The Divine Message of the Ramayana

[Guest guest]

AUM SAI RAM

 

The Divine Message of the RamayanaDialogue between two friends, Ramu and ShyamRamu – Shyam, my friend, you are always talking about the Ramayana. Whatmessage, if any, does it have for this present computer-age generation?

Shyam – I’m glad you put this question to me, Ramu. The Ramayana has been asource of inspiration and solace to different cultures and generations. Itsmessage is universal and eternal. Good for the Stone Age, it’s equallyrelevant to our present computer age. The story is in fact a message oflove, of brotherhood, of devotion, of sacrifice, of equanimity and of respectfor elders. Sri Rama, the hero teaches us, by his actions, to always tread theright path even when the going gets tough. “Putting principles first,” ishis motto. Tough times do not last, tough people do.

Ramu - Does the Ramayana mention anything about this age, the Kaliyuga?

Shyam - Oh, yes! Unbelievable as it may seem, whatever is happening today hadalready been predicted in Ram Charit Manas. Tulsidas, the author, had apremonition as to how affairs would stand to-day. In the concluding chapter,the king of birds, Garur, condescends to go to the vilest of birds, thecrow, Kakbhusundi to learn the sweet story of Sri Rama. At the conclusion of thestory, Garur inquires about the Kaliyuga.

Ramu – I’m also eager to know what the Ramayana says about our present age.

Shyam. - In this age, man and woman are greedy, sensual and delight in revilingsacred books while kings bleed their subjects. He alone is clever who stealsother people’s wealth, puts up false appearances and takes delight inlying. Babblers consider themselves orators. Men dance to the tune of womenlike trainers do with their monkeys. Men covet others’ wives while wivesdesert their husbands for their paramours. Those whose husbands are alivewear no ornament while widows adorn themselves in the latest style. Thedisciple is deaf and would not listen while the preceptor is blind and wouldnot see. The spiritual guru robs his disciple but fails to remove hissorrow. Parents teach their children only that religion that will fill theirbelly. Brahmans and Sudras do the opposite of what they are expected topractise. Men commit all sorts of imaginable sins and bring upon themselvesdisease, sorrow and desolation. Devotees build themselves costly houses,ascetics amass wealth, beggars are householders, a son obeys his parentsonly until he gets married and then he looks upon them as enemies. Faminesbecome a recurrent feature and many persons die of hunger. The world issaturated with pride, violence, hypocrisy, enmity, heresy, arrogance,ignorance, sensuality and other evil passions.The Kaliyuga is a storehouse of impurities and vices with men tormented byall sorts of diseases. Self-control, charity, compassion and wisdom give wayto stupidity and fraud. It is an age of impurity and iniquity where foolsdesire happiness but look for it outside religion.Ramu – The gloomy picture you have just painted is a sad reminder of what weare witnessing today. Every disease has a cure, I suppose. What about thisone?

Shyam - In this age salvation can be attained without much effort; without greatsacrifice or prolonged meditation. The easiest way is to continually chantGod’s name to remove the negative vibrations in the atmosphere and to treadthe path of righteousness at all times.

Ramu – Is that all we have to do to lead a problem-free life?

Shyam – Our burden will definitely become lighter but all our problems won’t benecessarily removed by chanting God’s name. Let us go back to Rama’s story.Rama had imbibed the right values and was putting them into practice. Washis life therefore problem-free? Problems are part of life; they are notnecessarily punishments but challenges put along our path to help ourspiritual growth. “Creation”, says Tulsidas, “is an intermixture ofopposites; of good and evil; of day and night; of pain and pleasure etc.If we accept sunshine, we should also learn to accept rain as both are forour own good though rain may lower our spirits temporarily. It’s the slopes,the contours, the blind spots as well as the potholes along the roads thatput to test the good driver. Driving along flat and straight roads would bea monotonous affair. Rama is known all over the world to day because heaccepted banishment and killed Ravana; otherwise he would have remained justan ordinary king ruling over a peaceful kingdom.

Ramu – We should therefore accept everything with equanimity like Rama who wasneither inflated when offered the crown nor deflated when banished to theforest. Now tell me what we can do to make this world a better place tolive?

Shyam - Each one of us has come into this world with a mission to accomplish.Parents are all the time bringing improvements to their homes so that theirchildren grow up in conditions better than what they themselves inherited.In the same spirit, each person should contribute his share, howeverinsignificant, to improve the environment in order to bequeath a betterworld to future generations.

Ramu- But treading the right path is not that easy with so many temptationsaround?

Shyam - You’re right. Treading the right path has never been easy because oftemptations. When Rama was given the choice between palace life and forestlife, he allowed himself to be guided by his code of ethics. Nobody askedSita to go to the forest but, instead of a life of physical ease in thepalace, she chose one of mental ease by the side of her husband. She also,was dictated by her code of ethics. Tests are sent to us for our own good.To move to a higher class, students have to make sacrifices, they have tostudy hard in order to pass examinations. To move higher up along thespiritual path, man has to pass certain examinations. The test papers, inthis case, are prepared not by Cambridge but by God. They may be tough butalways within reach. God knows the strength and weaknesses of eachcandidate. He does not wish anybody to be crushed under a cross too heavy tocarry. The one who has faith in God; the one who has the right attitude; theone who accepts pain and pleasure with equanimity will never be crushedunder the burden. Instead, each test will help him grow stronger. We have tolearn that all that glitters is not gold. When Sita got lured by the goldendeer; she lost Rama. The problem of choice is ever present in life. To makethe right choice, one must be governed by ethics but at the same time, onemust also be strong and firm like Mahatma Gandhiji who could not be tempted by theglitter of gold.

Ramu – And “ le mot de la fin”?

Shyam - For ‘le mot de la fin”, I will quote Sai Baba. He says,” The Ramastory, a stream of sacred sweetness, has been for millions of men, women andchildren the perennial source of solace during sorrow, illumination whenconfounded, inspiration in moments of dejection and guidance while caught inquandaries. Through legends and lullabies, myths and tales, dance and drama,through sculpture, music and painting, through ritual, poetry and symbol,Rama has become the breath, the bliss, the treasure of countless seekers.”“All attempts to transform society have failed because we have ignored oneimportant step; the transformation of the heart. We are filling the headwith all kinds of knowledge and the body with all kinds of food but we aresadly forgetting the spirit.” Chanting God’s name should be complemented bythe practice of His teachings.

Ramu - Thanks my friend. As from today, I’m going to read one page of theRamayana daily.

Shyam - That would be a nice initiative though reading alone is not enough. Itshould be supplemented by the right action. Those who endeavour to spreadRama’s message should do so not only through hollow discourses but moreimportantly by becoming role models. Actions speak louder than words. Manyknow the Ramayana but not Sri Rama; many know the Bible but not the Lord Jesus Christ. Thosewho really know Sri Rama and Lord Jesus Christ are the persons who put their teachings intopractice. By courtesy of Brother Leckram Gunnasaya of Sri Sathya Sai Centre Rose-Belle, Mauritius.

 

 

At the Lotus Feet of SaiAnita