25 Life Lessons from Ramayana

1. Power of Bad Association: It was a known fact in Ayodhya that Kaikeyi loved Lord Rama more than his own son Bharath, then how could she become so evil. It is by her bad association with Mantara.
2. Attachment to service & not to the position: Lord Ram was willing to become the king as a service to Maharaj Dasarath and He was also willing to go to the forest as a service to His father.
3. Mission of Life should be to vanquish the demoniac tendencies in our heart: Lord Ram's purpose to kill the demons was fulfilled by His banishment to the forest.
4. Even extreme reversals if taken in the proper spirit will help us fulfill our mission in life: For example, Law of gravity is only in effect in the Earth's sphere and not beyond. So also Laws of material nature act only in material consciousness not in spiritual consciousness.
5. Ram or Aaram, A test for every seeker: Citizens of Ayodhya wanted to go with Lord Ram to forest and leave behind all the comforts (Aaram) of the City Ayodhya.
6. Alertness in Spiritual Life: Lord Ram leaves Ayodhyavasis when they were asleep. If one is inattentive or lazy, one will loose taste in Bhakti.
7. (Sometimes) Saintly persons might cause pain to others not to hurt them but benefit them: Bharat disowns Kaikeyi, or Prahlad disregards Hiranyakashipu, a Doctor may cause pain (operation) to patient to cure him.
8. Goal is to please the Lord: For Bharat, he wanted to stay in the forest which was easier than to return and rule the Kingdom but he did it to please Lord Ram.
9. Lord is the Proprietor: Bhoktaram Yajna tapasam (Bhagavad Gita 5.29). Bharat was ruling the kingdom on Lord Ram's behalf by keeping the Paduka's on the Throne. We are only caretakers, He is the real proprietor, He can give and take away. The Caretaker acts according to the will of the owner.
10. Anybody can make a show of greatness: The reversals test us who we are. When Lakshmana cuts Surpanaka's nose, gone was the charming form, gone was the facade and then the real ugly form manifested. One's greatness is tested by one's ability to tolerate provoking situations.
11. Bhakti (Sita) cannot be achieved by Deception: Ravana wanted to kidnap Sitadevi by deception, but he gets Maya-Sita at the end. Greed and lust are never satiated, they lead to arrogance and envy.
12. Attachments can creates traps and make us suffer: Marichi takes up a golden dear form to which Sitadevi developed deep attachment to have it and thus trapped Sitadevi. We should see the substance through the eyes of the scripture. Marichi was all about false promises. For example, spider web is most attractive to the fly but actually it's a trap.
13. Maya knows our weaknesses: She can make our strength into weaknesses and take us away from the circle of instructions of great souls. Ravana uses Sitadevi's attitude to serve great souls to disobey Lakshmana.
14. Always stand by the Right: Jatayu's integrity. Real success is to please the Lord. Jatayu lost his life fighting for Lord Ram but achieved the purpose of Life to please the Lord. It is better to lose & win than to win & lose.
15. Patience, Determination & Enthusiasm: Example of Shabari. Long time ago, Guru had asked her to wait for Lord Ram while all other disciples and Guru himself went back to Godhead. She showed her enthusiasm by working hard everyday to clean the place, plucking flowers &  fruits for the Lord. She had complete faith in the words of Guru and patiently waited with determination. The Lord reveals only when He wants.
16. Honesty, We can't put a facade before the Lord: Hanumanji disguises when he went to meet Lord Ram. Lord knows within who we are, we have to be honest to receive the mercy of the Lord. Lord Ram didn't speak to Hanuman for four months.
17. Obstacles on the path of Bhakti: The demons who came to stop Hanuman during his jumping across the ocean. Mainaka (Gold Mountain) - temptation to seek comfort before achieving our real purpose. Simhika (Shadow catching demoness) - While striving for Bhakti, people will chastise, criticize and misunderstand us, we should have the willingness to tolerate. Surasa (Serpent): Being envious of people in higher position and try to stop their progress. This is jealousy of the mind. By devotional service, we have to devour Simhika who represents Envy.
18. Arrogance cannot understand wellwishers: The world is a mirror of our own consciousness. Ravana was thinking Mandodari was envious of Sita, but actually he was envious of Lord Ram. Ravana was thinking Vibhisana was disloyal and taking the side of Lord Ram, but he was disloyal to Kubera, his cousin brother. When we think we know, we are not willing to listen to good counsel. Spiritual progress means simplicity and humility. If they are lacking, we won't listen thinking that we know better, that was Ravana.
19. Big or Small, we can swim the ocean of Samsara by chanting Lord Ram's holy name: Big or Small, all the stones floated by writing Lord Ram's name.
20. Pride or Attachment leads to loss of intelligence: dhyayato visayan pumsah (Bhagavad Gita 2.62). Every stage of this sloka was exhibited by Ravana. Loss of intelligence - Even when all his stalwart warriors including Kumbakarna, Indrajit died but he still didn't give up.
21. Hearing about the Lord - Revival of dormant love: Lord Ram being Paramatma in the heart of everyone including Ravana could have killed him just by turning off Ravana's heart. But the Lord and His pleasure potency Sitadevi went through this whole ordeal so that we can hear about the Lord and revive our dormant love.
22. Righteousness: Vibhishana comes to take shelter of Lord Ram, all the monkeys were against, except Hanumanji. Vibhishana was willing to be misunderstood or even chastised to surrender to the Lord.
23. Counsel and Advise in battle against Illusion: In battle against Illusion, at every stage association of devotees to put us straight without which we will fall. Lord Ram doesn't need but takes the counsel of Vibhishana.
24. Grace of a Sadhu needed to kill demons within: Agastya muni had given a divine arrow to Lord Ram. That arrow was used by Lord Ram to kill Ravan by piercing his heart.
25. Welcoming the Lord in hearts with lamps: That is Dipavali festival. Lord Ram is welcomed back into Ayodhya with lamps. Dipavali is not just physical fire but lighting the hearts with light of Lord's grace and process of devotional service. When heart is fully illuminated, then we can experience Lord Ram within ourself. When our love awakens, in that love, compassion for all living beings awakens. Then Ramrajya is awakened within the heart and then without (i.e. out in the world).

