Dear Devotee, While passing this off to ignorance or vanity may be one way of rationalizing the situation, we must also keep in mind that the role that karma has to play in th process, as well. One's ignorance about our True Nature, the nature of this world, and the nature of God is veiled by our own actions in this life and our previous lives through the complex web of emotions and experiences that we generate through one's own self-interested actions. The complexity of this web is so vast that none of us with our limited minds can begin to fully understand it, what to speak of working their way out of it such that their hearts and minds are open to the Eternal Truths. Suffice it to say, to gain proper knowledge about anything secular or spiritual, one must obtain it in a correct way, in the right sort of environment, and from a qualified teacher. And to get this, our AchAryas point out a rather unique paradox. To get proper knowledge one requires the Grace of God; to get the Grace of God; one needs an AchArya; to get an AchArya one must be in the company of bhAgavathas, and to be in the company of bhAgavathas, it requires, once again, God's Grace. So, how the cycle begins, what unique life-changing events that take us to Him, is really only in the Loving Hands of Sriman Narayana Alone, for it is only He who knows the when, where, why and how of bringing people to a place at the right time such that He can open their hearts to the joy of knowing Him. For the rest, it seems He simply allows them to go about their business and their limited spiritual pursuits, all the while making very subtle efforts to open their hearts to Him. Consequently, even if we were to stand upon a tower proclaiming the supremacy of Sriman Narayana to the world, it is highly doubtful that all those who were present woud completely understand, or would even be listening. And such situations really were no different even in the times of our Great Teachers. You may be aware of the incident in which Sri Ramanuja Himself had to leave Sri Rangam because a fanatic Chola king wanted him to state in writing that Siva was supreme. If things could happen like that in the days of our Foremost Acharya, we can feel only fortuanate that despite all of the ignorance of this modern age, Sri Vaishnavam is still thriviing in many parts of India and the rest of the World. So, rather than lamenting about it, or trying to change the world with our own misguided sense of fanaticism, it would probably be better if we were to simply cherish and follow what is undoubtedly Sriman Narayana's unconditional gift to us, and respectfully leave those who are off on their own paths to simply follow their way, as long as they are not interfering in what we are doing. But, at the same time, we should show by example and by teaching the basic good values that lie at the heart of our own path, such that they can be slowly be naturally drawn back to what is, in its essence, the true nature of all souls. I hope this helps. adiyEn Ramanuja dAsan
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
ramanuja-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |