|| Shri Ram Jai Ram
Jai Jai Ram ||
If you are a believer of God,
spirituality and goodness in general, you should know this. Well, when we utter
the name of Samartha Ramdas Swami, his many literary works emerge before the
eyes; but Dasbodh tops the list. Those who have read Dasbodh can tell how much
more they started adoring this divine saint of Maharashtra, after the read. The
read has turned the magnanimous atheists into devotees. The read has changed
the negative life of many into a continuous stream of positive energy. The read
has given many a chance to see their life in different perspective and has allowed
them to be detached from worldly things, despite running the household successfully.
Today there is great necessity of
a saint like Samartha Ramdas. If not, at least his teachings should be
propagated in every nuke and corners of the world, in order to make this
universe a peaceful yet powerful abode. Why it has become so much necessary for
his teachings to be accepted worldwide? Let’s discuss briefly.
1) Stress has taken its toll
on all of us-
We all reason out our stress
factors. We blame it on our work, family problems, intolerant kids, and what
not. It is sort of becoming a fashion statement. If a man or woman is working,
he or she has to have stress. People without stress are joked about! But inside
we all know how detrimental this stress has become in our life! It is not
letting us live for a moment happily. Perhaps running behind so-called
happiness is the main reason behind this stress.
And Samartha Ramdas tells us how
foolish we are to see everything in the light of stress. When we first read
Dasbodh, actually we feel shy at times to read ahead. This is because, this
visionary saint has pointed out our foolishness so intricately that we ‘fit the
bill’ almost in every sentence.
He tells us how foolish it is to
think that we are governing this world! It is the biggest mistake to think of
the fruit of our labor. Raam-karta (God does) is the sootra he binds us with.
What is in the hands of a man? Do we govern over birth and death? Can we avoid
death just because we have so much scientific prowess? That however does not
mean we shouldn't work hard. Samartha Ramdas Swami gives high emphasis on
targeted hard work. He rubbishes off the lazy guys who are worth nothing. He
puts enough stress on physical well being, which in turn nullifies stress
according to modern health sciences. Having known that, if we start looking at
our regular work as the “work given by God”, we tend to visualize His footsteps
in success as well as failure, thus without attaching oneself to that. It’s a
matter of practice for sure. When this attitude is imbibed again and again,
stress vanishes in the thin air. Be it any act; consider Him (God) as the Karta
(doer) of that! Isn’t this teaching necessary in today’s scenario that we
discussed above? Quite introspective!
2) Nullifying the Ego-
Perhaps this is the first step in
our journey towards the “true wisdom”. European philosophers have given a nice
name to man. They say- “What is Man? Man is God playing the fool!” See the
analogy behind this. Samartha Ramdas, while stressing the “Sohambodh” tells us
that we human beings carry excess ego inside us, considering WE as the creator
and destroyer of day to day works and activities. This is nothing but the
wrapping of our TRUE BEING with Maya. It happens because- “What is true of
macrocosm is true of microcosm”. God is the highest power; we humans imitate
him because we are not only part of him but Him! One needs to study this aspect
of Dasbodh very deeply to understand.
Even if we leave the
philosophical part, we can say that shedding this EGO is nothing but coming out
of the imaginary spell of Maya. This is not applicable only on spiritual plane
but in day to day life. Samartha always told people to integrate spirituality
with their daily life. Only then one can attain the Ultimate Peace. How
important it is today! Everyone is trying to pull down someone else to climb up.
Whom are we trying to pull down? Where are we reaching by doing this? Nowhere!
When this ego is shed and one embarks on the philosophy of “Ekoham Bahusyaam”
(Only one God has taken different forms in the universe; you and me are but
Him!), you see God in every living and non-living being! The whole world seems
a beautiful place governed by the Super-Power that takes care of us.
3) Vairagya-
Samartha Ramdas insists on
vairagya. This however does not mean abandoning the world or household.
Samartha stresses on vairagya (detachment) of mind and psyche. Raja Janak had
loads of pleasures in terms of huge empire and monetary gains but he is always
remembered as a viraagi who did not have any attachment to the worldly things.
Shri Ramchandra had ahead of him the lure of whole empire but he left it
without thinking twice.
Here it doesn’t mean one
shouldn’t strive for success or money. But it means, one should not give
highest importance to these material things and should know about the
temporariness of these things. Samartha stresses on the fact that nothing in
this world is fixed or permanent except death. When this is true, why bother so
much about the material possessions that bring lot of stress and insecurity
with them? Instead, by keeping our thoughts on the spiritual path, we can stay
away from the miseries that failures bring to us. We can mold ourselves into
contented human beings that have only peace inside them.
Also Samartha teaches “Vairagya
with Viveka”; that is, while having the balanced detachment from worldly
things, we should have the strong conscience working for us. “Do what you feel
like; everything is ok” has become today’s motto. No wonder we are witnessing
so many mishaps world-over. If we practice this teaching, far less people will
fall prey to the tactics of show off. Today we are doing all the things far
more than necessary; be it eating, buying unnecessary things, celebrating money
in the name of rituals, etc. Samartha’s Vairagya and Viveka can help us to be
on the right track and get others on the same!
Through the same principle
emerges the “Mumukshutwa” Samartha teaches through Dasbodh. Before one becomes
Sadhaka (one in the pursuit of ultimate wisdom), one has to attain
mumukshu-state. It is nothing but realization of one’s mistakes deeply, while
correcting them. We all realize our mistakes at times. But we do not correct
them always and keep moving ahead. But in this fashion, we can never attain the
ultimate peace. That’s why we are suffering from so much turmoil in our lives.
Samartha says, one should always be cautious. Every step of life should be
taken with much precaution and considering all the pros and cons of the
situation. If your inner mind is telling you it’s not right; don’t do it. It’s actually
simple! Always have this conscious guiding you through the thick and thin of
life. This will save you from many future hassles. This is however on worldly
plane. In spiritual path, the mumukshuttwa is further important. It guides your
conscious and keeps it away from blunders on the path of attaining perfection.
This actually leads you to the right spiritual Guru, who gives re-birth to the NEW
YOU and rides you through the apparently unknown territory of spiritual wisdom.
4) Bhakti-sadhana-
Last but not the least, samartha
ramdas Swami’s stress on Bhakti (Devotion) is unmatched. In all the sects of
spirituality, maximum insistence has been found on devotion. Without it, you
are nothing. It is the means as well as the goal. Today its implication is far more
important. As young adult residents of this world, we don’t have many good idols.
There are very few people left whom we can devote ourselves to. But they are
there. When we learn the importance of such devotion, only then perhaps, we can
learn devotion or utter surrender to God. Searching the right spiritual Guru
and learning under him is the necessity of time. Devotion is something that is
beyond the realms of worldly matters. “Devotion for the sake of Devotion” is
what we can learn from Samartha’s Dasbodh, Manobodh, etc.
Today people are praying to God,
visiting various temples, and donating gold ornaments to God, so as to make God
happy and hoping that God will return this favor by imparting some material
pleasures in their life. Samartha strongly objects to this and tells us about
the grave consequences of such worldly pleasures. He cautions us that only
through utter devotion and vairagya, it is possible for us to be truly happy.
There are many more aspects of
Samartha Ramdas’s Teachings but considering today’s scenario, the above four
seem to be more relevant and appropriate to be followed world over. Samartha’s
teachings are not bound by any religion, caste and creed. They are universal
doctrines that have been verified by many stalwarts in the spiritual path again
and again!
