Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Devotion the god grace

Great sages nonetheless point out some difference between the two knowledge and devotion, listen to the same with rapt attention Wisdom, dispassion, Yoga (union with God) and Realization.mark me.are all masculine in conception, The might of man is formidable indeed; while a woman is naturally weak by her very birth. But that man alone who is unattached and resolute of mind can forwear woman. not the sensual voluptuary, who has turned his face against the feet of Rama (the Hero of Raghu.s line). But even such an enlightened sage succumbs to the charms of a pretty woman at the very sight of her moon-like face. It is God rama own Maya (deluding potency) that manifests itself in the form of a woman! But that man alone who is unattached and resolute of mind can forwear woman. Here I do not speak in a partisan spirit, but merely state the view of the Vedas and Puranas as well as of the saints. A woman is never enamoured of another woman.s beauty : this, is a strange phenomenon. Maya and Bhakti (Devotion), mark me, both belong to the feminine group, as everyone knows. Again, Bhakti is beloved of rama (the Hero of Raghu.s line); while poor Maya is a mere girl. The Lord of the Raghus is well-disposed towards Bhakti; hence Maya is terribly afraid of her. Nay, Maya shrinks at the very sight of the man in whose heart ever abides unobstructed the peerless and guileless spirit of Devotion, and cannot wield her authority over him. Knowing this, sages who have realized the Truth solicit Bhakti, which is the fountain of all blessing . Lord of the Raghus save Vibhisona from being consumed by the fire of Ravna.s wrath, fanned to fury by his own (Vibhison.s) breath (words), and bestowed on him unbroken sovereignty. Nay, He conferred on Vibhison with much diffidence the same fortune which Lord shiva had bestowed on Ravna after the latter had offered his ten heads to Him in a sacrifice . See how krsn guides Arjun…. Gunaanetaanateetya treen dehee dehasamudbhavaan; Janmamrityujaraaduhkhair vimukto’mritamashnute. The embodied one, having crossed beyond these three Gunas out of which the body is evolved, is freed from birth, death, decay and pain, and attains to immortality. Maam cha yo’vyabhichaarena bhaktiyogena sevate; Sa gunaan samateetyaitaan brahmabhooyaaya kalpate. And he who serves Me with unswerving DEVOTION [ BHAKTI ] , he, crossing beyond the qualities, is fit for becoming Brahman. This a fact that maya , the delusion , should be kept strictly under the seat . Now I tell you my own realization, [Tells Kagbhusundi , a character from ramcharitmanas ] unless we adore Hari our troubles will not end. without Rama.s grace it is not possible to know the Lord.s greatness. Without knowledge faith is out of the question; and without faith there can be no love. Shorn of love, devotion will not abide any more than the lubricity produced by water. Is spiritual illumination possible without a preceptor ? Or, again, is it possible to acquire wisdom without dispassion? Or, as the Vedas and Puranas declare, can one attain happiness without devotion to Hari? Again, can one find peace without innate content? Can a boat ever float without water even though you strain every nerve till your last breath? Without content desire cannot cease; and so long as desire continues you can never dream of happiness. Again, can desire be got rid of without adoring rama? Can a tree ever take root without soil? Can even-mindedness be acquired without spiritual enlightenment? Can anyone get moving space without ether? There can be no piety without faith. Can anyone get odour except from the earth and spread one.s glory except through austere penance?
 Can there be any taste in this world without water? Can virtue be acquired without waiting upon the wise, any more than colour can exist without the element of fire, my master? Can the mind be at rest without experiencing the joy inherent in one.s own self? Can there be any sensation of touch without air, and any success without faith? In a like manner the fear of rebirth can never cease except through worship of Hari. Without faith there can be no Devotion and rama never melts except through Devotion; and without rama.s grace the human soul can never attain peace even in a dream. Pondering thus, abandon all cavilling and scepticism and adore the all beautiful rama, the Hero of Raghu.s line, a fountain of mercy and the delight of all. rama is an ocean of countless virtues : can anyone sound His depth? I have only told you the little I have myself heard from the saints. The Lord is won only by sincere Devotion and is a fountain of joy and an abode of compassion. Therefore, giving up worldly attachment, vanity and pride, one should ever adore Sita.s Spouse. Now I tell you my own realization, [Tells Kagbhusundi , a character from ramcharitmanas ] unless we adore Hari our troubles will not end. without Rama.s grace it is not possible to know the Lord.s greatness. Without knowledge faith is out of the question; and without faith there can be no love. Shorn of love, devotion will not abide any more than the lubricity produced by water. Is spiritual illumination possible without a preceptor ? Or, again, is it possible to acquire wisdom without dispassion? Or, as the Vedas and Puranas declare, can one attain happiness without devotion to Hari? Again, can one find peace without innate content? Can a boat ever float without water even though you strain every nerve till your last breath? Without content desire cannot cease; and so long as desire continues you can never dream of happiness. Again, can desire be got rid of without adoring rama? Can a tree ever take root without soil? Can even-mindedness be acquired without spiritual enlightenment? Can anyone get moving space without ether? There can be no piety without faith. Can anyone get odour except from the earth and spread one.s glory except through austere penance? Can there be any taste in this world without water? Can virtue be acquired without waiting upon the wise, any more than colour can exist without the element of fire, my master? Can the mind be at rest without experiencing the joy inherent in one.s own self? Can there be any sensation of touch without air, and any success without faith? In a like manner the fear of rebirth can never cease except through worship of Hari. Without faith there can be no Devotion and rama never melts except through Devotion; and without rama.s grace the human soul can never attain peace even in a dream. Pondering thus, abandon all cavilling and scepticism and adore the all beautiful rama, the Hero of Raghu.s line, a fountain of mercy and the delight of all. rama is an ocean of countless virtues : can anyone sound His depth? I have only told you the little I have myself heard from the saints. The Lord is won only by sincere Devotion and is a fountain of joy and an abode of compassion. Therefore, giving up worldly attachment, vanity and pride, one should ever adore God .

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