A person was fond of drinking. He had friends also like that. They would often organize drinking sessions at one place or the other. They were having a jolly good time and thought they were enjoying idyllic happiness in life (this reminds me of Lotus Eaters). One day this person arranged drinking session at his house. As the get-to-gather warmed up, he and his friends were floating in the seventh sky under the influence of liquor. Having had quite a few shots he exclaimed, “that’s enough. I will go home now. Hey, will somebody show me the way to my home. I am unable to figure out the route to my house”. Most of his friends were in the same state of mind and were not able to remember the way to their homes. One friend said, “Don’t worry yaar. Come with me in my car and we will find the way to your house.” Another well wisher said, “No, no, no, you come with me in my limo and I will drop you home, but somebody has to tell me the way. There was one wise friend in the crowd who probably had much lesser number of pegs and was well within his senses and was his well wisher too. He shouted, “beware, my friend. Don’t you go with any of them. They themselves do not remember the way to their homes, where would they take you. Under the influence of liquor, you seem to have forgotten that you arranged this party at your own place and you are sitting right in your own home. Where else do you want to go now.
It is happening with most of the human beings who have gone astray under the intoxication of wealth, property, status, greed, possessiveness, ego, lust, emotional attachment etc.etc. Most of us have been under such a great influence of short lived pleasures of this transitory material world that we have forgotten the way to our real home. We have taken the unreal for the real one and have become oblivious of the REAL ONE. Ironically, we are asking others to tell us the way to our home who themselves are groping in the dark. In such a situation, need arises for a true friend, a reliable guide, a Sadguru to remind us where from have we come, whom do we really belong to and what is the purpose of this human life. Human life has been bestowed upon us by the Lord to enable us to get liberated. Even Devtas yearn for human life to attain salvation.
In Bhagwad Gita, this material world has been likened to a Peepal Tree up-side-down with its root above (reference to God, to whom we really belong to), it trunk (the middle portion) to the material world and its branches, stems and leaves to the mankind. While we have been happily nourishing the branches, stems and the leaves (developing and nursing relationships in the Society we live in) but quite obliviously forgetting the root (the Creator). What an irony.
Strayed human beings are asking for path to God realization (Bhagwat prapti) from those who themselves are quite ignorant about it. Someone might say come in my car and I will take you home (i.e. come to our fold of Institution/ Community or cult and we will show you the way to God realization). Beware of such deceptions. A Sadguru, a realized soul, will guide you that you don’t have to go anywhere in search of God. You are already sitting in your own home. He is already with you, within you. You only need to change (rather amend) your vision, your thought process, your angle of approach, your feelings, your perception. Just become calm, quite, simple, natural, innocent like a baby and feel that you are sitting in His lap. Remind yourself that you belong to God and God belong to you. I do not belong to this transitory material world and this temporary world does not belong to me. This body also belongs to the material world and not me, so let it serve the mankind there. I am the soul and an inseparable part of Supreme Soul. Sitting in God’s lap, I live in my own home. Whatever I do , I do it for Him. YOU are the only ONE who belongs to me, except YOU none else is mine. Twamev Sarvam, Vasudev Sarvam.
Whichever path you may like to opt for – Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga, Bhakti Yoga – the ultimate steps are prayer with intense feeling and unconditional surrender. You may not have the knowledge to perform rituals. You may or may not have flowers or fruits to offer, it does not matter, He is not hungry of that. You may not even know or remember any shlokas or mantras. True prayer with a profound feeling is not dependent on words or articles. Just sit in His lap and cry out your heart. A few drops tears are far more valuable and precious. In that deep ocean of intense love and earnest prayer, nothing will remain except you and God.
Kuchh na kaho, kuchh bhi na kaho.
Kya kehna hai, kya sunna hai.
Samay ka yeh pal, tham sa gaya hai.
Aur is pal mein, koi nahi hai.
Bas ek main hoon, bas ek Tum ho.
Kuchh na kaho, kuchh bhi na kaho.
Hari Aum Tat Sat, Hari Aum Tat Sat