A devotee once sought guidance from Maharaj Ji, expressing her dilemma. Despite her strong desire to connect with Shri Radha Rani, her role as a teacher left her feeling guilty for not being able to chant consistently. She felt as though she was wasting time and sought advice on how to align herself better.
Maharaj Ji answered- Sometimes, we associate the spiritual practice with isolation, believing that true Sadhna requires retreating to caves or closed rooms. While these settings can contribute to your spiritual journey, they don’t encompass the whole practice. To truly embrace a holistic spiritual practice, you must acknowledge that the entire universe is an expression of the divine. This belief is fundamental for devoted followers of our scriptures. The divine exists in various forms, playing multiple roles like a director, musician, actor, and spectator.
In this grand creation, you have a specific role to fulfill. Some are doctors, some are teachers. By wholeheartedly carrying out these roles, you’re fulfilling your divine duty, and the divine will assess and reward your actions. Whether you’re an ascetic or a family person, the divine has bestowed these diverse roles upon you.
Your reward from the divine comes as liberation from worldly illusions (maya) only if you genuinely live up to your role. For instance, if you’re a teacher, view your students as manifestations of the divine and teach with dedication. Seeing the divine in each student can transform your teaching hours into moments of spiritual practice.
Even a soldier’s duty, like fighting in a battle, can be a form of spiritual practice if carried out with sincerity. Your actions will be in vain if you’re not truthful to your duty. But once aligned with your duty, even the most mundane tasks become acts of spiritual practice.
Merely counting prayer beads is just a fraction of spiritual practice; it’s not the entirety.
Arjuna once expressed his reluctance to partake in the tumultuous Mahabharata battle with Krishna. He believed the conflict would unleash a torrent of bloodshed, and he contemplated leading a life akin to an ascetic, detached from the violence of war. In response, Krishna counseled Arjuna, emphasizing his duty as a warrior.
Krishna encouraged Arjuna to recall his divine purpose and perform his actions aligning with that higher calling. By anchoring his intentions in devotion to the divine, Arjuna could transcend his own ego. Krishna cautioned that if the memory of his divine purpose faded, arrogance might take hold, leading him to believe himself superior to others and their knowledge.
Maharaj ji then narrated a story-
In the outskirts of a dense jungle, there resided a ruthless and heartless dacoit. Infamous for his ferocity, he would raid caravans and mercilessly slaughter anyone in his path. His satisfaction derived from the act of killing itself. One fateful day, a saint happened to traverse his territory. The dacoit’s malevolent intentions extended even to the saint, yet his attempts were thwarted by an invisible power that enveloped the holy figure. Compelled by an unexplainable force, the dacoit found himself engaged in a dialogue with the saint.
With an enigmatic smile, the saint inquired, “Why do you spill the blood of these people?” The dacoit, unflinchingly, responded, “For the thrill. There’s an inexplicable joy and tranquility I find in ending lives.” The saint’s aura was so potent that the dacoit’s violent urges were suppressed, giving way to conversation.
The saint spoke gently, “Dear soul, true peace and happiness elude you. All these years, your actions have sown only seeds of sin. Peace cannot thrive in such soil.” Puzzled yet intrigued, the dacoit acknowledged, “Your words are perplexing, but tranquility does radiate from you.” The saint replied, “Your understanding is clouded by the sins you’ve committed. You must first absolve yourself to comprehend my teachings.”
The dacoit inquired earnestly, “What path must I tread to cleanse myself of this malevolence?” The saint replied, “Journey to sacred places, immerse yourself in holy rivers, and your sins shall dissipate.” Seeking clarity, the dacoit queried, “But how shall I know when I’m truly cleansed?” The saint, possessing mystical insight, produced a dry twig from his satchel, remarking, “Hold this twig. When it blooms green, your absolution shall be evident.”
After taking leave from the saint, the dacoit, now a changed human being, embarked on his journey. One night, seeking shelter beneath a banyan tree, he inadvertently eavesdropped on a group of dacoits scheming to attack a nearby village under the cover of darkness. Their sinister plans involved looting and setting the village ablaze. However, the dacoit, who had undergone a transformation due to the saint’s blessings, experienced a change of heart. He pondered, “I am on my way to seek forgiveness for my sins. Why not also save this village from harm? I can repent for any harm I cause in the process.”
Driven by this newfound resolve, he confronted the dacoits. In a fierce and determined battle, he emerged victorious, overpowering them due to his increased strength and fierceness. As the dacoit resumed his journey the following morning, he contemplated the twig he had received, wondering if the previous night’s skirmish might have affected its state. Upon examination, he was surprised to find it had already turned green. Confounded by this unexpected change, he decided to consult the saint for clarification.
Returning to the saint, the dacoit was met with understanding eyes. The saint remarked, “I understand that the path to holy places may not suit you due to your past influences. Why have you returned?” The dacoit recounted the entire sequence of events and displayed the twig to the saint.
In response, the saint explained, “Your actions in the past were driven by personal pleasure and harm. But this time, you acted to protect others, making your actions selfless. This transformation is why the twig has turned green.”
The message of this story is that regardless of your occupation, always approach it with the mindset that you are carrying out meaningful work for the Lord. By doing so, your outcomes can be as rewarding as those achieved by a dedicated ascetic who practices meditation in a sacred cave. Embracing this perspective can bring about fulfillment and contentment in your endeavors. Radha Radha
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