The Hindu : Way to God-realisation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 06, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Way to God-realisation

CHENNAI, MARCH 6. Man arrives in this world with a comprehensive do-it-yourself kit. A step-by-step instruction manual delineating the way to spiritual upliftment is available in the form of scriptural texts for all. However, like some of us who throw away new brochures unread, many people go through life geared towards material acquisitions and sensory satiation, thereby leaving the spiritual message unopened. The result is a yawning chasm in one's comprehension of this world and a lack of true perception on all that life entails.

In his lecture, Sri Ma. Ki. Ramanan said that for a message to reach the designated recipient, the letter should be dropped in a post box. If the same were to be left in one's own mailbox, it would amount to nothing more than an exercise in futility, since it will fail to reach the desired addressee. Likewise, human beings need to understand the true aim and purpose of life. Granted that life ought to be much more than a rat race, how does one set about acquiring the skills needed for enriching the soul? Can ordinary human beings hope to experience God and godliness? As scriptural history shows us, men have scaled great heights due to their diligence.

Valmiki is the classic example of hunter-turned sage. Thirumoolar is one such, who as a student in search of a famed preceptor, witnessing the distress of a herd of cows bereft of their herdsman, undertook a transmigratory exercise; his teachings emphasise the importance of God in our daily life. He advocated a three-pronged approach of knowing oneself before knowing God, knowing the world beyond its material sheen and God-realisation. A man of wisdom will acknowledge that the not-visible God can only be experienced.

Young seekers may wonder on how best to approach the Supreme Being. At a time when ostentatious display is the order of the day, Thirumoolar's advice holds good. He says that according to the merits deposited, God grants His grace. He is happy with a single basil leaf — He does not need a thousand and eight of them; a fistful of rice offered to lesser life forms as a daily ritual is even more endearing to the Lord. If such ready measures are beyond a person for one reason or the other, then kind words to fellow human beings is the principle to embrace, since God is within every individual. As Thiruvalluvar says, "Those who find refuge in the great feet of (Him) who lives in the lotus heart (of the devotee) live eternally in heaven."

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