*Power of Bad Association*: It
was a known fact in Ayodhya that Kaikeyi loved Lord Rama more than his
own son Bharath, then how could she become so evil. It is by her bad
association with Mantara.
*Attachment
to service & not to the position*: Lord Ram was willing to become
the king as a service to Maharaj Dasarath and He was also willing to go
to the forest as a service to His father.
*Mission
of Life should be to vanquish the demoniac tendencies in our heart:*
Lord Ram’s purpose to kill the demons was fulfilled by His banishment to
the forest.
*Even
extreme reversals if taken in the proper spirit will help us fulfill our
mission in life:* For example, Law of gravity is only in effect in the
Earth’s sphere and not beyond. So also Laws of material nature act only
in material consciousness not in spiritual consciousness.
*Ram
or Aaram, A test for every seeker*: Citizens of Ayodhya wanted to go
with Lord Ram to forest and leave behind all the comforts (Aaram) of the
City Ayodhya.
*Alertness
in Spiritual Life*: Lord Ram leaves Ayodhyavasis when they were asleep.
If one is inattentive or lazy, one will loose taste in Bhakti.
*(Sometimes)
Saintly persons might cause pain to others not to hurt them but benefit
them:* Bharat disowns Kaikeyi, or Prahlad disregards Hiranyakashipu, a
Doctor may cause pain (operation) to patient to cure him.Goal is to
please the Lord: For Bharat, he wanted to stay in the forest which was
easier than to return and rule the Kingdom but he did it to please Lord
Ram.
*Lord is the
Proprietor*: Bhoktaram Yajna tapasam (Bhagavad Gita 5.29). Bharat was
ruling the kingdom on Lord Ram’s behalf by keeping the Paduka’s on the
Throne. We are only caretakers, He is the real proprietor, He can give
and take away. The Caretaker acts according to the will of the owner.
*Anybody
can make a show of greatness*: The reversals test us who we are. When
Lakshmana cuts Surpanaka’s nose, gone was the charming form, gone was
the facade and then the real ugly form manifested. One’s greatness is
tested by one’s ability to tolerate provoking situations.
*Bhakti
(Sita) cannot be achieved by Deception:* Ravana wanted to kidnap
Sitadevi by deception, but he gets Maya-Sita at the end. Greed and lust
are never satiated, they lead to arrogance and envy.Attachments can
creates traps and make us suffer: Marichi takes up a golden dear form to
which Sitadevi developed deep attachment to have it and thus trapped
Sitadevi. We should see the substance through the eyes of the scripture.
Marichi was all about false promises. For example, spider web is most
attractive to the fly but actually it’s a trap.
*Maya
knows our weaknesses:* She can make our strength into weaknesses and
take us away from the circle of instructions of great souls. Ravana uses
Sitadevi’s jnana attitude to serve great souls to disobey Lakshmana.
*Always
stand by the Right*: Jatayu’s integrity. Real success is to please the
Lord. Jatayu lost his life fighting for Lord Ram but achieved the
purpose of Life to please the Lord. It is better to lose & win than
to win & lose.
*Patience,
Determination & Enthusiasm*: Example of Shabari. Long time ago,
Guru had asked her to wait for Lord Ram while all other disciples and
Guru himself went back to Godhead. She showed her enthusiasm by working
hard everyday to clean the place, plucking flowers & fruits for the
Lord. She had complete faith in the words of Guru and patiently waited
with determination.
*The
Lord reveals only when He wants.Honesty, We can’t put a facade before
the Lord:* Hanumanji disguises when he went to meet Lord Ram. Lord knows
within who we are, we have to be honest to receive the mercy of the
Lord. Lord Ram didn’t speak to Hanuman for four months.
*Obstacles
on the path of Bhakti*: The demons who came to stop Hanuman during his
jumping across the ocean. Mainaka (Gold Mountain) – temptation to seek
comfort before achieving our real purpose. Simhika (Shadow catching
demoness) – While striving for Bhakti, people will chastise, criticize
and misunderstand us, we should have the willingness to tolerate. Surasa
(Serpent): Being envious of people in higher position and try to stop
their progress. This is jealousy of the mind. By devotional service, we
have to devour Simhika who represents Envy.
*Arrogance
cannot understand wellwishers:* The world is a mirror of our own
consciousness. Ravana was thinking Mandodari was envious of Sita, but
actually he was envious of Lord Ram. Ravana was thinking Vibhisana was
disloyal and taking the side of Lord Ram, but he was disloyal to Kubera,
his cousin brother. When we think we know, we are not willing to listen
to good counsel. Spiritual progress means simplicity and humility. If
they are lacking, we won’t listen thinking that we know better, that was
Ravana.
*Big or Small,
we can swim the ocean of Samsara by chanting Lord Ram’s holy name*: Big
or Small, all the stones floated by writing Lord Ram’s name.Pride or
Attachment leads to loss of intelligence: dhyayato visayan pumsah
(Bhagavad Gita 2.62). Every stage of this sloka was exhibited by Ravana.
Loss of intelligence – Even when all his stalwart warriors including
Kumbakarna, Indrajit died but he still didn’t give up.
*Hearing
about the Lord – Revival of dormant love:* Lord Ram being Paramatma in
the heart of everyone including Ravana could have killed him just by
turning off Ravana’s heart. But the Lord and His pleasure potency
Sitadevi went through this whole ordeal so that we can hear about the
Lord and revive our dormant love.
*Righteousness*:
Vibhishana comes to take shelter of Lord Ram, all the monkeys were
against, except Hanumanji. Vibhishana was willing to be misunderstood or
even chastised to surrender to the Lord.
*Counsel
and Advise in battle against Illusion*: In battle against Illusion, at
every stage association of devotees to put us straight without which we
will fall. Lord Ram doesn’t need but takes the counsel of Vibhishana.
*Grace
of a Sadhu needed to kill demons within:* Agastya muni had given a
divine arrow to Lord Ram. That arrow was used by Lord Ram to kill Ravan
by piercing his heart.
*Welcoming
the Lord in hearts with lamps*: That is Dipavali festival. Lord Ram is
welcomed back into Ayodhya with lamps. Dipavali is not just physical
fire but lighting the hearts with light of Lord’s grace and process of
devotional service. When heart is fully illuminated, then we can
experience Lord Ram within ourself. When our love awakens, in that love,
compassion for all living beings awakens. Then Ramrajya is awakened
within the heart and then without (i.e. out in the world). Jai Shree
Ram!!
*Extracted from a talk given by HH Radhanath Swami.*
Sent by *ISKCON Desire Tree*
