Everyone seeks success and happiness (s & h) in life. But no one knows the correct path which leads to success and happiness. Take the Road less traveled.
We all go after the materialistic things in life and think that we would find s & h in it. But in the end we tend to get disappointed. Even assuming we succeed in getting what we wanted partially, we realize it doesn't give us enduring s & h. Then we tend to develop some sort of fear to preserve and retain whatever s & h we achieved. This series of experiences......partial satisfaction, disappointment, and later fear goes on and on endlessly in our life.
We should clearly understand that s & h can be achieved only with the combination of Human Efforts + Divine Blessings. Vishaka Hari in her upanyasams/musical discourses often used to say "Manushya Muyarchiyum Deivaanukoolyamum irundhaal mattum"...... a man can achieve success and happiness.
Efforts are in our hands. We are responsible for our efforts. Then how to seek and get divine blessings? Should we have to do any penance or become orthodox and perform long pujas, or recite veda mantras , or do homams to invoke divine blessings?
"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together"....Vincent Van Gogh.
Small and simple things like chanting the names of God within ourselves, wherever and whenever we find time, for example..... while bathing, while sitting, while driving, while standing, while walking, while eating......can we not chant "Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare". or "Om Namashivaya", or "Om Namo Narayanaya" "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" "Om Sakthi" "Om Muruga" "Om Saravanabhava" "Jai Hanuman" Sriram Jayaram Jayajayaram" "Rama Rama" "Radhekrishna" "Vittala Panduranga" etc. Is it very difficult to do this? Do you need any extra time for this?
"Jo Naam chaaho Woh naam bolo. "Yeh naam saare jeevan sahare" "Bhav se bolo Prem se bolo". "Govinda bolo Gopala bolo" sings Udayalur Kalyanarama Bhagavathar in one of his soulful bhajans in Bhakti Mala.
Sri Vittal Das (JKD) in his mahabhaktha vijayam upanyasam says only when we are healthy, we will be able to devote our body, mind and time and participate in Namasankeerthanam Bhajans. Later on we cannot guarantee our health. So it's better to do it early in our life than postpone it later in our lives.
He extols that in this Kaliyug, the only way to attain God is through "Bhakthi" marg. To develop, grow, and retain bhakthi, we need to:- a) either listen to Namasankeerthanam bhajans or participate in Namasankeerthanam bhajan concerts, and Bhagavatha Melas whenever time permits and wherever it's convenient, b) visit Temples to have darshan of Lord, and c) visit Guru's Mutts, which were established by the legengary gurus, who have lived a meaningful life there. This will definitely take us safely across the ocean of life.
If you study history, in every state of India, lots and lots of Gurus and Saints from time to time have taken birth on this planet Earth, to spread the message of God to people, by setting an example themselves and leading a principled life. The question is do we devote any small time in our life to attend/listen to spiritual discourses/upanyasams of the present day gurus, who tell us the stories and great achievements of yesteryears' Gurus? There is a lot to learn from their lives. The present day gurus have spent lot of time and their life in studying the epics and the scriptures and have sharpened their learning and skills and are coming out to spread the message. We need to respect them. Without a Guru's help, you cannot understand or reach God.
It is sad to observe that a majority of the present day youth is wasting their time indulging in materialistic things to find success and happiness. I am not against their indulgence. Let them enjoy their youth. But they should be balanced and be more responsible. Can the present day youth also not spend their little time in pursuing the above things? Let them not think that it's relevant only for their old age. It's a wrong notion.
When you fall outside, you fall. When you fall inside, you rise. Without attaching to the higher, you cannot detach from the lower. You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.
Miles to go before I sleep miles to go before I sleep..........
Shankar Subramanian (Shanky)
03-July-2010
