GREETINGS

16.07.2012 Ramayanam is the first written book in the history of literature. It took 10,000 years for the world to develop alphabets and words, much later than our most ancient Indian ‘literacy’ culture. In the history of world literature, it started with prose and the content were stories. But in India our great masters were great poets, they wrote everything in poetry. Ramayanam is called ‘Adikavyam’. It is not mere poetry, but it contains very deep significance of spiritual wisdom. In the periphery, we can see a story of a family or a kingdom but inside it is full of spiritual knowledge which is a message to this world. So Ramayana should not be read as a custom which we followed, but read from our hearts with a surrendering mind, then wisdom will flow to our hearts. It is said that Ramayana was written by Sage Valmeeki who sang this great epic from a deep feeling of pain he felt. Once he was going to take bath early morning; on the way he had to cross a forest where he saw a hunter aiming at two birds who were chirping and enjoying in the dawn. When he looked the hunter had already shot one bird. Its pain touched his heart and he just shouted to the hunter that “Ma Nishada” (oh hunter, don’t hurt). Then he introspected and discovered that the whole world is suffering because of the cruelty called ‘hurting’. In Ramayana, Ravana represents a ‘hurting’ character. Because of his cruel mind, he destroyed himself and his people. Rama the hero represents ‘respect’ because through respect he could bring harmony every where. Rama respected his enemy too. Many chances, he had given to his enemies to change their hurting minds. So Ramayanam is very relevant in today’s world which gives a great message that ‘respect others, don’t hurt their feelings and freedom’. Today we can see the whole world suffering because of the hurting, immature ‘Ravana mind’. Today’s Ravana appears in the form of violence which we see every where. We need minds like Rama who can create respect and harmony. That is the real solution for a peaceful world. When the world insists to love your neighbor, Rama requests to respect your neighbor. That looks more logic because to love you should know some one, but to respect we don’t have to know the person . When a unknown guest comes to our home, we respect him. That creates a harmony. That is why Gandhiji said, “we want to establish Rama Rajyam”. What he meant is the world where every one respects each other. Let us work together for it. HariOm! Swamiji.