O Lord, blessed is your vast, wonderful creation. Out of small portions of your own land of bliss (Krishna Loka) have you decked this place out so very beautiful. A mere particle of you has made the sun, moon, trees, plants, fruits, flowers and the whole enchanting universe. You longed for Prema and your creation is the result, and because of your longing for Prema you incarnated yourself to enjoy also human love.
You created the Jivas after your own image to reflect your own beauty and made them so charming – not that they become vain, but for your enjoyment. Your beauty is not hidden away nor can any object hide it, but our eyes have not the ability to realize your beauty. Therefore it is not evident here and there. As we are gradually repeating your holy Name even those eyes who could not see your beauty will behold it, even in common objects. Then we will make your beauty the object of our contemplation and begin to consider all things in this world as your diverse plays. Your beauty is so peerless, so irresistible that anyone, who looks at you but once, is sure to be captivated and to remain a slave to your charms forever.
In this great theatre of creation you alone are the audience. All created beings – men, birds, beasts, worms, insects – have come each to play a part on the stage of Him, who is the dearest to all. Each will pass away in time, when his part in the play is over. In this theatre some are dressed as king, some as saints, others as apes, dogs, jackals, drunkards etc., and all are watched by the Creator with equal interest. Each one pleases Him with his performance and gets his reward according to how he plays his part. For those, who cannot act well, He engages tutors to coach them. Then He appoints them again in good service. Everyone has come for his own particular work, which he has to do.
You said, that this objective universe is your stage to play upon, and that you have come from the beginning of time to play on this stage in order to teach us the lessons of love and to save us from the allurements of your Maya. You reminded us that this transitory earthly home is not our permanent resting place, and that we should never lose sight of our eternal abode of peace, your Lotosfeet - the only point still and calm. Whatever is of this world is to make us forget the truth. Prior to our present birth we appeared times out of number on this earth, each time in a different form – man, woman, beast or bird etc. Those who learnt to regard this world and its joys and sorrows as obstacles in the way of attaining the Lord are really wise and blessed. When we forget the truth, the ever merciful Lord, in order to bring us back to our senses, sends some diseases or bereavements, that we may be roused to our true state.
The creation is never governed by chance or accident but always by established and immutable laws. Human laws punish crimes and offences in order to correct. Equally the Lord, but to save them – His punishments are blessings in disguise. We stand or fall by our own actions and not by what others may do or say. A wrong-doer is himself the person, who brings about his own capture and punishment. Should he for example commit theft and run away, that act leaves traces behind.- Sweet indeed are the doings of the Lord and deep in significance as the ocean are they. Nowhere else can one find such a well-regulated government. Whoever has been entrusted with the task of governing, is himself the governed. His fate lies in his own hands. As long as one thinks that he is acting, there is no end to Karma.
All the objects which we see here are given by you, and are regulated according to your wishes – nothing can be called our own, nothing is without you nor can it ever be – Every molecule and atom in this universe belongs to you, o Lord. Your store is inexhaustible! When we realize this, we will never consider anything as our own. Nothing of what we call our own did we bring with us nor will we take any part thereof with us when departing. Even this material body is yours and will be taken away by you at the fixed time. Let us never forget, that we have to protect it carefully as your property. When this body is taken away by you, why do we mourn? You alone are its owner.
We can never have in this world what we are not to have, however much we may ask for it. Everything is Yours, yet we bring up and fondle like supervisors what You keep here for the time being. Let us not be attached to the earth for its own sake but regard it always as your playthings, then malice or hatred will have no place in the heart.
Why so much hesitation in giving or spending when all the wealth is supplied by another? The wealth will remain His, whose it is – nobody can take it away. We are mistaken to think it is ours. Go on doing your duty with the wealth of the Lord. From Him we get the flowers and leaves for His worship, and at His feet we should offer them back. When blood is well-circulated in the body it nourishes, but if stagnant, it destroys the tissues. Similarly with money: if hoarded it hardens and corrupts the heart, if in circulation it softens and purifies. Let us be happy and contented with what He has bestowed on us and be at His merciful feet – that is real salvation.
The Lord makes some of His children owners of rich stores in order that they help their brothers and sisters in need. If they fail to discharge their duty they will next be made a dependent and the charge of the store be conferred to another one, who is more dutiful, more worthy.
