Book of Thoughts

Dasharata: How can a king be a servant, trader, master or a seer? Vashista: A king is a servant who makes other kings. The King is a trader when he uses rules to get all the things he desires. The King is a master when he forces his thoughts on those around him. A king is a seer when he understands the thought behind the rules, appreciates the many reasons why a rule is followed while another rule is not. For a king whose mind is one with Brahman, the rules are merely functional - they are never right or wrong; like all actions, they have consequences. For him, rules are not a tool of power to dominate and control. For him, rules are instruments to enable even the weakest of the society to have those hoarded by the strongest.

  Lakshmana warns about the illusory nature of the forest when Sita desires the golden deer she sees in the woods that Ram goes after. When Sita hears Ram’s purported cries for help, she chides Lakshmana to go and help his brother. But he warns again of the Maya and pleads with Sita that none could beat the great Ram. Under stress, she suspects the integrity of Lakshmana and pushes him to go and help Ram. Lakshmana, not wanting to abandon his guarding post, draws a line and asks Sita not to cross the threshold at any cost. When she breaches it, Ravana gets his one chance to abduct her and succeeds.  Most scriptures and stories emphasise the three-strikes rule before the folks under the care of a guide fall victim. Be it Sita or Judas. Per contra, a single chance is adequate even for a demon like Ravana with a focus on his object of desire. Imagine the intensity arising from the unwavering focus on our object of love AND avoiding pitfall at the first signal. 

  It is easier to choose between the dualities like pain vs pleasure than values between loyalty vs righteousness vs piety vs obedience. Intent need not reflect in behaviour unless examined closely and could still vary between observers and their filters. Only love is the key to open up the channel to feel the truth of being. Such a value system makes love invisible to material observation, yet it remains like a catalyst that the heart can feel.  

Life long, all our activities are merely preparatory. For what? For ease in discovering and managing the subsequent stages. Kids are not allowed near the stove unless adequately prepared. Well-prepared gets the approach to power. Willingness to use that power for evolving oneself and use the same for others remain the unlock code to that approach. Great teachers excel at preparing the student to self-discover the password and also to use the power wisely.

  Mantara fumes, “Great! Give me your leftovers again, having worked tirelessly for this family.” A plan forms in her mind.  Kaikeyi walks in. Mantara smiles. Chaos follows.  Elsewhere in the wild,    Sabhari bites the berries and hands only the delicious fruits to the hungry person in front of her. Makes Ram. 

  “Look, mom! A spinning wooden bird!” calls out the excited kid looking at its reflection on a pool. “Wait here.    A great love story shall unfold”, says the eager mom.  At dusk, a great archer hits the bird’s eye, claims his prize. He meets his true friend for the first time.