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| Vagbhatananda Guru (1885 -1939) |
On Freedom and Karma
If one wishes to uplift one’s religion or country, it should be noted
that other religions and adjoining countries should also be elevated. One cannot
progress in isolation. In other words, if you want to do good to your own
people, be accommodative and give space to all others. Don’t cross swords with
individuals or movements. The first step should come from within. There should
be a deliberate effort to become a good human-being. Everybody knows that one
should not block other’s well-being, should not cheat, not to ridicule others,
people should not be pitted against each other and not to while away precious
time. And behold! Knowing all these, people are still trying their
level-best to put spokes in other's wheels just to own pleasure-seeking devices.
Obviously, we can’t see the obvious. Even
a grass blade has a role to play. We, humans do have a higher purpose of
existence.
We are entitled to be free. Freedom is the thing bestowed to all but it
can be realized in full only by human-beings. Humaneness is its
base. Freedom is spiritual. People seem to think that freedom is to be fought
and won externally. By applying force, that is. In fact, freedom is internal.
Be stable, don’t vacillate, don’t give in to pressure and don’t be a slave to
anyone (or anything). That’s freedom in a nutshell.
Coming to think of it, the whole world is the playing field of Karma.
Even Knowledge comes a close
second. Our life itself is an expansion of Karma. The whole universe
including the sun and the stars on a macro level are the result of the micro
level activities of atoms and allied particles. That’s Karma in action. Our
dharma is to emulate this ‘giant’ example and to spring up into action
dispensing our Karma. We are not supposed to idle away time even for a moment.
Irrespective of your stature, whether you’re Jnani (highly evolved person) or Ajnani (irresponsible, self-seeking person), Karma is to be carried
out such a way that the doer is cleansed progressively and all the smudge is
washed out. The Karma proponent should always aim for greater common good.
There should be economic betterment, moral appreciation, promotion of satbhavana and of course, growth of
spiritual culture. One should be able to repulse the attack of detractors and
be ready for shunning comforts. What’s more,
he should be prepared for the supreme sacrifice. Fear should be damned.
If you want to get rid of it, you need two friends, Satya (Truth) and Prema (Compassion)
on your left and right.
Such a person would be entirely selfless and all his deeds are for the
betterment of others, always. Only an idiot with no grasp of spiritual values,
i.e., cultivation of Love and practice of Selflessness is scared to die. If one
is bent on cleanliness, soiled clothes are a bundle to be discarded.
Last but not the least, care should be taken in speech too. Your words
should be conductive to the common bond of the escorting friends, Satya and Prema with you.
Each Karmayogi should be able
to see the ever-smiling God wherever he goes, whatever he does. The Ancient One
is indifferent to both praises effused by devotees or vilifications thrown by
atheists. He is the embodiment not only of Satya
and Prema but also other values of Sanathana Dharma. If one tears open the
curtain of maya that exists in between,
one can see Him waiting to embrace the Karmayogi.
Let our Karma be carried out without fear and with purity of mind.
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