LEGENDS OF PRINCE LAKSHMAN - Page 6

Originally posted by: arti07

are the doors are made of real gold in the second pics???

Source: http://media.radiosai.org/journals/Vol_07/01MAR09/quiz4.htm

"In the forest, when Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were walking, if we examine closely, we find that they are going forward in a single line, one behind the other. We can take our three fingers as the three members of the party. The first, the forefinger represents Ramachandra. As Rama is moving forward, behind Him is walking Sita. Behind Sita is Lakshmana. Here Rama is the Paramatma (Supreme Self), Sita represents Maya (illusion) and Lakshmana is typical of the jiva (individual self).

In this situation, when Lakshmana, the jiva, wants to have a look at Rama, the Paramatma, Sita, in the form of maya, is standing between them. What should Lakshmana do in that situation? Should he be arrogant to Sita and ask her to move away? That cannot be. If he does that, then Rama would not tolerate it. He should pray to Sita, 'Oh Mother, I want to have a vision of the Divine Paramatma. Please step aside for a moment and let me have a vision of the Paramatma.' If, on the other hand, he begins to argue with maya and commands her to step aside, then he will not be able to look at Ramachandra or have a vision of the Divine.

What does Sita or Maya represent in us?

Paramatma is always surrounded by Maya. He wears Maya as His body. Maya is part and parcel of Paramatma's body. No one will agree to remove or cut away part of His own body. Regard Sita as Maya. Through her and by praying to her, one should be able to get a vision of Rama, the Paramatma.

In this context, Sita is responsible for our inability to realize the true form of Paramatma. To be able to understand Him also, Sita will be the reason. As we have already said, man's mind alone is responsible for his liberation and for his bondage. Here, the aspect of maya is similar to the aspect of mind. Mind has got no special form of its own. It is our own illusion that takes the form of our mind."

Originally posted by: My-Simi

Source: http://media.radiosai.org/journals/Vol_07/01MAR09/quiz4.htm

"In the forest, when Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were walking, if we examine closely, we find that they are going forward in a single line, one behind the other. We can take our three fingers as the three members of the party. The first, the forefinger represents Ramachandra. As Rama is moving forward, behind Him is walking Sita. Behind Sita is Lakshmana. Here Rama is the Paramatma (Supreme Self), Sita represents Maya (illusion) and Lakshmana is typical of the jiva (individual self).

In this situation, when Lakshmana, the jiva, wants to have a look at Rama, the Paramatma, Sita, in the form of maya, is standing between them. What should Lakshmana do in that situation? Should he be arrogant to Sita and ask her to move away? That cannot be. If he does that, then Rama would not tolerate it. He should pray to Sita, 'Oh Mother, I want to have a vision of the Divine Paramatma. Please step aside for a moment and let me have a vision of the Paramatma.' If, on the other hand, he begins to argue with maya and commands her to step aside, then he will not be able to look at Ramachandra or have a vision of the Divine.

What does Sita or Maya represent in us?

Paramatma is always surrounded by Maya. He wears Maya as His body. Maya is part and parcel of Paramatma's body. No one will agree to remove or cut away part of His own body. Regard Sita as Maya. Through her and by praying to her, one should be able to get a vision of Rama, the Paramatma.

In this context, Sita is responsible for our inability to realize the true form of Paramatma. To be able to understand Him also, Sita will be the reason. As we have already said, man's mind alone is responsible for his liberation and for his bondage. Here, the aspect of maya is similar to the aspect of mind. Mind has got no special form of its own. It is our own illusion that takes the form of our mind."

Originally posted by: Krishni51

TALE - 25

RESPECT FOR DEVOTEES

(From Akkarakkani Srinidhi discourse)

Sugriva is suspicious of Rama and Lakshmana who have entered the forest. He is afraid that they might be friends of Vali and they might harm him. So he sends Hanuman to find out more about them.

After meeting them, Hanuman goes back and dispels Sugriva's doubts. Sugriva's fears having disappeared, he tells Rama that he has had a report from Hanuman about Rama's qualities, and he therefore wishes to make friends with Him. But Hanuman wants this pact of friendship to be entered into fully. So he lights a fire and asks Rama and Sugriva to circum-ambulate it and seal their pact. Sugriva remarks that now that they are friends, they will share their joys and sorrows. He then breaks the branch of a tree, and seats himself on it beside Rama. It is left to Hanuman to offer Lakshmana a seat on the branch of a sandalwood tree. Sugriva should have himself remembered to offer a seat to Lakshmana too, but he doesn't, and later suffers for ignoring Lakshmana, a staunch devotee of the Lord.

Guha's behaviour is a complete contrast to Sugriva's. Lakshmana stands guard as Rama and Sita sleep in the forest. He is distressed to see Lakshmana spend the night standing. He makes up a bed for Lakshmana and suggests that Lakshmana rest, while he takes over the job of guarding Rama and Sita. By offering to relieve Lakshmana of stress and offering him a bed, Guha shows he has respect not only for the Lord but also for His devotees. Disrespect shown to His devotees never fails to anger the Lord.