Me, My Guru - Ramayana and Rama - Indian Mythology

      Ramayana and Rama - Indian Mythology

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To fulfill our soul agenda we are to take decisions and every decision has its repercussions and we on no count can escape that even if our intention was right and act ‘selfless’.

Someone cut her explanation and asked “All that is right Guruji, but you said it was the ‘curse’ that was the cause of ‘Sita’s banishment. Then Rama need not bear consequences of that act. Even that ‘dhobi’ – washerman is not at fault who questioned her purity. They were only being pawns – no infact ‘helpers’ in carrying out that ‘destiny’ called curse to happen. So why should they suffer the consequences of their karma?”

Aziz immediately answered “forget the loan you’ve lent me then. That’s how it was to happen. And tomorrow if you meet with accident don’t blame the person who hit you, accept it as your karma”. We all laughed. Aziz had funny way of explaining these Truths. Yes, we twisted Truths and Laws to suit ourselves and hide our intentions. But whom are we fooling?

“We may fool or convince the entire world and assuming I am an Atheist and God doesn’t exist, it may seen like picture perfect, but unfortunately the entire world and even when and if God forgives my CNS (Central Nervous System) doesn’t I am not punished for my acts of karma but by the acts of karma” she closed her eyes and went silent.

That hit us hard “We are not punished for Karma but by our Karma” So true!  The session had gone on for quite long and we wanted our much looked forward to tea break. Our Guru was lost to our chatter. She sat with eyes closed. Over the years it had happened so many times that now our chatter didn’t bother her and her silence didn’t interfere with our chattering. We were comfortable in our respective zone in each other’s company. Till now it looked good. But during our conversation I realized that it was sad and we didn’t pick up a need to go into silence inspite of her proximity and her setting an example. I didn’t know whom and what to applaud! Her tolerance towards our attitude or our commitment not to practice what was taught by her living! The loss of course was ours; but that understanding was lost the moment tea was served. Our attention shifted to our cup and our ‘speck of realization’ was pushed towards back of our head.

By the time we completed our tea, she (our Guru) opened her eyes.

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Me, My Guru - Ramayana and Rama - Indian Mythology

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“You always tell that ‘nothing happens accidentally. There is a reason behind everything. Now I can see that. Thank-you Guruji for putting it across so clearly and differently to us today. I think it was my day today. So I understood it after so many years”.

I couldn’t see who it was. Actually I didn’t bother to check later too! I was too busy with my own calculations, thoughts, analysing and processing. I was in ‘my zone’. I didn’t bother for and about others. Today she had actually given complete picture for us to see it in one go. The chart that she drew seemed to bring in all aspects in one fold and that eased and helped us to understand the whole facts clearly.

“You mean to say that our every act has a reason. That stands to reason that I am not wrong – every!”

Who the hell was that? How could someone process her explanation that way? But Great Minds can certainly think ‘out-of-the-box’. I was actually irritated. Glad I sat at behind and was not able to see the person asking such question. She would have had it atleast later from me. Women I tell you......

“And that’s why men got away judging women and leaving her quoting Rama”. This woman was really in pain and anguish. The voice said it all. She was living that complaint. I could see it clearly. Oh, so people held Rama responsible this way too for their problems. Poor guy, God knows how long he has to fight this battle to prove his innocence?

“Ravana was well versed in Vedas being a Brahmin and an exponent of knowledge in various subjects like polity, war-fare, language, astrology and what now” Our Guru started her explanation even to such questions. I admired her for her patience and tolerance. How could she take pains to answer even such stupid questions was beyond me. “Being well-versed he used to quote religious texts to drive home points and explain his stand often. When Vibhishana, his younger brother condemned his act of abducting Sita, Ravana’s argument was “A brother is one who stands by his brother. It is the duty of a brother to support another brother in times of need. That’s what a family is for. You surely are an enemy in the guise of my brother. How can you not want me to be happy? You can clearly see that I am in love with Sita and I can not get appeased unless she becomes my consort and accept my love and returns it. We are Asura’s and human rules of not abducting others’ wife don’t apply to us. We by our nature and Dharma are bound to take anything that catches our fancy. We are born to snatch others things by nature. I am just following our Asuric Dharma. One who is mighty frames his rule and women always belong to the ‘mighty man’. All the three worlds know that no one is more powerful than me. Sita being beautiful needs to be with the most powerful man who can protect her and hence I took her under my wing. So, what’s wrong in that? Every woman wants to be wife of a powerful, rich husband who is an excellent lover too! How can Rama who is an ascetic fulfill her desires? A man who left his kingdom because his father gave a word to his wife is no man at all! One who wears barks and eats fruits, do you think can every keep his wife happy? For Sita’s happiness, I abducted her. She’s got the coveted position of being my ‘beloved wife’. Once she realizes that there will be no end to her happiness. Tell me, where am I wrong?”

We laughed. It did hit us a bit. What an argument! He was an excellent and eloquent speaker too! That was obvious with his justification of his act.  Smart man can really give validity to their ‘wrong deed and intention’ too!

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Me, My Guru - Ramayana and Rama - Indian Mythology

    

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Ramayana and Rama - Indian Mythology

 

By the time we completed our tea, she (our Guru) opened her eyes.

“But Guruji that doesn’t answer the question that since we are driven by destiny we can’t be held by our acts or their effects” said Vijaya.

