Om Sathguru Sri Seshadri Swamigal Thiruvadikkae
A devotee should not lament if the unfavourable happens. Every unpleasant thing happens only under the divine dispensation. However unpleasant an incident may be, it is per the will of our Lord – a devotee should consider it thus, and remain happy and hopeful.
The Lord never errs; He does everything considering the pros and cons. With the realization that everything happens by the will of the Lord, as in the case of the child Prahlada, if one remains happy every moment under all circumstances, one would ever find himself in the protection of the Divine Hand!
One who gets agitated in adversity and loses faith in the Lord, cannot be called a true devotee. A devotee should consider his life as Divine will in which lies his ultimate welfare. Due to ignorance we fail to understand the ways of the Lord.
If we regard adversity in a deeper perspective, we find that what we take to be unpleasant is a great occasion of joy for us. Consider the following:
- The unfavourable is only the result of our past deeds. Through these punishments, the Lord makes us pure, and frees us from our sins.
- The Lord keeps us from sinning further.
- Through pain, the Lord strengthens our souls. It is s common experience that gold shines purer and brighter, after being heated. Similarly the souls grows purer and stronger, after undergoing suffering and pain.
- Sometimes we develop in us a false sense of pride in spirituality, when it is not really so. The Lord then puts us to test, purges our pride, and makes us realize the true path to realization.
- The last but not least is the gain that we remember the Lord in adversities. We often forget the Lord for the sake of trifling worldly pleasures. Sufferings cause us to seek shelter at His Divine Feet, and we are then brought to constant remembrance of His Compassionate Gracious Self, through His Grace. We grow closer to Him, and our bond with Him grows deeper and stronger, and firmer…
- He reminds us that the human body that He has given us is for spiritual progress, to realize His Divine Self.
Apart from this we cannot realize what and how much good lies in seemingly unfavourable circumstances, the Lord bestows upon us. Therefore we should be ever happy, that whatever He does is only an act of mercy on us and regard it as most beneficial for us.
(Excerpts from Real Love – Means to eradicate sorrow (Gita Press))
