OVERCOMING KARMA AND EXPERIENCING ANANDA
Once when the sage Narada was
proceeding to Vaikuntha,the heavenly abode of the Lord, he espied a
yogi (renunciant) who was engaged in severe ascetic practices.
 |
The yogi prayed
to Narada to bring back from Vaikuntha information about the date of his
becoming entitled to enter into the Lord’s abode. Narada promised to
do so.
When Narada stood in the presence of God, he pleaded on behalf of the yogi and asked that he may be informed of the date.
The Lord replied, "Tell
him that he will be coming here after as many more births as there are
leaves on the tree under which he is currently doing penance."
Narada felt sad and
dispirited when he thought of the grief into which the yogi would be
thrown into on hearing this disheartening verdict of the Lord. But he
mustered courage to announce it nevertheless, for, the yogi insisted on
learning the news that he had assured to bring.
When Narada at last broke
the demoralizing decision of the Lord, contrary to his expectations,
the yogi was transported into a realm of joy; he was not dispirited in
the least.
The Law of Karma is not an iron law; by
dedication and purification, which invites Divine benediction, its
effects can be modified, and its rigour mitigated. Do not despair; do
not lose heart. When vices hold sway over your heart it becomes foul
and sooty; the flames of kaama, krodha and lobha (desire, anger and greed) char the heart. What quenches these flames is the Grace of the Lord. Grace confers bliss (anandam), which the evil tendencies (kama, krodha and lobha) can never confer.
|
He jumped and danced in
glee. He was lost in the thrill of his dream being so near actual
fulfillment. He became oblivious to the world around and was filled
with ecstasy thinking of the Lord and offering Him his profound
gratitude.
 |
The Lord was so pleased
with the joy of the yogi that He himself appeared before him and
offered him Vaikuntha immediately. But, the yogi said, he would bide his
time, for, he did not like the Lord's word, which Narada had brought,
to be falsified!
The Lord now had to
convince him that good deeds, noble thoughts and sacred feelings can
wipe out the tracings of bad; therefore, by his enthusiastic acceptance
of the Lord's will he has actually overcome the consequences of past
actions.
The Law of Karma is not an
iron law; by dedication and purification, which invites Divine
benediction, its effects can be modified, and its rigour mitigated. Do
not despair; do not lose heart. When vices hold sway over your heart it
becomes foul and sooty; the flames of kaama, krodha and lobha (desire, anger and greed) char the heart. What quenches these flames is the Grace of the Lord. Grace confers bliss (anandam), which the evil tendencies (kama, krodha and lobha) can never confer.
- Baba
Illustrations: Mrs. Vidya, Kuwait
Category: Chinna Katha
Posts
0 comments