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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00044 Aug 2003

 
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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





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