From a satsang with Pt. Balram Persad, Spiritual Leader, SWAHA Om Shakti Mandali
The Divine Mother, Parvati once asked Shivaji to explain to her the inspirational glories of Bhagavan Shree Raam’s life for the benefit of humanity. He noted that we are each connected to Shree Raam just as the aatmaa (individual soul) is connected to the Paramaatmaa; and just as the earthly father is connected to his children. Shree Raam is the Divine source, the basis of our existence from whence we came and to whom we will all eventually return.
Shivaji thus relayed to Parvati Maa several instances from the life of Shree Raam as He enacted His divine play on earth.
Bhagavan in His complexity is both Nirgun and Sagun Brahm: He is both the latent, formless Lord as well as the potent, dynamic, universal qualities that can be experienced through His Divine form. His manifestation on earth as Raam avataar allows us to experience His glory, mercy and grace.
As the Divine Lord, He possessed all the powers of the divine even in His form as a child. From the Divine Child, he then grew up to be the Divine Father, protecting His devotees and eliminating evil. Similarly, we must look to Him as the Divine father who will shelter us from harm today just as He did in the scriptures.
During His exile in the forest, thousands of demons attacked Him, but Shree Raam, the incarnation of the perfect man, effortlessly destroyed the demonic forces. Thus, if we worship and praise Him, we will conquer all hostile negativities, in whatever form they appear.
Even Jataayu, the vulture, was assured that he should not be afraid or worried as he would receive Shree Raam’s darshan (blessing) in the future. As human beings, we all want a safe, meaningful, productive, happy future, which is only possible through the worship of Shree Raam. Later on, Jataayu was wounded, his wings having been clipped by Ravan. In that moment of adversity and pain, he remembered the Lord, Shree Raam, who arrived and picked him up and instantly all his pain disappeared. Similarly, Ahailya was turned into a stone, but as soon as the dust of Shree Raam’s feet rested upon her, she returned to her human form. In our own lives, once we receive the grace of the Lord, our healing will also begin.
While we may be confronted by adversities and difficulties in life, transformation will occur through the grace of God. When we are tired of the inevitable frustrations, disappointments and negativities in life, God will provide us with an opportunity to turn to Him. He is the Divine Father who is always with us, who is all powerful. We must realize that there are many who are mighty, but He is the Almighty. Whenever pain, hurt or harm occurs in our lives, we must go to Him with devotion. At play, at home, in work, on the road, wherever we are, we must always keep in our minds the name and form of Shree Raam, the Divine Father.
SWAHA extends its wishes to all fathers as we celebrate Father’s Day in the month of June and prays for Bhagavan’s blessings for good health, long life and spiritual advancement.
