RESPONSE AND BELIEF

Actions and consequences are in a constant flow. There is no action which has no consequences. But yet people are acting boldly, blindly, and badly without  thinking of the consequences believing at times that action in itself is the perfection.

Sometimes actions are based upon preconceived notions and hence the observation of action has different responses. They are called belief systems. Some belief systems are system and process based and some are based on isolated, unintegrated and short term benefits.

When the whites saw the native Americans, native Indians, their own belief system made them respond in  inhuman ways and there was ample bloodshed and colossal murder. The Africans were treated as if they were lesser than the pet dogs of white men and women. The Whites could buy and sell the Africans and this was done without any guilt.

Similarly in India the forest dwelling tribes were looked upon as beasts of the lowest order. They were robbed of their resources and culture and were forced to convert to an alien religion. They were forced to stop respecting and worshiping their own God, and were made to worship some God of a distant land of Israel. 

Therefore the Mahabharata expects us to see things from where they stand rather than seeing them from where we stand.  If we are able to see this, then there is coordination and coherency.

Dharma traditions handle any kind of diversity as long as it is not an issue of proper governance. Such diversity is seen as limbo jumbo mix by those who want to create an artificial oneness.  One language, one culture, one opinion in regards to religion.When seen from a perspective of reality we understand that life is a forest full of diversity.

We need to ask this question that, can we break diversity and make a one class society? If we can then our nature will be destroyed and if we respect nature then diversity in every sphere of life is a reality .

LOYALTY AND RESOURCES

After kidnapping mother Sita, Ravana often came and tried to tempt mother Sita to become his wife. He terrorised  her by saying  that he would cut her to pieces. Ravana also tried to coax mother Sita by telling her that her youth was passing away and that it was pointless  wasting it without enjoying her youth.   He also said that there was no chance for Rama to ever figure out where mother Sita  was. He said that even if Rama found out where Sita was hidden it would be impossible for him to break the security of Lanka.

On hearing this Sita was not overcome by hopelessness. She also did not take the bait of all the resources which Ravana was offering . She spoke with great confidence  about the futility of Ravana's attempt to have her as his wife.
She said, " take away your mind from me and be happy with  those who consider you their soul mates. Being disloyal and getting obsessed by other women, will ruin you .I think there is no one residing in this land who has great values, if they live here you do not listen to them. When people like you are finished by death every one experiences satisfaction. If you want to save yourself be a friend Sri Rama and take His shelter. If you do not do as I advise, then it may be impossible for Indra's weapon to fail,and for the time factor to be indifferent and Sri Rama will not spare you. How can one dog face the fierce tiger in the form of Sri Rama and Laxman. Where ever you try to hide you will be shot by the angry arrows of Sri Rama  and you are already getting killed by the power of time."

Mother Sita was always convinced about the course of action in her difficult times. Her conviction came from her confidence in Sri Rama and her personal values. When some one is full of courage, culture and confidence in one's master then no force in the world can alter and change one's resolve.  It is easy to be confident about protection by others as long as one experiences the protection. But if protection is  missing then is it that one will switch over to wherever resources are available and do away with the culture of loyalty?
It is a possibility that this could happen, but Sita's conviction was two fold and hence it was complete and strong, like the wheel of Sudarshana which no one could penetrate. She was loyal to her values, the value of her great upbringing, there was no chance of her compromising. She would lay down her  life if her confidence was not reciprocated by Sri Rama but she would never compromise  her values.

Mother Sita taught the following lessons: 1. Look for the right people to seek shelter
2. Live life on certain values  which need never be compromised.

Let us reflect  as to why are we faithful to some one?
Is it only for convenience or is there conviction in the value of dharma?

Mother  Sita's  resource was Sri Rama Himself and her greater resources were her dharma of complete loyalty to Sri Rams in all condition. Her resources and her relationship were one and the same, Her convenience and her value were non different and certainly her protection and her conviction were fortunately all directed in Sri Rama.  Hence it has become inseparable mantra for all the lovers of Sti Rama.   "Jai Sita Rama."

THE BEAUTY OF LIMITATION

Limitation and beauty? Strange pair?
However when we reflect upon the two it makes life meaningful and beautiful.

Nature has awarded us with limitations. If we touch something which is hotter than our limitation can handle it burns us.
If we come in contact with some thing colder then too our body retracts.
Any senses when they interact with an object, if the object has greater capacity than the limited senses  then the senses are jolted as if they are being electrocuted.
Either we are thrown away or dragged irresistibly towards the object. Like a wave in the ocean drags an object or throws it  out of the ocean.

