KRISHNA -- THE EMBODIMENT OF DIVINE LOVE

(By Matha Amruthanandamayi)
Many great men have taken birth in this world. But Lord Krishna is the Preceptor and Guide of the entire mankind, of all ages and in all parts of the world. Lord Krishna’s actions and His approach to life teach us everything that we ought to know and observe in our personal as well as social life. Krishna’s life and teachings will always outlive the limitations of time and place. Because, they attach equal importance to the spiritual development of the individual as also the material growth of the society.
It is not an easy task to overcome the vicissitudes of life and the laws of nature. Be it man, animal or plant, it is necessary for its existence to fight with the problems of life, passing through severe experiences and striving hard with patience and strength. It is only through such persistent efforts that one can grow and develop in life and gain knowledge and maturity. This is the great message that Sree Krishna has given to the world through His Life.
Don’t we come across beautiful white pebbles in rivers and rivulets? On seeing them do we think how these pebbles got their beautiful shape? Earlier, it was part of a rock without any definite shape or beauty. One day a small piece of the rock broke off and rain-water carried it into the river. For several years it rolled on in the river-water, falling on hard rocks, colliding with other stones, rubbing with thick sand, and gradually its sharp edges and rough and uneven surface became smooth and shapely. Thus the beautiful pebble that we see today is the result of evolution that has taken place over a number of years. Similarly, while passing through a stage of evolution, it is necessary for all living things, including men and animals, to undergo adverse circumstances ordained by Nature. Then only one can achieve fullness in life.
Once a man saw a butterfly in its pupa stage. With the hope of seeing a beautiful butterfly emerging from the pupa, he took it home A short while after reaching home ,a small hole appeared on the pupa . He kept on watching it without winking the eyes. Then he saw a worm, trying with great effort, to drag out its body slowly through the hole. A small part of the body came out, but thereafter it became motionless. Several hours passed. But nothing happened. The man thought that the poor worm’s body had got stuck up in the outer cover of the pupa. He decided to help the creature. Soon he brought a pair of scissors and cut off the remaining part of the pupa. Quickly the butterfly came out. But, it came out with an extremely bulky body and very small wings. The man waited for the bulky body to shrink to its normal size and the small wings to grow and the butterfly to fly up in the sky with its fluttering beautiful wings .But alas! No such thing happened. The poor creature, unable to fly, had to spend the rest of its life creeping, with its bulky body.
The man thought that he was performing an act of kindness by cutting off the pupa. But finally what has he brought out through his impatience and ignorance? It is a kind of fluid coming out from the body of the worm while squeezing out the body through the small hole of the pupa, hat helps the wings of the butterfly to develop into their full size and beauty. That effort of the worm, to drag its body out of the pupa, which appeared to the man to be very miserable, was in fact the source of strength for the butterfly to fly away independently after coming out from the pupa stage. That is the law of Nature. But when the pupa was cut and removed, the worm could not obey that law. Thus the butterfly lost its opportunity to leave the small world of the worm successfully and to fly high up into the vast world of independence. That made its life miserable.
Lord Krishna taught the world, never to run away from the challenges in the field of activity, but to face them with courage and control of mind. Those who try to run away from the surroundings can never achieve peace, happiness and success.
Krishna was the friend of all movable and immovable beings in the whole world. At the same time, He was the friend of none. Selflessness was the real nature of His love. Where there is selfishness, there cannot be any feeling of equality and non-partisanship. Lord Krishna was the embodiment of Divine Love, who treated everyone equally, without being attached to any one.
A Guru creates opportunities for the disciple to know his own weaknesses and limitations and to overcome them. The special context of Kurukshetra war and the teachings of Gita were the opportunity created for the whole world by Bhagavan who is the Guru of the universe. A highly complicated human mind, the confusion of ideals created by that mind, a man who is unable to get out of that confusion and ultimately, when he turns towards the God, a Sadguru who by a helping hand lifts him to the final goal.—these are what we see in the Bhagavad-Gita.
Externally, Lord Krishna was not a mendicant or Sanyasin, having Jata(locked hair) on the head and Bhasma (sacred ash) smeared all over the body, wearing saffron clothes, and holding Kamandalu (water-pot) in his hand . He was the leader of the Yadava dynasty. He was a clever politician who was able to enthrone or dethrone kings at will. He was a real house-holder having wife, children and other relatives, a strong warrior, and a very popular leader of men. Nevertheless, Krishna was none of these. Innately, He was a great Tyagi (one who has renounced all possessions) and a true Sanyasin. His mind was fixed in Brahma (the Eternal Truth). He was the knower of everything. The message given to the world by Lord Krishna about Renunciation and Sanyasa is not to retreat from our duties and responsibilities. Doing so is sheer cowardice. According to SriKrishna, “the brave” is one who deals with the problems of life, meeting them face to face .However, what Bhagavan teaches us is to perform our duties without the feeling that “I am doing this”, but with the conviction that “the Universal Power is acting through me, and I am merely an equipment for that Power to shine forth.” It is then, that Karma (action) becomes a means for Yoga (becoming one with God). This attitude will enhance the power, beauty and result of our actions. When we perform our actions without the feeling of doer-ship our mind becomes one with the Universal Power. That Power will flow through us and that will reflect in our actions. Whatever be our field of activity, we must always be aware that Dharma is the foundation of our life. If that foundation is shaken, the doors of peace and happiness will be closed before us. That is what HE taught us.
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HARI OM
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HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1.To stay young, you have to enjoy life;every moment of it. Try everything twice; and try to love it both times!

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches)

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle brain is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy every simple things of life. Remember, happiness lies in simple things

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM or HER.

6. The tears happen: they are part of life; shed them with resolve, endure them with courage, and move forward. The only person who cares for you throughout your life, is yourselves. LIVE every moment of it, with your full presence, while you are ALIVE.

7. At home, surround yourself with whatever gives you comfort and pleasure, and enjoy their company: whether it's your family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, and so on. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, do everything to improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help; but never grieve.

9. Tell the people you love, at every opportunity, that you love them. Because
love is some thing to be expressed and not to be kept as a secret.
10. Forgive those who made you cry, and do it right now. You may not get a second chance. Remember! Lost time can never be restored . Be kinder than what appears necessary; for everyone you meet needs kindness. And kindness costs you nothing, but its return will make your life rich.