No man is the cause of another’s joy or sorrow..

Lord Sri Ramachandraji was resting in the forest while his brother Lakshman stood guard with his bow and arrow. Seeing Lord Rama in this pitiable state, King Nishad started cursing Kaikeyi, “O Kaikeyi! It did not even occur to her! These were the golden days for our Lord, whereas now He is sleeping on the ground! The King of kings, Maharaj Dasharathnandan (the son of King Dasharath), would have been seated on the throne in the royal court. The man of perfect youth, perfect beauty, perfect knowledge, perfect love, perfect light and the perfect life, Sri Rama has been banished to this forest. How evil minded has Kaikeyi become!”Nishad cursed Kaikeyi in this manner in front of Lakshman. He thought that Lakshman would sympathize with him and he too would curse Kaikeyi. But Lakshman was elevated far above the instinct-driven animal life. He was also slightly above human life fraught with joys and sorrows. He said to Nishadraj: “Why do you curse mother Kaikeyi?No man is the cause of another’s joy or sorrow.”Those who attribute the cause of their sorrows to others are ignorant. They have lost their good sense. Some people spent crores of rupees on carrying out malicious propaganda against Bapu. If I had said, ‘These people have distressed me through their malicious propaganda. Oh! They made me sad’ then I would have really become a ‘Sorrow Maker’. Those slanderers continued with their malicious acts, whereas I continued to remain cheerful. As a result, the number of people attending my satsangs actually increased. Maybe that was my fate.King Nishad says, “What happened is not good”. Lakshman replies, “No man is the cause of another’s happiness or sorrow. Everyone has to bear his own destiny. Everyone has their own way of thinking. It is our thoughts that make us happy or sad. Do not curse mother Kaikeyi.”Nishad then asks, “Is Sri Ramchandra suffering because of His destiny or because of the fruit of any sinful act? What do you think?”Lakshman replies, “Sri Rama is not sorrowful. You are sorrowful. Sri Rama knows that this is destined; this is a leela (divine play). Events of joy and sorrow, profit and loss, life and death - these are nothing but mere drama, whereas I am the Eternal Essence, pervading every atom of the endless universes. It is only to enact My leela that I incarnate in human form, as Sri Rama. Sri Rama is not bearing any fruits of destiny. Sri Rama transcends the gunas (qualities), space, time and destiny. The mahapurushas (great men) do not bear the fruits of their destiny, their destiny is nullified. Moreover, destiny relates only to the body. It does not touch the Self. Fame and defamation are of the body, disease and health also affect only the body, how can these affect Me? The Self within is the knower and master of all circumstances. This is what all jnanis (Knowers of the Truth) know. Sri Rama is the crest jewel of all jnanis. Where does he experience sorrow? On the contrary, King Nishad, you seem to be creating sorrow for yourself.”Now pay attention. What is your opinion in interpreting this anecdote? Kaikeyi was deceitful, selfish, and elicited a promise from King Dasharatha in her son’s favour. What she did was improper. Taking it in this sense, if you desist from doing anything inappropriate protecting your inner being from mistakes or deceit, then it is good. Another way of looking at it could be to consider that Kaikeyi had affection for Sri Rama. Through her acts she portrayed renunciation and sacrifice (of her prestige) and thus contributed in the divine mission of Sri Rama. Despite the contempt she received, despite knowing that the people will malign her, Kaikeyi acted in this manner. Remembering Kaikeyi’s renunciation and affection, this way you can arouse goodwill towards her in your heart. Do not make your heart impure by cursing Kaikeyi. Also, do not make your heart deceitful thinking, ‘Kaikeyi caused Sri Rama to be exiled. She did the right thing and we should also act in the same way’. Adopt the correct perspective from this story. Adopt the one that helps you fill your heart with love for the Beloved, His wisdom, His equanimity and His supreme sweetness. Such a perspective will be good and right for you.If someone among your relatives, a sister-in-law, mother-in- law or daughter-in-law does something improper and you desist from doing that wrong in your life, you have taken the right approach. However, if you spoil your heart by blaming her thus, “She has done wrong, this niguri (a person who has not taken Diksha from a Satguru) is like this….”, then you are destroying your inner peace and your behavior will become like an animal’s. If your sister-in-law or mother-in-law has a virtue of forbearance, practice it in your life and be even minded.If you find any virtue in any person, practice it in your life and if there is any vice in any body, then protect yourself from that. By doing so, you can develop your mind. Neither should you find vices in others, nor assuming a person to be at fault, accuse him. Do not become a slave of any bad habit of others.If you feel hatred for someone on seeing his vices, your mind will get polluted. However, on noticing the vices, if you resolve to protect yourself from them and at the same time wish him to get rid of that vice, then you are developing your mind. This world is replete with virtues and vices, good and evil. You should be glad and get inspired by the virtues of others and save yourself from the vices you notice in others. Delve into it. Realize that this warp and woof of good and evil is the driving force behind this world; In reality, God is the Essence, the Truth, Consciousness and Bliss absolute. I am seeking peace in Him..

Excerpts from Param Pujya Asaram ji Bapu’s satsang.. Read more in Rishi Prasad magazine..To get rishi prasad’s one/five year or life long membership you may contact at Shri yog Vedant Samiti, Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram, Amdabad (079-275050-11) Delhi (011-25729338, 25764161) Mumbai- (022-26864143-44)