Above lessons are extracted from a talk given by HH Radhanath Swami.

Baba's Letter to you

Dear Child,

      I see your loneliness and fears, your guilt and frustrations.  I see your endless search for love and fulfillment.  All this must be, in order for you to come to the end of your own understanding--then you can hear My voice.  Listen carefully amid the noise of the world and you will hear...

      I love you, I shed my blood for you to make you clean.  Give yourself completely to Me.  I created you to be just as you are, and you are lovely in My eyes.  Do not criticize yourself or become depressed for not being perfect in your own eyes.  In Me you have been made perfect.  I want you to trust Me one step, one day, one second at a time.  Dwell in My power and My love and be free, be yourself.  Don't allow other people to control you.  I will guide you, if you let Me, but be aware of My presence in everything.

      I give to you patience, love, joy, and peace.  Look to Me for answers for I am your Father and will lead you.  Follow Me only!  Do not ever forget this!  Listen and I will tell you My will.

      Let My love flow from you and spill over to all you touch.  Be not concerned with yourself - you are My responsibility.  I will change you without your ever knowing it.  You are to love yourself and others, simply because I love you.  Take your eyes off yourself, look only to Me, I lead, I change, I create, but only when you are not striving.  You are mine... Let Me have the joy of making you like Lord.

      Your only command is to look to Me, and Me only...  never to yourself and never to others.  Do not struggle, but relax in My love.  I know what is best and will do it in you.  Stop trying to become, and let Me make you what I want.

      My will is perfect; My love is sufficient.  I will supply all your needs...  only look to Me.

I Love You,

Your Father 

More than what we can hold..!!

Once a boy went to a shop with his mother. The shopkeeper looked at the small cute child and showed him a bottle with sweets
 
And said 'Dear Child, you can take the sweets...

But the child didn't take. The shopkeeper was surprised.. Such a small child he is and why is he not taking the sweets from the bottle. Again he said take the sweets....

Now the mother also heard that and said.. Take the sweets dear. Yet he didn't take. The shopkeeper seeing the child not taking the sweets... He himself took the sweets and gave to the child. The child was happy to get two hands full of sweets.  

While returning home the Mother asked the child... Why didn't you take the sweets, when  the shopkeeper told you to take?..

Can you guess the response: Child replies... Mom! My hands are very small and if I take the sweets I can only take few.. But now you see when uncle gave with his big hands.... How many more sweets I got!  

Moral: When we take we may get little but when God gives... He gives us more beyond our expectations. .. More than what we can hold..!!

God's Plan for You

The 45 lessons life taught me - Regina Brett

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! 

Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!

Written by Regina Brett, 

90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio ."To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19.. It's never too late to be happy. But it's all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."