We have no works of our own in this universe. Everything lies in His hands – what is His will, will happen. Let us equally endure all His actions. All works belong to Him, the sole master of the creation. It is already predetermined what we have come to do – we cannot but do that. We have to remember in every work that we are not free, but ever a servant of the Lord. Equally our comings and goings are not depending on our will, but take place at His will. None can know or say what the Lord’s will is – like the blind we move according to His will. After deliberating so much and hoping for the future, we do various works, but all the works are done only in accordance with His will. All actions we do by not realizing the imports of the Lord’s commands cause us great suffering in future and turn out to be matters for regret. But then it will be too late.
Worldly actions will be left behind in the world. Is it not advisable to do the real work, which will accompany us and do mighty good? Our Lord reminded us again and again that our sole duty is to contemplate on Him and to take His Name incessantly. If this is followed, it leads to the automatic annihilation of the source of Karma. By doing so we will become all holy and sanctify the entire creation. Everything, except the Lord and His Name, is false. We played this game in the world from times immemorial but have we ever found satisfaction or happiness?
Before we came, it was fixed, what we have to do. What has to happen must happen, by no effort can it be changed in this or that way, even to the slightest degree. Employ the material body for material objects but surrender your entire heart and soul to the Lord, the supreme cause of all causes unconditionally with body, mind and soul. By taking His Name pure Satwa Guna is generated, the fruit of which is Bhakti. Bhakti leads to Prema, the great coin, by which only the Lord can be purchased. This coin of Name should be manufactured with yearning, unrest and single-mindedness. The holy Name should sink deep, transfigure our inner self and saturate our thoughts and feelings. Thereby it will establish an invincible contact with the universal Lord. His divine protection will form around us an impenetrable armour.
As long as we are self-seeking or materialistic and live forgetful of the Lord, we are in the grip of Maya. When we forget our own vanity, and become solely devoted to the Lord, He, who is all-loving, all-merciful, will stretch out His hand and absolve us from our Karma.
Is it possible for this world to exist, if the Lord remains indifferent even for a moment? At once it would have been destroyed. It is only because He is present, that sun, moon, planets, stars are doing their respective duties.
Can we ever know Him fully, the ravisher of souls, the all-loving, all-blissful? Simply love Him with all your heart and take His Name. This will open the gates of our hearts, so long locked up. The aim of our life in His creation is to reach our offerings of love to Him, who is seated with His consort in the hearts of His devotees, to enjoy the bliss of His own creation.
By Ruth Baur ( germany )
You created the Jivas after your own image to reflect your own beauty and made them so charming – not that they become vain, but for your enjoyment. Your beauty is not hidden away nor can any object hide it, but our eyes have not the ability to realize your beauty. Therefore it is not evident here and there. As we are gradually repeating your holy Name even those eyes who could not see your beauty will behold it, even in common objects. Then we will make your beauty the object of our contemplation and begin to consider all things in this world as your diverse plays. Your beauty is so peerless, so irresistible that anyone, who looks at you but once, is sure to be captivated and to remain a slave to your charms forever.
In this great theatre of creation you alone are the audience. All created beings – men, birds, beasts, worms, insects – have come each to play a part on the stage of Him, who is the dearest to all. Each will pass away in time, when his part in the play is over. In this theatre some are dressed as king, some as saints, others as apes, dogs, jackals, drunkards etc., and all are watched by the Creator with equal interest. Each one pleases Him with his performance and gets his reward according to how he plays his part. For those, who cannot act well, He engages tutors to coach them. Then He appoints them again in good service. Everyone has come for his own particular work, which he has to do.
You said, that this objective universe is your stage to play upon, and that you have come from the beginning of time to play on this stage in order to teach us the lessons of love and to save us from the allurements of your Maya. You reminded us that this transitory earthly home is not our permanent resting place, and that we should never lose sight of our eternal abode of peace, your Lotosfeet - the only point still and calm. Whatever is of this world is to make us forget the truth. Prior to our present birth we appeared times out of number on this earth, each time in a different form – man, woman, beast or bird etc. Those who learnt to regard this world and its joys and sorrows as obstacles in the way of attaining the Lord are really wise and blessed. When we forget the truth, the ever merciful Lord, in order to bring us back to our senses, sends some diseases or bereavements, that we may be roused to our true state.
