Ayodhya Means Free Of All Conflicts
The Ramayana, a fascinating and T enthralling epic, is notjust a story that has been passed through generations; it has hidden treasures of deep mystical knowledge. King Dasharatha lived in the kingdom of Ayodhya. Ayodhya is made up of the letters 'a-yudh'. 'Yudh'means battle or conflict. In our lives, conflicts seem to be all-pervading: disputes in the family; wars in the world; and incessant discord within-in our own minds. King Dasharatha had his 'ratha' under his mastery. Our body is a ratha (chariot) with 10 senseorgans-five of perception and five of action. A person who has mastery over this ratha lives in peace and harmony The king had three beautiful and virtuous wives-Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. These represent different virtues within us. Kaushalya, means well-being or prosperity. Sumitra signifies friendship and Kaikeyi is one who has both compassion and passion. When the queen showered kindness, she was a wonderful person but, later, overcome with selfish obsession, she became the conniving Kaikeyi. With such a ruler, wedded to the welfare of his people, the kingdom enjoys peace and prosperity. Similarly, when our mind becomes a Dasharatha master of the 10 senses-and the intellect develops goodwill and kindness with the goal of helping others, our heart will be free from all conflictsAyodhya. The birth of the Lord takes place in such an integrated personality that is dedicated to the service of the world. The word Rama means one who delights everybody; what truly delights us is happiness and this happiness is Rama. It is the Supreme Lord, the Infinite Reality that is revelling ineveryone's heart; this Rama is the Atma within all and manifests in the heart. Why does the Lord take avatar? He can easily use anyone as an instrument to vanquish evil. He takes avatar to establish righteousness, when the good are being tyrannised by the wicked; when the Ravanas and Kumbhakarans of the world oppress the virtuous. This is in the macrocosm, butthe Supreme also manifests in our hearts. How do we experience the Infinite, All-pervading Lord within ourselves? The key element is devotion. The Atma, the Atmarama, is present within us; it is that because of which we see, hear, smell and taste; it is because of which we are alive. Yet, we do not know Him; we remain unaware of His presence. When the mind, likeŠµ King Dasharatha, is full of devotion, a certain dispassion develops. The king is wedded to Kaushalya-one who represents a brilliant and bright intellect free from all selfishness negativities. When the mind andtellect are focussed on the Lord a call out to Him by His name-Sri He reveals Himself. The Antakarthe inner equipment, the inner ciinner space where Rama is experas a mass of inexplicable, unlimihappiness and bliss. Rama is accompanied by his thbrothers. Bharata indicates one w full of love and ready to sacrifice.Lakshmana is a life of dedicatedseand the silent brother, Shatrughadestroysour greatest enemy-the When Rama enters, love and sacriservice and dispassion, selflessnehumility, will also emerge. Our heAyodhya, becomes full of peace ar(The writer is the global head Chinmaya Mission.)
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Swami Swaroopananda and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Swami Swaroopananda and Speaking Tree,Times of India
Ayodhya Means Free Of All Conflicts
The Ramayana, a fascinating and T enthralling epic, is notjust a story that has been passed through generations; it has hidden treasures of deep mystical knowledge. King Dasharatha lived in the kingdom of Ayodhya. Ayodhya is made up of the letters 'a-yudh'. 'Yudh'means battle or conflict. In our lives, conflicts seem to be all-pervading: disputes in the family; wars in the world; and incessant discord within-in our own minds. King Dasharatha had his 'ratha' under his mastery. Our body is a ratha (chariot) with 10 senseorgans-five of perception and five of action. A person who has mastery over this ratha lives in peace and harmony The king had three beautiful and virtuous wives-Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. These represent different virtues within us. Kaushalya, means well-being or prosperity. Sumitra signifies friendship and Kaikeyi is one who has both compassion and passion. When the queen showered kindness, she was a wonderful person but, later, overcome with selfish obsession, she became the conniving Kaikeyi. With such a ruler, wedded to the welfare of his people, the kingdom enjoys peace and prosperity. Similarly, when our mind becomes a Dasharatha master of the 10 senses-and the intellect develops goodwill and kindness with the goal of helping others, our heart will be free from all conflictsAyodhya. The birth of the Lord takes place in such an integrated personality that is dedicated to the service of the world. The word Rama means one who delights everybody; what truly delights us is happiness and this happiness is Rama. It is the Supreme Lord, the Infinite Reality that is revelling ineveryone's heart; this Rama is the Atma within all and manifests in the heart. Why does the Lord take avatar? He can easily use anyone as an instrument to vanquish evil. He takes avatar to establish righteousness, when the good are being tyrannised by the wicked; when the Ravanas and Kumbhakarans of the world oppress the virtuous. This is in the macrocosm, butthe Supreme also manifests in our hearts. How do we experience the Infinite, All-pervading Lord within ourselves? The key element is devotion. The Atma, the Atmarama, is present within us; it is that because of which we see, hear, smell and taste; it is because of which we are alive. Yet, we do not know Him; we remain unaware of His presence. When the mind, likeŠµ King Dasharatha, is full of devotion, a certain dispassion develops. The king is wedded to Kaushalya-one who represents a brilliant and bright intellect free from all selfishness negativities. When the mind andtellect are focussed on the Lord a call out to Him by His name-Sri He reveals Himself. The Antakarthe inner equipment, the inner ciinner space where Rama is experas a mass of inexplicable, unlimihappiness and bliss. Rama is accompanied by his thbrothers. Bharata indicates one w full of love and ready to sacrifice.Lakshmana is a life of dedicatedseand the silent brother, Shatrughadestroysour greatest enemy-the When Rama enters, love and sacriservice and dispassion, selflessnehumility, will also emerge. Our heAyodhya, becomes full of peace ar(The writer is the global head Chinmaya Mission.)
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Swami Swaroopananda and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Swami Swaroopananda and Speaking Tree,Times of India