To find GOD by goodness

SYNOPSIS: We can reach GOD through morals and ethics. Devotion gives us such prudence that we follow the moral and ethical ways in life. READ THE FULL ARTICLE BELOW -

Living in a scenario devoid of religion and following a moral doctrine is a symbol of greatness. Living in a religious scenario and following a moral doctrine is a very ordinary thing. Because while living in a religious scenario it is expected of us that we too will follow the moral doctrine. But living in a scenario devoid of religion and then following the moral doctrine is truly great.

In Satyug (the era of goodness), the people were truthful and had moral values. For example, the businessmen of that era had high moral values. They did not indulge in giving less quantity or adulteration or selling their product by telling a lie. They upheld principles, morals and ethics which were reflected in their practice. It was expected in Satyug that everyone should be honest and upright. But with the change in era to Kaliyug (the present era of evilness) immorality, non-ethical behavior and falsehood had taken a front seat. The businessmen having moral values are considered as "fatheads". To ignore the morals and to do business without ethics, with falsehood and to earn unscrupulously is the order of the day and the person doing business in such a fashion is considered as a clever and successful businessman.

But the ideology of religion is just the opposite. A touching example fits well in this context. In the SunderKand of Shri RamCharitManasji when GOD Shree Hanumanji visits Lanka in search of the GODDESS of the world Bhagwati Sita Mata and meets Shri Vibhishanji, he describes his living similar to that of a tongue surrounded by teeths. Because he lived with moral values in the kingdom of evils. He kept his moral values intact in spite of being surrounded by evils. GOD was pleased with this quality. In this episode, the glory of HariHar (Hari - GOD Shree Vishnuji) and (Har - GOD Shree Shivji) is also evident. HariHar is one as GOD is one in all forms. The fact that GOD gives fillip in one incarnation and GOD gives redemption in another incarnation is also evident here. Shri Vibhishanji told his miseries to Har (GOD Shree Shivji’s Rudraavatar GOD Shree Hanumanji) and Shree Hanumanji showed him the way of surrendering to GOD and assured him that GOD does not take note of the good and evils of the person who comes to surrender but instantaneously gives him shelter and blesses him with fearlessness. Then when Shri Vibhishanji bowed in submission to Hari (GOD Shree Vishnuji’s incarnation as GOD Shree Ramji) GOD took him instantaneously in His shelter and freed him from all fears. A touching verse of Sunderkand – “Hesitantly the LORD gave” means hesitantly GOD thought that was He not giving less and He instantaneously gave the throne of Lanka. To get to rule Lanka, Ravan had to undergo a religious austerity process for long periods but why did GOD instantaneously give the same without any effort. When we go deep into the episode we find that GOD accepted the ethical behavior of Shri Vibhishanji amidst evil times as religious austerity, as a result of which He blessed Shri Vibhishanji with fearlessness and the undisputed throne of Lanka.

During unethical times, to be ethical is a big religious austerity and it is very dear to GOD. Like it is said that the test of patience is during distress, similarly, the test of ethics is in unethical times. If someone does not have an opportunity for wrongdoing and he says that he is honest, then it has got no relevance. For example, if an employee is given a sealed gallon of oil for supplying it to someone and if he delivers it alright and says that he has not indulged in any dishonesty then it does not have much relevance because he did not have any opportunity to be dishonest. But if he is given an unsealed gallon of oil which he can easily adulterate or can replace the ingredient with counterfeit material and if he does not do so, then it is applaudable.

GOD Shree Ramji had put forward a great point in Sunderkand in front of Shri Vibhishanji during the time of his surrender to Him by saying in His Holy words that “Vibhishan, in a scenario devoid of religion, your following of the moral values had made you very dear to Me.”

If we see in today’s context, someone taking the devotional path amidst worldly illusions is very dear to GOD. With the advent of devotion in one's life, the mercy of GOD enables the upkeep of morals in immoral times and enables the upkeep of ethics in unethical times willingly with much ease.

To practice moral in immoral times, to practice ethics in unethical times appears so difficult to the evil persons but for the devotees, it is so simple. Meghnath did not have devotion therefore his eyes of prudence were not open whereas in the same place Lanka, Shri Vibhishanji had the devotion and therefore his eyes of prudence were open. He had the prudence to understand what was moral and what was immoral. He had the prudence to understand what was ethical and what was unethical.

These “eyes of prudence” is the gift of devotion which prohibits us from doing immoral acts and inspires us to do moral acts. In other words, it refrains us from earning sin and leads us to perform noble deeds.

If we save ourselves from the sins and undertake noble acts in life then the doors of GOD opens for us as it opened for Shri Vibhishanji. GOD gave him the inspiration in one form and gave him redemption in another form.

Therefore we must strive to bring devotion in our life without any delay. Devotion will change the way of our life. It will imbibe good values in our life. I can do wrong, I can commit a sin, I can earn unscrupulously but I will not do so, this will be the vision of our life. And then we will not indulge in any wrongdoings. This way, we will open the gates which will lead us to GOD.

English Translation vetted by Sheelnidhi Gupta