…continued

Altar of Dedication

Thus, have a single-pointed altar of dedication and make it your identity. Furthermore, Hanumanji was never hesitant about expressing his identity as Rama Duta. For example, if you are looking after your parents, do it with the feeling that you are serving the Lord through them. He alone is your father, mother, relative, friend, wisdom and wealth; He is everything.

Dedication does not indicate, “O God, you alone are my father, mother, friend and there is nobody else”. On the contrary, it is recognizing the Lord in your father, mother, guru, friends, relatives, boss, children and so on. One serves Him through all of them. It is important to note that dedication to God is not opposed to your duties because He is in everyone. In attachment, you cling to one out of the many, but devotion is to that One who is the many. In love for God, your false perception of the world is dropped. The world is not abandoned, only your attachment to it is destroyed. Hanumanji was ever ready to serve anyone in distress, with the feeling that God was present for the well-being of everyone.

When you have dedication, all else becomes clear, simple and straight; your potential rises and everything is possible. It is not that one will be free from problems; in life, there will always be impediments. But, devotion gives one the strength to face obstacles and challenges, without feeling defeated. When there is dedication, nothing will stop you. The more the obstacles you face, the more powers and abilities will rise within you. Every hurdle is a challenge, and every challenge is an opportunity to express your enhanced abilities and potential.

However, in dedication do not get unduly over-enthusiastic and forget what you are supposed to do. When reminded of his potential by Jambavan, Hanumanji confidently declared that he would go to Lanka, kill Ravana, and bring back Sitaji. The enthusiasm of the young must be guided by the wisdom of the old. Jambavan reminded him that Ramachandraji had asked only for news of Mata Sita’s welfare. It was the Lord’s prerogative to bring her back. Tempering his eagerness, Hanumanji kept Shri Rama’s ring in his mouth and set off.

If the goal is noble and has to be reached, do not brood and doubt your competence, just do it. Lift your hands; the Lord will fulfill the remaining.

Three obstacles

In our pursuit of success; in following a dharmic life; in fulfilling duties; in the attainment of peace or realization of the Truth, there are three obstacles on the path. These are beautifully demonstrated in the flight of Shri Hanuman over the ocean.

Temptation to Rest

The greatest obstacle comes from within us. It lies unseen. In the middle of the ocean, suddenly the mountain, Mainak Parvat, arose to offer some rest to Hanumanji on his long journey. But his philosophy was, “If you rest, you rust”. He was able to resist this enticing temptation because of his absolute dedication to the goal.

This was the secret of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s productivity. In a short life span, how did one man set up so many centers, schools and colleges? How did he transform thousands of lives, write innumerable books, answer an endless stream of letters, attend thousands of meetings and address millions of people? He revealed to us that the success of managing the power of time lay in one’s hand. Most people are slaves of time. The secret of his success was that whatever work he undertook, he completed it with full concentration.

Many of us fall short of success, not due to lack of goals or enthusiasm, dynamism, or knowledge, but because we lack the dedication to reach the goal without stopping. The inspiration to persist, in spite of all odds, develops from devotion. Hanumanji knew that he was Rama Duta and the only purpose of his life was to do His work and bidding.

Lack of Proper Discrimination

The second obstacle is the inability to discriminate correctly. To achieve anything we definitely need determination and strength, but we need right discrimination also. Most people ask, “When my goal is noble, why should I have to face difficulties and obstacles?”

Obstacles are tests to prepare you, to broaden and enhance your potential. It is said that the devatas wished to assess Hanumanji’s intellectual ability – a faculty which would be sorely needed in Lanka. They sent Surasa, the mother of snakes, to test him. An examiner cannot be very lenient; it has to be one who is absolutely emotionless. Therefore, Surasa, an insensitive mother, who even ate her own children, was chosen.

As Hanumanji was flying, Surasa appeared before him and declared that he was her food, sent to her by the gods. Realizing that “might was not always right”, Shri Hanuman did not fight her. He reasoned that everyone had a right to food. But, he had work to do. He expanded his form and challenged Surasa to open her mouth wide enough to eat him. Then, suddenly he became very small, entered Surasa’s mouth and quickly came out of it, before she could devour him.

If you have a dedicated goal, do not fall prey to prestige issues, personality and ego clashes. Be humble, deferential and keep focused. In addition, greed has no limits - the more the supply, the greater is the demand. Notable goals can only be achieved if you restrict your needs and desires. If you surrender to greed, all your time and energy will be spent in trying to satisfy it and you will never be able to achieve great goals.

The power of dedication allows you to conquer all obstacles. Impressed and pleased with Hanumanji’s intelligence, Surasa blessed him.

Jealousy

Now, flying faster and continuing on his journey, Hanumanji suddenly found himself being pulled down. He remembered that Sugreeva had warned him of Ravana’s sister, Simhika, living in the depths of the ocean. Like a powerful magnet, she could draw any flying object by its shadow and devour it. She opened her mouth to swallow him. Immediately, with one blow, Hanumanji knocked her off and she died instantly.

A mighty power that pulls us down from our material or spiritual goals is jealousy. When you are jealous of someone, you try to bring the person down through his or her shadow – by people who are attached to that person. This method is often used by kidnappers.

Simhika represents jealousy. Do not be sympathetic to the tendencies of jealousy and hatred, even in the name of encouraging competitiveness. Demolish such negative and detrimental emotions right away. Hanumanji destroyed Simhika and reached Lanka.

Love, Devote and Dedicate

Mother Paravati, listening to this story from Lord Shiva, was concerned about her son, Shri Hanuman. The Lord quickly assured her that one, who had true dedication, had power from the Lord and was not afraid of anything.

May each and every one of you develop great abilities and powers. However, to make them effective, you need dedication. Dedication proceeds from love and devotion. When there is devotion, dedication takes place: here, all actions are dedicated; the results of actions are dedicated; the ego is dedicated.

The best illustration of dedication is none other than everyone’s favourite – the unparalleled, Shri Hanuman.

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