and the king is infuriated. He orders

his men to beat Annamayya out of his life. Ah! What a twist to the story! Only

Srinivasa can design such episodes. Annamayya realizes that the world is

never his true friend. The same people who loved you and treated you so well

will become your enemies when things do not go according to their wish! He

realizes that God is his only true friend.

 

And as soon as Annamayya has got the concept well into his mind, the sweet

Srinivasa does a miracle again to revert back the chaos He has created. He

makes the king realize his mistake and then you watch....some of the best

compostions of Annamayya have been churned out after this incident.

 

"Naanaati Brathuku naatakamu" (This day-to-day life is a big drama)

"Antharyaami alasithi solasithi" (Oh my indweller! I am tired and exhausted).

"Aakati velala alapaina velala thekuva hari naamame dhikku mari ledhu"

(In the times of hunger and exhaustion, The Name of Hari is the only refuge)

 

etc etc.

 

Not only these three devotees - Surdas was a blind man. Tulsidas did not even

have enough money to run his family. Same is the case with Swami Vivekananda.

 

Pleasure has a danger - it might make me relaxed. I am not saying, it will or it

must. It might. And It might mostly do so But pain is almost always the root

of thought. Pain evokes the wisdom, the discrimination power, an inquiry into

the reality of existence, the profound truths of life.

 

Pain is always my friend, while pleasure might become an enemy sometimes. OK, if

one is too excited about pain, then it might turn out dangerous too (suicides,

for example). Such an excited mind will commit mistakes even in pleasure.

That's a problem with one's internal emotional strength, nothing to do with the

external stimuli.

 

Sometimes, when I am going on the road, a car stops just before dashing my bike.

Swami averts the crash. Swami makes me live like this. A life of material

uncertainity but spiritual certainity. I am not sure about the next moment, if

I am gonna face a reward or a hurt, but I am sure Swami is with me both the

times and that is what should basically matter to me.

 

I keep floating on the waves - the ups and downs. But His Love is constant, unwavering, a guide.

 

When I am too much into the Maya of pleasure, He pinches me...lol...and when I

start crying, He embraces me and soothes me. Personally I would prefer His hug

than His pinch. So, what state should be in to get His hug instead of pinch?

 

 

In bliss, that is beyond both pain and pleasure. Isn't it?

 

JAI SAIRAM

 

Swami in ever momentSwami in every thought

Swami in every breath

Swami, Swami, Swami, Swami and only Swami.

[Guest guest]

"Madhu" <nomavi

Sat Sep 28, 2005 11:29pm

Re: [saibabanews] Pain - The hammer of GOD

 

Sairam, What a wonderful, uplifting and thoughtful narration!!! It

made my day. Thanks a lot for reminding to come out of body

cinsciousness and move towards self realisation, by accepting all

pains in life as welcome events for working out past karma and

concentrate on becoming a better individual. Why fear and doubt when

SWAMI is always with each and everyone, whether they believe in Him,

accept HIm or not. What is needed is implicit and unwavering faith

in oneself that is HIM. Thanks a lot once again.

Loka Samastha Bhavantu.

In sai Seva,

Madhusudan Nori

 

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"sheela krishnamurthy" <sheela1959

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 17:34:08 +0530

Re: [saibabanews] Pain - The hammer of GOD

 

Sairam,

very beautiful experience... Really I couldn't control my

tears...fully blissed... god bless u... Please send me the swamy's

snap whenever u feel free....

Sairam.

 

----------

 

"Sesha M. D. Mantripragada" <maheswari

Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:11am

Re: [saibabanews] Pain - The hammer of GOD

 

Sai Ram

dear SaiSandesh,

 

Thank you very much for such a wonderful message as usual, sharing

your thoughts and experiences with all of us. You are really blessed

by Swami and He bestowed upon you this great poetic talent and

capacity of expressing your thoughts, feelings and experiences. and

we too are blessed to be members of this great group and to have the

chance of sharing all these messages of Swami through you and other

brothers and sisters equally talented and blessed.

" May Swami continue blessing you all with these great talents and

we too to continue sharing and

**

May there be

*Swami in ever moment*

*Swami in every thought*

*Swami in every breath*

*Swami, Swami, Swami, Swami and only Swami".

 

as you say

*

 

*JAI SAIRAM

maheswari

*

 

 

 

saibabanews, Sai Sandesh <saisandesh@g...>

wrote:

> **

> *Pain is the hammer of the Gods to break

> A dead resistance in the mortal's heart,

> His slow inertia as of living stone......

[Guest guest]

The best senetence I read here 'A life of Material uncertainity but

Spiritual certainity'.

How nice!! Exactly my own experience Sai path.

[Guest guest]

Thanks a lot for your wonderfull message.

 

Really its Sai sandesh means sandesh from sai. The message proved that the name

sai sandesh is most suitable to you. You are ifself a great message to our

group.

 

May swami bless you greatly.

 

Sairam

 

Bodla.Ramesh

karimnagar

Sai Sandesh <saisandesh > wrote:

Pain is the hammer of the Gods to breakA dead resistance in the mortal's

heart,His slow inertia as of living stone.....

[Guest guest]

Love and prayersMeera