The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : The recipe for success

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Friday, Mar 04, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

The recipe for success

CHENNAI, MARCH 4. A great poet once said, `share your happiness with others, but if you are in sorrow do not tell others, for they will pretend to empathise and laugh at you behind your back. Instead turn to God for solace.' All too often people fall prey to dejection at the slightest hint of adversity, failing to perceive that everything happens for a purpose, and at the end of the churning process only good will emerge. Faith is an essential pre-requisite. Even atheists while repudiating God, transpose that faith elsewhere, on someone else, heap platitudes on them, salute their qualities, hail them as role models and never fail to pay obeisance. Does the benevolent Lord ever ready to mitigate His devotee's suffering deserve any less?

The thread of attachment is ever present in man, with a latent urge to share with another, and this never more true than of spiritual faith, said Smt. Sudha Seshian in her discourse. This is precisely why scriptures state that one should turn to God, as a means of sharing, learning, evolving. Many people want to know the recipe for success in life. However, one should seek to quantify victory. Is it a problem-free life? Scholars state that facing up to trials in life and gaining ascension over the same with courage, without compromising on values is true success. True seekers should not aspire and beg God for riches and power, but as Abhirami Bhattar states, pray for that mental fortitude wherein defeatist thoughts do not take hold of a person. Such a prayer to `lightning-like image ' of the goddess should not be a mechanical exercise but rather a cohesive entity wrought by the merger of thoughts, words and deeds. Often when troubles come calling, people give way to sorrow and self-pity, and in seeking external help. If only a person were to realise that `so long as Abhirami is there', he does not need anyone else to help emerge from the crisis, he will reap untold benefit.

It is not necessary to undertake elaborate rituals in order to express piety. Lightning appears in the sky but for a flash, likewise worship when undertaken with utter faith, even if it is for the short duration that it takes to pronounce a vowel sound, is enough, sang the votary of the goddess Abhirami. ``Even if my words are faulty... yet since Your nama is present in the chant the fault can be mitigated,'' he said elsewhere while highlighting Her benignity. When one supplicates to Her with all the five senses in total attendance he will benefit from Her grace.

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