Information or some theory which is beyond our intelligence confuses us.
This limitation gives us the experience of humility but not inaction.The difference between humility and inaction is that, the former is wisdom and the latter is ignorance caused by the wrong premise of, " what can we do? we are insignificant." 

Limitation when saturated with contentment, gives rise to the  utilisation of our full potential .The flip side of contentment is laziness or inaction, caused by the wrong translation  of the reality of limitation.

Therefore inner fulfillment and external action to the limit of our potential gives rise to complete composure, which is nothing but self reliance.

The great Monkeys during the search of mother Sita, when faced with the mighty ocean whilst  crossing over to the other side were humbled.
Every one talked about the monkeys limitations --that the ocean was beyond their limited power. Such churning and analysis of their limited capacity and the ocean's  power brought many emotions -sadness, helplessness, betrayal, a feeling of non fulfillment but not hopelessness.  While churning emotions and discussing how to get there, Jambhavana realised that Hanumana had the capacity to go beyond the power of the ocean. Jambhavana approached Hanumana and made him aware of his power which was beyond the limit of  the oceans, so  that Hanumana could cross the ocean very easily.

It is pertinent to understand that we  always face two realities, one that some things are beyond us and second that in some things we have greater capacity than the object we are trying to approach. This understanding gives rise to facing reality with practicality which Jambhavana did for Hanumana.

Hence it is not about whether we are good or bad but it is about what our limitation is in regards to what we are trying to approach which makes us  humble and fulfilled. In other words the limitless fire when limited in a burner has the facility to help make wonderful dishes, and who makes it happen ?
Our limited capacity. 
Does it makes sense?

GOD---SUBSTANCE OR SHADOW?

The sectarian concept of god is prevalent everywhere by propaganda but the substance of God is in everything and it is for every one.

The sectarian concept of god requires history and on other hand the substance and experience of God goes beyond history.

Even when Param Brahman descends as an Avatara, people get stuck by what He does rather than the purpose behind what He does.

The historians question the action but the substance seeker experiences the purpose. Hence they see no duality between the action of an Avatara and his purpose.

Sri Krishna and Sri Rama, when they appeared defined the character, qualities and the cause of coming together with the consequences of their descent.

The historians see facts, the poets see the flow and the intellectuals see the flaw, but the substance seekers are floored by experiencing the substance of God.

God's Avatara is not for creating history rather it is to sensitize the human being of his overwhelming presence within and without.

The great teachers of dharmik traditions have summoned us to experience God by personally developing a relationship with Him.

Some one else's experience is a theory for others,  hence we  need to experience God.

Dharmik traditions say there are different kinds of proof for God's existence,
direct perception, hypothesis and the sabda or sruti. The highest is the  sakshatkara or direct experience of God by inner science of Sadhana and grace of the very substance who we want to experience.

Therefore the Sri Krishna and Sri Rama appear to give us their essence which is beyond history.

Their appearance is not to  prove their existence but to facilitate our experience.

TRAINED INDEPENDENCE AND UNTRAINED INDEPENDENCE

Training is considered as a process through which any person of any background can be made to act or feel or believe in a particular fashion.
For eg:- being a black smith is a skill in which anyone can be trained .Similarly one can be trained to be an altar- boy. One can be trained to believe a particular concept or any religious concept. But the critics say that this kind of training could create dogmatic people like robots.
In the traditional system of schooling students were trained to be disciplined so that as they grow, they become independently thoughtful.

Training is nothing but conditioning but how do we judge which training is good? Good or bad depends upon the consequences it brings. Consequences from a personal point of view and from a society point of view.

Getting trained to be coherent in life, may be tough but the result of such training is that such a person does not depend on others for his growth .

Sri Krishna was trained by Sandipani muni in different aspects of life . Sandipani muni had to part with his student even though he would have preferred to keep Sri Krishna with him forever. Trained students become truly independent, mentally, physically and intellectually but they maintain gratitude towards their teacher in their hearts forever and this makes them dependent on their teacher.

Modernity creates conditions where a person is trained to be untrained with respect to health, food, relationships and self confidence.
Such a life style creates a great burden on the society and on the family.

