On Pain of Devotees

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Devotees, such as Bhakta Thukaram, Prahalada, Rama, Jesus, etc. etc. are not

pained by the events dealt to them; instead, they are gladdened to bear whatever

it is the Lord has asked them to bear. They did not undergo such sufferings so

that we could bask in the rewards of their devotion (even if they gave it, can

we conscientiously take it? Do we deserve what they have to give? ...or should

we pray that we should be deserving of what we are given without any thought of

'return'?); they underwent whatever it is they went through to show the path to

those of us who do not know the way. More powerful than words or poetic verse

or emails, they demonstrated 'the way, the truth, and the light' by their lives.

No book needs to be written to know their 'approach' to the problems they

encountered - their biography is enough to uplift your own mind to their level

of thinking. This is why Swamiji emphasizes the importance of reading about the

lives of Saints.

This is why it will help you to read about Sri Swamiji's own biography. For

what purpose has He taken a human form and undergone suffering at all? No

lecture or seminar can do justice to the philosophy of their actions. Their

inner happiness came from knowing that He exists, and that without Him, life

becomes meaningless. For that, they would accept/trade any amount of pain or

difficulty, and they are reborn again and again to illustrate this very simple

fact. Again, i'm pointing out a subtle mental difference here to people who are

under the delusion that we've reached the end of the road of devotion and " now

what " ? Those who wish to accept what I say, can challenge themselves to some

kind of inner growth; the rest, can ignore me altogether as an arrogant fool

rambling on about impractical things.

 

That said, such is the nature of devotion, that it pushes everything else out of

the mind, leaving only room for Him. If worldly thoughts remain in the mind,

thoughts of God will not remain. I'm not saying you should be this way, or that

way, but just saying 'that is how it is'. If truly all worldly thoughts have

left the mind, one will never even think the thought " I am thinking of Him " .

The " I " is lost in thoughts of " Him " (forget wasting even the time it takes to

read this email). So long as the " I " is there to be 'pained' ... it is very

much still there, like that big fat elephant in the corner of the room, that no

one is talking about.

 

What I am saying is that this should provide some points for self-reflection, to

see how far off the mark we truly are as 'devotees'. I claim neither devotion

or atheism for myself - and whether I am or am not, is not going to

save/influence you. These emails are only here to lay bare the light of

introspection for the benefit of those who wish to use it. It isn't some " new "

knowledge or " rocket science " - it is just that silent voice in your head that

you ignore. Living in a worldly world, our minds have overcomplicated to the

point of ignoring the basic truths that are there for all to see within the

recesses of our minds. Many children think plainly 'as children', but as they

grow up, they soon learn to ignore their inner voices as being irrelevant. They

ask those questions that adults are afraid to ask - because they are only

interested in what actually is - and not interested in other's opinion of them.

If we tell ourselves little " white

lies " long enough, we soon become blind to them altogether. If you have an

introspective light, good for you, this email isn't for you. If you do not,

this email may show you what it means to 'look within' to 'bare your soul to

yourself' and to 'know thyself'.

 

It is one thing to loudly proclaim one's devotion (nothing wrong if such

devotion expresses itself as external, it is such externalization to which we

owe the great songs/compositions of saints such as thulsidas, thukaram, etc.

....it was their self-expression that fuels our own personal connection to God).

If one is blessed to be so devoted, they have their reward, my words of praise

or blame are meaningless to such souls. However, one should recognize the

difference between loud proclamations and silent endurance - a true devotee does

not even see that he is enduring anything - he sees only Him and delights in His

varied expressions.

 

Swamiji gives a very humorous example in His speeches. He says my devotees are

like traffic policemen. In the beginning of the day, the policeman are very

vigorous, loud, strict, disciplined, and dutiful in directing the traffic. By

middle of the day, they are less strict, slightly hungry, a little more lenient,

and less excited about directing the traffic. By the time it is 6pm, they are

worn out, ravenously hungry, and can barely keep their arms in the air, ...let

alone direct a car from the left side of the road to the right side. He says it

in a much more humorous way than I can possibly convey in this message.

However, He says very clearly, I do not want such excessive flambuoyant

devotion. The kind of devotion I want is like flow of oil through a wick of a

lit aarathi lamp - a continuous thin steady inexhaustible stream that fuels a

bright light to challenge the darkness. It should be slow and steady - like the

ripening of a fruit on a

tree.

 

Why do you suppose trees are so important in the iconography of Hinduism? Why

does Datta sit in front of a tree? Think deeply on these things and see the

connections. The world around you is speaking loudly, but silently. As someone

once said, " Let those who have ears, hear. "

 

Jaya Guru Datta!

 

---

Gurorangripadme ManaScenna Lagnam tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim!?

Sarva Kartha, Sarva Dhartha, Sarva Hartha, Mangalam!

Satchidananda, Satchidananda, Satchidananda Mangalam!

Tasmai Sri Guru-murthaye Nama Idam Sri Dakshinamurtaye!

 

Ata Nityo Narayanaha, Brahma Narayanaha, Sivascha Narayanaha, Kalascha

Narayanaha. Disascha Narayanaha, Vidisascha Narayanaha, Urdwamscha Narayanaha,

Adhascha Narayanaha, Antar-bahischa-Narayana.Narayana Eh Vedam Sarvam, Yat

BhootamYacchha Bhavyam.Nish-kalango Niranjano Nirvikalpo Nirakyadhas,suddhho

Deva Eko Narayanaha, Na dwiteeyosthi kaschit,ya evam Vedas Vishnu reva Bhavati,

Sa Vishnureva Bhavathi, Etat yajur veda sirodeeyathe.

 

~*Om * Ayim * Hreem * Sreem * Siva * Rama * Anagha * Dattaya * Namaha*~