Be Rama, be joyous!
Class notes | November 11, 2018
If one studies history, one becomes a historian and if one studies economics, one becomes an economist. If one studies Ramayana, one is expected to become Rama or joyous, content and cheerful.
We are studying how someone who is joyous speaks and acts when faced with challenges. Bhagavan Rama faced innumerable challenges. If we follow the precedent set by Bhagavan Rama, we will learn how to think and act when we face challenges.
Vibhishana Gita taught us about values such as being courageous and balanced. These are the keys to success. Character and truth will never change and will always lead us to happiness.
Bhagavan Rama had so many fine qualities that we should aim to adopt. Some people question why Bhagavan Rama wasted arrows instead of destroying Ravana right away? One theory is that Bhagavan Rama knew Vibhishana loved Ravana and did not want to take that solace away. Bhagavan only shoots Ravana after Vibhishana tells Him to shoot Ravana with 31 arrows. This shows how empathetic Bhagavan Rama is. We too should try to be more empathetic. We should think 1000 times before we act.
Bhagavan Rama did not hold grudges against Ravana, even though Ravana caused so much hardship. We too should learn not to hold on to the negative and to let go. Bhagavan consoles Vibhishana and tells him to perform Ravana’s Anthyeshti (final offering) because it is the offering of the ego upon the death of the body. Thereafter, Bhagavan Rama instructs Sri Lakshmana to crown Vibhishana as Lankeshwara. Mandodari and Ravana’s other wives grieve his death. Ravana’s selfishness destroyed him and several male family members. We must remember how harmful selfishness is.
Bhagavan Rama sends Hanuman-ji to Mother Sita. She inquires about Bhagavan Rama, never once focusing on Herself. As she is being carried in a palanquin, Bhagavan Rama asks Mother Sita to walk on foot so that all the beings who helped free Her, can gaze upon their Mother. Bhagavan only does this to elevate Mother Sita, who is the embodiment of character. The palanquin is not going to protect anyone. The best protection is character.
Vedanta: After Ravana is destroyed, Vibhishana is made king of Lanka. Vibhishana always integrated the sacred into the secular. This is Dharma and that is why Vibhishana is remembered. On the other hand, Ravana did not integrate the sacred into the secular and he was destroyed.
Bhagavan Rama repeatedly praises all the beings who helped free Mother Sita and offers them His gratitude. There is no trace of doership. We should learn from this to focus less on ourselves and more on others.
Bhagavan speaks some harsh words to Mother Sita. This is elaborated more in Valmiki-ji’s Ramayana. He tells Mother Sita to go into the fire that he instructs Sri Lakshmana to prepare. This fire will not burn Mother Sita but will burn:
- pratibimba (reflection) — It is Maya Sita who enters the fire (we first read about Maya Sita in Aranya Kanda, when the golden deer appears and She is attracted to it) and out of the fire comes Mata Sita.
- Lokika- people’s gossip & rumors about a married woman leaving another man’s kingdom.
Bhagavan speaks these harsh words only to show that he is not partial. He is vigilant and identifying with the people. Bhagavan Rama knows that Mata Sita can never be destroyed as She is pure in thought, word and deed. Maya Sita goes into the fire. Agni devata then comes forward. Like a father, he holds Mother Sita’s hand and returns Her to Bhagavan Rama, saying he is unable to purify what is already pure and sacred. Mother Sita is at last re-united with Her Lord.
The elements are always pure. It is we who add contaminants and impurify them.
Class discussion: What confusions & controversies about Ramayana that you had before the class have now become clear?
CF: Vali being killed from behind by Bhagavan Rama and Mother Sita being asked to go into the fire.
Vivek-ji’s observations: To clear up all the controversies requires not just reading Ramayana, but auxiliary studying and reflection.
