Man has great ego. He thinks
he is the one who does everything. He feels that it is because of him, his
family eats and survives. He has this unshakable belief that the entire world
revolves around him.
Life existed on earth before
man. Trees, plants, fruits, flowers, insects, fish, birds were there
everywhere. Nature provided food, water and shelter for every living
creature. But when man came, he began to
lord over and control all other
creatures. He developed this fallacy
that he is King of all that he surveys and he is the caretaker and giver of
food and comforts to all including fellow creatures.
Many people who are vested
with little or more authority think that they are caretakers of mankind. Kings
and rulers, presidents and ministers, local mayors and policemen and family men
– all think that they are the providers
for men and animals. While they do work and administer, the actual providing of
food and water is done by Nature Herself. As man’s ego swells he forgets
God and begins to think he is God.
Great Gurus teach man that he is not the creator or provider but God is. They smash the ego of man and show him the path to Light. One such Guru was Shree Swami Ramdas – the Sadguru of Veer Shivaji Maharaj. Once when Shivaji was at a fort which was under construction, Shree Swami Ramdas arrived there. Seeing him, Shivaji offered the respect due to a Guru of very high stature. As Shivaji walked around showing Shree Swami Ramdas the work being done, a feeling of pride swelled in Shivaji. He was the King. He was Protector and Provider. Shree Swami Ramdas could feel this wrong emotion well up in Shivaji. He saw that Shivaji had superior qualities in him and could do a lot of good work for Hinduism and for his people if guided well. He decided to break down Shivaji’s ego and show him the truth of life – that God is the provider and man is the receiver of His Grace. Vanity breaks down the ability of man to receive Grace.
Shree Swami Ramdas ordered one
of the workers there to break a particular rock. When the rock cracked into
two pieces, there was a hollow inside and a frog jumped out. Inside the hollow
was water and food for the frog. “Look at that frog Shiva,” he said. “It has survived due to your protection. You
have provided for even that frog. You are indeed a great king.” Right understanding
and shame flashed in Shivaji’s mind. He removed his turban and offered it to
the Great Guru along with his kingdom. After that Shivaji ruled his kingdom
with the remembrance that he was merely a tool but God was the Provider and
Protector.
Be like Shivaji. Be a tool in
the hands of God. Remember God at all times.
Keep the SitaRam vibrating silently within you at all time. When you
live this way you will give your best and maximised performance and the results
would be those as dictated by the Supreme Power
