| Aspects Of Our Religion |
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THE SPIRITUAL PATH |
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| In the famous
Shatpadeestotra, Sri Sankara
beseeches God as follows: (avinayamapanaya) Oh Lord! Remove my avinaya, whatever does not make for humility. (Damaya manah) Control my mind (samaya vishayatrshnaam) Stifle my thirst for sensuous enjoyment (Vistaaraya bhootadayaam) expand my concern, for all beings. Surely, if a man is helped to shake off his pride, control his mind, restrain his senses and feel an inclusive love for everything in the world, he will automatically attain saanti, peace of mind and cross the sea of samsaara. This must be the prayer the lip of every one. A true devotee of God does not complain when he undergoes suffering. Sufferings are natural to man. In their afflictions, many persons complain against God that he is blind to their distresses and they even get angry with him. They forget the many benefits that they have derived from him like food, clothing, shelter etc. Could they have had them without his grace? Instead of acknowledging these with joy and gratitude, they complain of a few afflictions, which they do not wish to endure. They forget that the so-called sufferings are visited on them for their good. When a mother binds the hands of her child to keep it from eating mud, the child weeps; but the mother laughs, and the child gets angry. The good things that we get from God are signs of his grace. The sufferings have been invited on ourselves by ourselves. In fact, our troubles are ways in which God saves us from ourselves. Suffering is the medicine of life. When we suffer, we should pray to God to give us the strength to endure the suffering, A true bhakta is undisturbed by suffering. |
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