The Art of Doing Karma, Part V

By Staff

Wednesday, September 2, 2009, 15:38

Our love for the little things of this world has to be transformed into love for God. We can think of God with form or without form. You can easily love God with form. Ramanuja says there is archvatra in an image that has been loved and worshipped. It is not just an image; when it has been worshipped for many years the hidden power in the image becomes manifest; that is called archvatra. It is this which makes certain pilgrimage centres or temples acquire a holiness, a sublime atmosphere drawing many pilgrims towards it.

So we have to consciously try to change our ways, change our attitude towards life. First of all, fix your goal. As I said in the beginning, your goal should be to develop spiritually, or to move towards the highest good which is the supreme purpose of life.

Many householders would come to Sri Ramakrishna and ask him what was the way? Should we have to give up the family and the world? Sri Ramakrishna said no, you can be in the world and still attain God. Moreover the life of a monk or nun is not suitable for everyone. It suits only a few, who have the requisite samskras. Everybody is born with his own set of samskras. His mind is programmed in a particular way (to use the computer language). What we are today is because of our past programming. It is very difficult to wipe out the past samskras, though not impossible. One must make strenuous and sincere efforts. We have to remove all the bad programmes and create good programme in our mental computer. We have to do this rewriting the inner programme consciously.

If you want to bring about this transformation or want to give a new orientation to your life, that is a spiritual orientation, then give up the attitude of narrowness and develop the attitude of love, and see things in a broader perspective. This you can find well demonstrated in the life of Holy Mother.

If you read the life of Holy Mother, for all intents and purposes, she looked like an ordinary lady but her mind was tuned to purity alone. Just by having her darshan people became pure and got transformed. She clearly demonstrated to the world that even in this age which is surrounded by too much of worldly-minded people, spiritual evolution is possible. This she proved in her life, by keeping her mind always on God, even in the midst of her busy schedule and household works. It is true that everyone will reach the goal one day or the other. If you are prepared to.

About the author

Swami Smaranananda is the General Secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. This is the edited text of his talk delivered at Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, during the spiritual retreat held on 8th February 2004

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