Turning Point

The life goes on. Some of us have been seen or heard how our great grandfather lived and many have written about their family history, autobiographies. From all that we have read, heard or know is that life is an adventure. But, little do we understand that there is 'an unseen hand' (kaanada kai) , luck (adrushta), fate (hane baraha / karma), destiny, may be a great struggle to be what one is.A 'Turning Point' comes in life when these destiny or luck shows its miraculous power. But for a serious tragedy in the family, or loss in business or some such thing a few souls have turned into divine and have become God-head whom people worship even today! May be, some are lucky that they have lived a very happy-go-lucky life, enjoyed so fully a life that they want to return never to come back to this mrutyu loka. It is also said, that 'unless one stands naked in the street' there is no redemption. 'Enlightenment' comes when a person faces such problems in life that he surrenders to God totally and gets redeemed. 

   There are many instances of people surrendering to God and one such is that of Shree Shree Gopala Dasaru. He was an industrialist in South Africa running a textile mill during the Pre-War days. When the World War I broke out (1918) his business slumped and there was a strike and he declared 'Lock-out'. The matter went to Court and the decision to close the factory was to be taken. He had to pay the wages and other expenses. the swamy. He met a person who advised him to chant Gayatree mantra and said, everything will be alright. The judgment was to come next day at 11 a.m. This person immediately went home and started Gayatree japa and continued upto the time the Court opens. He had such a faith that little wonder, the Judge declared the strike illegal and upheld Lock out. He also gave permission to sell the Mill and other assets and pay off the dues. This industrialist was so happy, thanked God and the Judge, sold everything and came back to India. He went to Himalayas and got a Guru and later took to Sanyasa; he attained enlightenment and is now known as the much revered saint Gopala Dasaru. So also, the case of Gurudev Ranade. He was the President of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Pune. He lost his wife and child and was disillusioned! He became almost a mystic, He held very high posts as Professor of Philosophy, and Vice-Chancellor of Allahabad University. He hails from Nimbal, near Bagalkot (Karnataka). He lived his life after retirement in seclusion in Ashram and wrote a number of original books on mysticism and comparative philosophy. Mysterious are the ways of Nature and God' intervention in life of people.

   Hence, it is some strange even in the life of man that turns him away from the daily routine of mundane life and makes him realize the futility of all this exercise. People little realise that there is something higher than just eke out a living, rearing a family, and discharging the duties and obligations of the householder. Grushastashrama dharma does not preclude anybody from surrendering to God, or doing one's duty selflessly, seek divine intervention, or take to yoga, study of scriptures and seek a Guru. It is avidya, sheer ignorance to blame the family for one's own weaknesses.

    Sage Yajnyavalkya decided to retire to forest and seek a secluded life to perform his dhyana, dharana and tapas. His wife Maitreyi also joined him in his spiritual pursuits. Lo, Maitreyi is equally an authority and her writings known as Maitrayani Upanishat is a beautiful guide for us. How many are willing to join their husband in spiritual pursuits these days? As and when a person seeks the company of wise people (jnyanis) in satsang and turns his/her mind to higher aspects of life, turns away from the attractions and desires to live a mundane life, the God's blessings as daiva anugraha comes and there will be a divine intervention to redeem from the repeated births and deaths on this earth. But people do not understand this. The reason for this is simple.

   The appearance of man on this earth traced to just one lakh years! The evolution of mankind has just begun. First came the Great sages the tapojanah (Tapoloka). Then came the Gods and Goddesses (Devaloka); The deva-devatas, yakshas, kinnaras, gandharvas, siddhi purushas, saadhyas, sages and saints are followed by pitrus (manes)- that is our Grand-grand parents, Grand parents and parents whose children are now running the same traditional life of drudgery.

   What prevents a person from seeking a better form of life? Is it the parents insistence that children are driven in the gullies, by-lane of customs, traditions, religious dogma binding them and condemning them for life? Is there no freedom for the children to live as they like? Why should the children suffer for the foolishness of parents and Grand-parents? Is there any Heaven (svarga) or Hell (naraka) that one likes to go or fears, respectively, and has to follow certain dictats- dos and dont's?

  To be very rational and  scientific, as also spiritual, every jiva comes here to fulfill its desires. "Desire is brahman" and, as such, whatever the desire, the desire is always fulfilled, but there is no time limit. This may take a thousand years and in the mean time the jiva takes ten or twelve lives.  The Lord only becomes a jiva and experiences the creation what He himself created is the fundamental principle here. There is nothing one can do in this matter. He only gives  the thoughts, ideas, images and imagination, and drives to fulfill them. Those who surrender to the 'Will of God', will always succeed! However, the jiva is given 'free will' and ego that prevents it from seeking divine intervention. This happened in the case of Yudhishtira when the Blind King Drutarashtra's children Duryodhana and Dushyasana challenged for a game of Dice, used Shakuni and won the Kingdom and drove the Pandava's exile. Dharmaraja was betting everything, one by one and losing the game had to go in exile. Uddahva asked Shree Krishna, why he did not help his friend Yudhisthira in times of distress. Shree Krishna says, Dharmaraja was a fool, aviveki, did not seek His help and kept Him (God) out of doors thinking that I (Krishna) should not see his actions. Little did he know that I am a trikala jnyani and know everything! I am the witnessing self (Sakshin) and I am always standing within, as well besides, every jiva looking at the behaviour and actions. Whoever calls Me for Guidance, help, I shall immediately guide them, help them as I did in the case of Draupadi. But people think that I do not see their actions and, they use their 'free will' and do as they like and suffer due to their action (karma). I shall not interfere in karma of the jivas, said Shree Krishna.

  This should help open our eyes and see what we are doing due to avidya. If we want divine intervention, we can just shout loudly and call 'Krishnaa' as Draupadi did. We will certainly be redeemed.

(to be contd..)