The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Prayer is all about losing egoism

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Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Prayer is all about losing egoism

CHENNAI, FEB. 9. The hallmark of Sanathana Dharma (Hinduism) is that it does not prescribe difficult methods to reach God. Instead, it offers simple yet effective means of attaining the same. With every eon, it absorbs the ethos of the era and accordingly lends itself to better practice. In earlier yugas, the order of the day was to conduct elaborate yagnas lasting days on end wherein learned pandits recited the Vedas without error. For the current times we live in, chanting the name of the Lord is the most efficacious method of attaining one's goal.

There are many definitions of prayer, but it is quintessentially about losing egoistic awareness of oneself and realising the true self in oneself, said Sri Suki Sivam in his discourse. It is imperative for devotees to experience true humility born of the knowledge that one is nothing before the Supreme Being. In life situations we often tend to pay heed only to friends and resent the criticisms of our enemies. However, while those close to us may be blind to our faults, our enemies may possess a clearer picture of our personality; yet it is human nature to spurn unflattering comments, resulting in failure to introspect. The allegory of a swan which is capable of absorbing milk and leaving behind the water mixed in it should be borne in mind. This bird is not a rare species which adorns celestial strata, but is to be found everywhere. Every effort should be made by aspirants to better themselves each day, otherwise one can only remain like a duck and not aspire to glorious heights of a swan as experienced by renowned spiritualists such as Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. There was once a teacher who, on receiving a few fruits advised his pupils to find a corner where none could spot them and consume the same; while all of them took him literally at his word, only one aspirant said that wherever he went he found God looking at him. Such a state of awareness is what is recommended for all seekers.

Some may spurn humility and set out to "bind" God, to which end they may undertake severe austerities. A few may even feel they have gained victory in such a pursuit when transient gains are had. However, if a person devotes himself in all humbleness to God and serves Him, then he is assured of His protection always. In one of his speeches Swami Vivekananda emphasises the shedding of accumulated inner dirt to all pilgrims as against mere external ablution, since the purpose of all spiritual endeavour should be to get closer to God.

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