In the previous episode, we had witnessed how anger and jealousy can wreak havoc in one’s journey of success. If we’ve to put our 100% effort into whatever we’re doing, we should be completely devoid of both these characteristics. If anger and jealousy start raising their ugly heads, our focus would completely get distracted and this is where many of us suffer today. Of course, all of us have the good intent of doing things perfectly – But on the way, we get distracted many times because of these two factors and all of us have to introspect at what times we get carried away by these two factors. Moreover, especially for our spiritual growth and advancement, what we should cultivate is dedication and involvement. When we’re doing a prayer (It might be even chanting a “Mantra” continuously), we should have complete focus on it. Rather, we should not keep doing a hundred things around and chant! This is not the way to do it. If we’re reciting a sloka or whatever it is, our concentration should be 100% on Bhagawan only, and not on anything else. Many of us find this difficult to achieve, but we should keep on trying till we attain perfection in this.
Moreover, we should understand one more thing here – What would make us do something with that 100% effort? Let us track a little backward here – Only if we are interested to do something, we will do it with our 100% effort involvement, isn’t it? For instance, if I’m a musician and if I’m interested very much in singing Bhagawan’s Keerthanams, I would automatically devote time every day to practise it (“Saadhagam”) won’t I? Similarly, if I’m extremely interested in spiritual growth, I would automatically find ways to achieve it. Hence, having interest is very important for something to materialise. Similarly, when will we involve ourselves in selfless service towards others and towards Bhagawan? This is also part of spiritual growth, isn’t it? We will get involved in these things only if we accept Bhagawan as the “Purushaartha” (The all-pervasive). Only if we develop this thought strongly within us, and only when we realize that the “Purushaartha” is the one which is making us do whatever we’re doing, we would develop that dedication and devotion towards Bhagawan. Only if we realize this concept of “Purushaartha”, will we involve ourselves in the path of spiritual growth and spiritual advancement. Whereas on the other end of the spectrum, if we do not have that interest in us, no matter how much ever someone pushes us into something, we will not be able to do it perfectly. We might have seen this and experienced this in our childhood days as well – For instance, if we do not like the subject called Mathematics, no matter how good the teacher is, or how good he / she teaches us, we will not be able to understand it, isn’t it? Ultimately, because of this “mental block” that we develop, irrespective of whether Mathematics is a very interesting subject or not, it would never interest us, isn’t it? Hence, similarly, only if we have the interest in spirituality and spiritual growth and Bhagawan, will we be able to involve ourselves 100% into this. Else, it becomes extremely difficult!
Now the question will come – Just because someone doesn’t have interest in something, should we just leave it like that? For instance, if our children are not showing interest in Bhagawan and spirituality, should we allow them to become atheists? Should we allow them to talk ill about Bhagawan? This is where we’ve to have the balance – We should of course not force them into Bhagawan and spirituality, and if we do so, the children might develop aversion for them. However, we should slowly induce them into Bhagawan and Spirituality by narrating some beautiful and interesting stories and anecdotes about Bhagawan and how He played His divine “Leela” on His devotees. We can narrate such interesting and heart-attracting stories, so that slowly and steadily the children would get involved. Instead, if we start explaining high-level spirituality like “Dvaitham”, “Adhvaitam”, Jeevatma, Paramatma, etc. to kids, they wouldn’t be able to understand and relate anything of these. This is because, they’ve not seen Bhagawan and they do not know who Bhagawan is! Only if we’ve seen something or heard about something a lot, or if we’ve experienced something, will we be able to relate to, isn’t it? This is applicable for adults like us itself! If such is the case, we can understand how children’s psychology would work. Of course, I’m not saying that the concepts of Paramatma, Jeevatma, and the others don’t exist. All of them exist! However, what we’ve to inculcate in children is something at a simpler level. We shall narrate interesting stories of Bhagawan Krishna and how He unleashed His divine Leela during His childhood days. There is no dearth of stories of “Krishna-Leela” isn’t it? We can keep on narrating one after the other in a very interesting way, so that children can slowly get involved. Once their involvement level increases, we can slowly start inculcating the complex aspects of spirituality, and at this stage, they would also be prepared to accept them.
Hence for today, let us understand this point very clearly and we shall wait till the next episode to take this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 