“I hadn’t completed my explanation yet” she (our Guru) replied with a smile and continued “As per your logic Rama’s act of banishing Sita is destiny and he shouldn’t be held responsible for such an act. Good enough! I’ll take it from only that angle. But why did or how did ‘Destiny of Rama’ happen?” she waited smiling and looking at Vijaya.

“Because he killed wife of Sage Bhrigu” replied Vijaya sheepishly.

“Exactly!” she (our Guru) said “So you see we write our Destiny by our acts and the effects are borne by us. Because of his act of killing he had to suffer separation from his ‘beloved wife’ for such a long period of time. This pain is not as simple as it sounds. It’s only a person who ‘loves’, knows it!

This is not same as the one ‘who wants’ the other person (partner) and whose love means ‘possessing that person’. Well coming to karma, our acts are not painted black and white by the Universe. ‘Destiny’ or effects of our acts bring us to a point but it is again our decision and our act at that time which again becomes cause of ‘future Destiny’.

Lord Vishnu incurred a curse that brought him to a point where he had to make a decision with regards to his wife. ‘Being at that point’ is destined. But how he reacts or responds depends upon his character.

He chose ‘Dharma’ and hence went on to become ‘Purushottama’ – the Ideal Man in the annals of human history. But his decision caused him and his love of life – Sita to suffer immeasurably. That is the punishment of his previous karma (that of killing wife of Sage Bhrigu).

“Still confusing maam” said someone from left.

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Me, My Guru - Ramayana and Rama - Indian Mythology

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Such people make excellent lawyers! That really set me thinking. Others were lost judging him and his character but I was looking at it from a different angle altogether. I realized how our mind conjures up facts and projects it to suit our palate! This was really dangerous. And to think we fall back on our arguments based on such logic! Now I knew how we messed up the reality and gave it colours of our choice!

 “World is NOT HOW YOU SEE IT!”  How many time she had told us and yet, I felt she was repetitive, never realizing that inspite of her repeating it so many times we still didn’t understand it. Even if we did it was done topically. We didn’t apply it to our cause of pain and suffering. She kept telling “YOU are responsible for your pain”. This statement of hers actually didn’t have lots of takers. Infact, most of us felt hurt by such words. But now, I saw what she meant. We twisted ‘facts and Truths’ and strongly believed in that make-believe projecting of people and situation. And we were trying to find solutions outside! Ofcourse we failed miserably! We were trying to correct where there was no problem.  Coming to think of it – we or should I talk only for myself? Yes, I seemed to be more a student of Ravana than a bhaktha of Rama. With such an expertise in crooked logic, who could’ve been my Ideal and Guru if not the Greatest Shiva Bhaktha Ravana! Now to think of it I even suspect that we do share our lineage with him more than Rama! I smiled at my thoughts. And to think I was asking for justice arguing my case – all these years! This line of thought amused me and I was intrigued by it. But her laugh caught my attention and I once again came back to her words.

“Just because Ravana came out with such mind-blowing arguments, does he become right? Did Sita ever say ‘she wanted riches’? Infact she left Ayodhya on her accord. There was no need for her to come with Rama. Even Rama and others plead her to stay back and wait for Rama’s return. But she says “All the riches of Ayodhya are bleak in your absence. Your company is all that I seek. I’ll relish roots more with you than all the delicacies of this world

alone” to Rama. All through her stay, though she physically undergoes pain she is joyous all through. When a person has affection for the other, then they will choose company of the person they love to comforts always! And here it was between man and woman who loved each other more than the self!  but how can a dumb mind which knows only lust and is governed and satisfied only by material benefits know the joy of company with the loved ones?

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(Please Note : SHE when it is referred without any person in particular refers to 'The Guru' who is the connecting link through out the stories....every quotation is 'her' quotation...that's how it is to be understood...sorry if it was not clear all these days......)

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Me, My Guru - Ramayana and Rama - Indian Mythology

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Ramayana and Rama - Indian Mythology

“Still confusing maam” said someone from left.

“Well, let’s see it this way. Suppose life to be a train. You take a train to Madras from Hyderabad. You are ‘destined’ to reach Madras if you sit and travel in that time till the end. But you get down at Vijayawada. Taking Madras train is ‘destined’ but your decision to get down at Vijayawada is the ‘present karma’ that will decide how your life takes a turn because of this decision. Once a decision is taken, it becomes karma – a seed that will reap fruits or effects according to its quality and then how you deal with it will decide your next course of travel”.

She stopped looking at us with a look “did you get it now?”

Most of us didn’t and may be our silence said it all.

“Forget about it today. Atleast are you clear about questions with regards to Rama and his acts” she asked.

“Yes there we are clearer this time” said many.

There seemed to something ‘more’ to learn always! The more we learned, the more questions we seemed to get and have. Is it good or bad, I don’t know.

Knowing or understanding something certainly gave a high of getting a new and different perspective many times. At the time, questions that remained unanswered or answers yet not understood left a sort of gap in us.

But may be we were not ‘yet ready’ to understand those questions or answers yet!

I’ll keep coming back for more questions to be answered and understand for sure! I’ll understand much more than what I’ve till date for sure too! This ‘knowing’ was good enough for me to relax and take leave of her place. Looking forward to see the next twist that ‘our destiny’ was to give to us..........

concluded........

(As always I suggest you read the all the posts of this topic in one go for complete understanding - again....)

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(Please note ::: I can give you only link to one of the posts of the topic that i am referring to...if you wish to look into that whole post just click 'older' or 'newer' posts below that post and you will easily maneovour between various posts...)