The creation is never governed by chance or accident but always by established and immutable laws. Human laws punish crimes and offences in order to correct. Equally the Lord, but to save them – His punishments are blessings in disguise. We stand or fall by our own actions and not by what others may do or say. A wrong-doer is himself the person, who brings about his own capture and punishment. Should he for example commit theft and run away, that act leaves traces behind.- Sweet indeed are the doings of the Lord and deep in significance as the ocean are they. Nowhere else can one find such a well-regulated government. Whoever has been entrusted with the task of governing, is himself the governed. His fate lies in his own hands. As long as one thinks that he is acting, there is no end to Karma.
All the objects which we see here are given by you, and are regulated according to your wishes – nothing can be called our own, nothing is without you nor can it ever be – Every molecule and atom in this universe belongs to you, o Lord. Your store is inexhaustible! When we realize this, we will never consider anything as our own. Nothing of what we call our own did we bring with us nor will we take any part thereof with us when departing. Even this material body is yours and will be taken away by you at the fixed time. Let us never forget, that we have to protect it carefully as your property. When this body is taken away by you, why do we mourn? You alone are its owner.
We can never have in this world what we are not to have, however much we may ask for it. Everything is Yours, yet we bring up and fondle like supervisors what You keep here for the time being. Let us not be attached to the earth for its own sake but regard it always as your playthings, then malice or hatred will have no place in the heart.
Why so much hesitation in giving or spending when all the wealth is supplied by another? The wealth will remain His, whose it is – nobody can take it away. We are mistaken to think it is ours. Go on doing your duty with the wealth of the Lord. From Him we get the flowers and leaves for His worship, and at His feet we should offer them back. When blood is well-circulated in the body it nourishes, but if stagnant, it destroys the tissues. Similarly with money: if hoarded it hardens and corrupts the heart, if in circulation it softens and purifies. Let us be happy and contented with what He has bestowed on us and be at His merciful feet – that is real salvation.
The Lord makes some of His children owners of rich stores in order that they help their brothers and sisters in need. If they fail to discharge their duty they will next be made a dependent and the charge of the store be conferred to another one, who is more dutiful, more worthy.
We have no works of our own in this universe. Everything lies in His hands – what is His will, will happen. Let us equally endure all His actions. All works belong to Him, the sole master of the creation. It is already predetermined what we have come to do – we cannot but do that. We have to remember in every work that we are not free, but ever a servant of the Lord. Equally our comings and goings are not depending on our will, but take place at His will. None can know or say what the Lord’s will is – like the blind we move according to His will. After deliberating so much and hoping for the future, we do various works, but all the works are done only in accordance with His will. All actions we do by not realizing the imports of the Lord’s commands cause us great suffering in future and turn out to be matters for regret. But then it will be too late.
Worldly actions will be left behind in the world. Is it not advisable to do the real work, which will accompany us and do mighty good? Our Lord reminded us again and again that our sole duty is to contemplate on Him and to take His Name incessantly. If this is followed, it leads to the automatic annihilation of the source of Karma. By doing so we will become all holy and sanctify the entire creation. Everything, except the Lord and His Name, is false. We played this game in the world from times immemorial but have we ever found satisfaction or happiness?
Before we came, it was fixed, what we have to do. What has to happen must happen, by no effort can it be changed in this or that way, even to the slightest degree. Employ the material body for material objects but surrender your entire heart and soul to the Lord, the supreme cause of all causes unconditionally with body, mind and soul. By taking His Name pure Satwa Guna is generated, the fruit of which is Bhakti. Bhakti leads to Prema, the great coin, by which only the Lord can be purchased. This coin of Name should be manufactured with yearning, unrest and single-mindedness. The holy Name should sink deep, transfigure our inner self and saturate our thoughts and feelings. Thereby it will establish an invincible contact with the universal Lord. His divine protection will form around us an impenetrable armour.
As long as we are self-seeking or materialistic and live forgetful of the Lord, we are in the grip of Maya. When we forget our own vanity, and become solely devoted to the Lord, He, who is all-loving, all-merciful, will stretch out His hand and absolve us from our Karma.
Is it possible for this world to exist, if the Lord remains indifferent even for a moment? At once it would have been destroyed. It is only because He is present, that sun, moon, planets, stars are doing their respective duties.
Can we ever know Him fully, the ravisher of souls, the all-loving, all-blissful? Simply love Him with all your heart and take His Name. This will open the gates of our hearts, so long locked up. The aim of our life in His creation is to reach our offerings of love to Him, who is seated with His consort in the hearts of His devotees, to enjoy the bliss of His own creation.
By Ruth Baur ( germany )
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