Ravana created such a civilisation where he had complete control over his citizens. The citizens never objected to Ravana doing anything .This was against normal and humanistic life. The consequences of this was a colossal amount of damage; millions of families lost their life in the war of Lanka between Sri Rama and Ravana.

Reckless civilisations will perish due to negligence of dharma. Hence to be trained in becoming free of dependence on wrong things is the dharma of every person

HERO AND LEADER

In Both the great work of Valmiki and Vyasadeva, they define the concept of leadership.  In the first place the Sanskrita terminology for leadership is completely different in regards what is stands for.
The Hindi word 'neta' comes from word 'Netratva' it means Netra means eyes tva is suffix in Sanskrita it denotes of possessing, holding.  Hence it is having  a vision, that is a leader.
'Adhyaksya' is another word for leader which denotes one whose vision is from above or before others.
'Karnadhara' means one who has ears, meaning he hears. 
Leadership is not defined as doer but visionary and listener,  of course that does not mean he does not work, but he thinks I am not the doer, I am simply facilitator.  Unfortunately in the modern world, leader is made into or expected of doing most impossible things, and time some such leader do promise to their irresponsible voters of doing something which is not do-able. This leads to voters being disappointed with their leader too fast. The leaders also thing they are the one who move everything every where.  But this  is greatest tragedy for the leader and the subjects. 
Sri Krishna in Mahabharata was mover certainly but never the broker of tradition of decentralized leadership.  When Jarasandha was removed, Sri Krishna did not impose His or Pandavas leadership on them rather local leader was placed. The son of Jarasandha was placed with giving some lesson in taking care of his people.  This was Sri Krishna's policy.
Yudhsthira was made emperor but not the ruler of every state.   Every state had its own leader who was inspiring his place and the people were inspired by their local leader.
Sri Rama after killing Vali placed Sugriva on the throne, because Sugriva was local and good person hence he was naturally respected.  In one sense the Sugriva's citizen had no influence of Ayodhya, but we're grateful to Ayodhya for giving Sugriva. Rama certainly facilitated but never ruled them. 
Vibhishana was made King at death of Ravana, not because he was the Yes man of Sri Rama but he was natural next leader of Lanka who was affectionate his people and his people accepted if so. 
Great Chanakya speaks the same concept in his Artha sastra leader is not the one who inspires, controls, and becomes leader in every kingdom, rather the local leaders are facilitated and the national leader only facilitates and makes him grow better in his area.
Our modern leaders do seldom follow this path, they think they can be famous and influencer everywhere, but this becomes counter productive and negative. Instead becoming leader they become arrogant even if they are good and hard working. 
The lessons are taught by our great incarnations how to be leaders; hear, see, facilitate and make more leaders in many areas rather simply becoming a synthetic hero like in the Bollywood movies, who do most impossible task and the un enlightened people believe? How farce! Worst the leader(hero) to believes, I am the great and no one like me. 
Choose people who have the inspiration Sri Rama and Sri Krishna  , shun and fear the Bollywood type heroes and their fans.

VYASA'S INDICATION

An interesting aspect of life is getting signals about future consequences. It is not distinctly expressed but abstractly indicated and at the same time a suspense is experienced by the person actively pursuing his journey.

In Mahabharata the indicator 's role is played by Srila Vyasadeva. More than Sri Krishna, Vyasa plays this role. Sri Krishna played the role of a human being and hence he did not give indicative signals of future events.

On the other hand Srila Vyasadeva gave  indications from time to time to the stake holders to be alert and to play their roles more sensitively. He also indicated that if they failed then they would  experience the indicated consequences.

One such indication was in the instance of the misbehaviour of Duryodhana . At the time his birth Vyasadev gave an indication to Dhrithrasthra. Unfortunately Dhrithrasthra did not care about this indication and instead desired to carve out something which was almost impossible. He desired that his son Duryodhana become the king of Hastinapura . Duryodhana  and his brothers died trying to fulfill this desire and Dhrithrasthra lived to experience the death of his sons.

When Srila Vyasadeva was ordered  by his mother Satyavati to procreate with her daughter in law, Vyasa gave her an indication of the consequences of such activities. He told her to wait for some time and let the daughter in law  get  more purified but Satyavati insisted and the consequences followed .

Vyasadeva  has indicated many times that if people follow dharma they will be happy. If they fail to follow dharma disastrous consequences will follow.

Therefore it is pertinent to be sensitive to our surroundings so that we hear and experience the indication and save ourselves from the pain of consequences