The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : The way to constant devotion

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Friday, Feb 18, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

The way to constant devotion

CHENNAI, FEB. 18. When on occasions it may appear that those who indulge in non-virtuous acts continue to flourish, how is it possible to adopt a way of life close to dharma? A person may feel that all of us possess awareness of the dos and don'ts, yet we are not any closer to our goal.

When a devotee supplicates himself to the Supreme Being, He will come forward to receive him, said Sri. P.M. Vijayaraghava Sastrigal in his discourse. The state of supreme devotional ecstasy is the ultimate outcome when bhakthi matures; however, such a desirable state cannot result from half-hearted attempts. Rather, aspirants should bring to bear a multi-directional approach, resulting in God awareness. Prahlada, the ultimate devotee, while discoursing on the supremacy of devotion, highlighted the importance of the six-limbed devotional discipline, including salutation, praise, dedication of all thoughts, words and deeds to Him, hearing and remembering His divine sports and manifestations; without such a training, one cannot expect to achieve that state of constant devotion. A trained mechanic or a doctor by profession will always be in a position to render help even in emergency situations.

A king once asked nine wise men the ways by which even persons of gross intellect can equip themselves better as per devotional doctrine. According to Parabuddha, one of the nine sages, a seeker should learn to dedicate all his actions to God, and should offer all that is his to the Lord — including his sacrifices, his charity, his children, and his very being — in order to emerge from the veil of illusion.

A devotee should also learn to see the presence of the Lord in every facet of life, be well-versed in the holy texts, refrain from cavilling at the sacred works of others, and cultivate the friendship of holy men who constantly meditate upon the Lord. True indulgence comes from being enthralled by the divine sports and deeds of the Supreme Being. To succeed in his spiritual quest, a man should also seek out a good preceptor.

Great teachers do not impart knowledge or wisdom for any other consideration except that of a true disciple. The nascent devotion in a person cannot be wrought by any extraneous force but by self-exertion. Wise men often state that the unchanging entity that He is, the Supreme is present at all times, in every state of every action of man, but He also remains unaffected by the same. It is for individuals to identify this divinity within, rather than look for external proof of existence.

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