Washing Machine, Satan, Rumi and God!

Hi Srikans,
thanks a lot for the liberal rating. I feel honoured and humbled at the same time. Please keep reading. This is a focused series of dialogues on Rumi and our saints.

regards,
sridhar

 

Srividya,

JK once said if only you ask a genuine question the whole universe will conspire to throw the answer on your lap!

A life without hassles, without pains and irritants, problems and sorrows will always be shallow.

Our boss, our spouse, our colleagues, our children.. they all tend to further deepen our hearts so that a) we grow fast and b) we can hold a larger quantum of joy.

I have been missing you for a while, Srividya. And you just walked in. thanks for that.
regards,
sridhar

 

No need for apologies here in this blog-space especially when the subject discussed is God and his love.

I am really moved by the respect you are giving to my blogs. My prayer is that I should write in such a way as to deserve that kind of respect and appreciation.

When Maran asked at a point blank range, "Have You Seen God?" you know how did I handle that question. I took help from one of the greatest saints of our times, Yogi Ramsurat Kumar. When a foreigner asked him casually "Have you seen God?", the saint replied, "I haven't seen anybody else."
Remember that Hollywood movie where Jim Carrey would play the lead role, where everything would be created for him and around him. It would be the most gigantic reality show ever.
Honestly Srividya God has created a world specifically for each of us. That's why we use the term "lokam" which is different from the word "jagam". Lokam is literally what we look at. Linguists say that even the word look has its roots in lokam.
I am sorry I have started to lecture. Habits die hard.
See you tomorrow morning. And yes, don't be late for tomorrow's blog. It's way too special. Have some tissues handy, just in case.
sridhar

 

Yes. The movie is called The Truman Show. Where they will create an exclusive make-believe world for Truman. Truman will think it's all real whilst the TV audience would know it's all fake.
sridhar

 

Dear Sumisen,
We are all in the same boat. I do not know about others, I also feel like you. We seldom pray and when we do we do it for selfish reasons.
Then what's the big deal in posting all these stories and anecdotes?
I am going to take a lot of your time, Sumi. Please listen to me with utmost attention.
For a person who is a manic depressive when does the process of cure start? I have been seeking answer for this question with many psychiatrists. Their unanimous answer is this. The cure starts not when the patient visits the psychiatrist or when he takes the prescribed drugs. But when? At some time he realises that he is depressed and that it is not all right to be depressed. He feels the need for help. That point of realisation is exactly the point when the curing process starts.
The same is the case with you, me and all of us in matters relating to God. You have been following a particular path all these years (so am I and so do all the others) You also know that the path you follow - to have only petitionary prayers - is not all that right. The moment you know this you are on the right path.
People who aspire to play cricket are advised to see the game of the great masters like Tendulkar or Dhoni. So we aspirants for the right path need to see how the Great Players in this field have played. That's where the importance of knowing about Ramanuja, Rumi and Koorathazhwan comes in.
Again Sumi, you and I know very well that it is not all right to seek God's help only when we are in trouble. We know that we should melt in love for Him whether He helps us or not. But this knowledge is at the information level. At the intellectual level. This has to go to the emotional level, to the core of our being so that both of us can be fully reformed.
That movement can happen only with His Grace. So my advice to you (and to my own self and to others in a similar situation) is this;
We need to pray to God even for this. Our prayer can be like this.
"Oh My God, I have been hitherto treating you like a rich NRI uncle who can give me whatever I want, whenever I want. Now I know that you are nothing but love and that you are giving me whatever I need even without my having to ask for that.
Please my, Lord, fill my heart with love for you as well as my fellow beings, especially those who are keen on hurting me. Make my mind move away from greed, avarice and pride and draw me to your Lotus feet. I know my Lord except with your help I can't love you. So give me all the help you can to make me love you. Love you for your sake and for nothing else.
I abandon myself into your hands. and I shall remain so for ever and ever.
At times I may be tempted to pray for a larger house, a more loving spouse, a longer car or a greater bank balance. Please my Lord drive away all those desires and make me love Thee.

And Sumi when you pray to God,do pray for me as well. For I need to change as badly as you do.

love,
sridhar

 

Dear Sumi,
There are so many blocks between us and the reality. And we can't remove them with our efforts, ego, arrogance or actions. God should will that they should be removed. Period.
So just keep on praying to him begging Him to teach you what to pray for. There is nothing to remember.
Keep praying. And keep showing love to all those around you. God will answer all your prayers.
sridhar