Chapter-1 : Rama – Prince and Principle

As explained by Baba, “Rama” is the essence of the Vedas. The Ramayana is an Ocean of Milk that is pure and potent. “It can be asserted than no poem of equal grandeur and beauty has emerged from other languages or from other countries until this very day; but it has provided inspiration to the poetic imagination of every language and country. It is the greatest treasure inherited by the good fortune by every Indian”. Though I know the outer story of this epic, my ignorance of its inner meaning and symbolic lessons makes me unaware of its grandeur. However, I am glad that I have been given the opportunity to read through this book and thereby be exposed to the real lesson in Ramayana. 

In the first few paragraphs of this chapter, Swamy describes how Ramayana, an epic creation about the life of Rama, the guardian deity of Hindus is being reverently recited by people from all walks of life from rich to poor, scholars to the ignorant. The Ramayana & its stream of sacred sweetness once tasted by the devoted can cleanse all evil and transform the sinner. “It reveals the Form that the Name represents, the Form that is as charming as the Name itself”, he says.

As I read through the next few paragraphs of this chapter, I am left astounded by the beauty in the way Baba explains Rama & Ramayana to the ignorant me. I feel the love in his words and I am thirsty for more sacred sweetness to flow into me. 

Swamy says that as the sea is the source of all water bodies on earth, all beings are born from “Rama”/ Divinity. A sea without water is unreal and so is a being without Rama. The vast ocean and the Almighty have much in common. As myth and legend proclaim, Ocean is the abode of the Almighty which is the reason why Valmiki named each canto as Kaanda. Kaanda means “an expanse of water”. Baba adds that Kaanda also means sugarcane. Such a wonderful creation of God that no matter how crooked the sugarcane is, whichever section we chew, the sweetness is unaffected and uniform. “The stream of Rama’s story meanders through many a curve and twist. Nevertheless, the sweetness of Karuna(tenderness, pity, compassion) persists without diminution throughout the narrative”, explains Baba. The story touches many human emotions. It portrays sadness, wonder, ridicule, awe, terror, love, despair and dialects, but the main undercurrent is the love of Dharma (righteousness, morality) and Karuna (compassion) it fosters. 

The next paragraph is so beautifully explained by Baba that I have no words to substitute. Hence, I choose to quote the paragraph as it is in Baba’s own words for there is no sweeter nectar than his grace.

“The nectar in the story of Rama is as the “Sarayu River” that moves silently by the city of Ayodhya, where Rama was born and where he ruled. The Sarayu has its source in the Himalayan Manasa-Sarovar, as this Story is born in the Manasa-Sarovar (the Lake of the Mind)!” – Baba

The Inner Meaning

As explained by Baba, Rama is inside each one of us. He is the inner god and his blessings that we feel from the inside can give us peace and bliss. He is the incarnation of righteousness(Dharma) in all the policies of morality that hold humanity together in love and unity. The Ramayana teaches us two lessons: a) the value of detachment b) need to become aware of the divine in every being. “Faith in God and detachment from objective pursuits are the keys for human liberation”, says Baba.  What does the word “objective pursuit” signify? Any effort we take with an objective or goal in mind? My mind is so in the dark that it fails to understand how there can be a pursuit without an objective. When I think harder on this subject I am starting to believe that Objective Pursuit could also mean “Desire”. So in my understanding, when a man places firm faith in God and gives up desire, he shall escape from the monotonous drill of human living. 

Swamy explains further about the inner meaning of the story of Ramayana. “Give up sense-objects; you gain Rama”, he says.  Sita gave up the luxuries of Ayodhya and hence got the benefit of being with Rama during their time of exile. “When she cast longing eyes on the golden deer and craved for it, she lost the Presence of Rama” (2009, Sai Baba). How beautifully explained by Baba that it is so very easily imaginable for us! 

Baba adds that renunciation gives joy while attachment gives sorrow. “Be in the world, but not of it”. We have heard many a times that all we see and feel is maya and what is real is the Brahman. 

It is true that when we place our emotions on the makings of Maya, we most often grieve in its loss. Places change, things break, people leave & memories fade. Man fails to see the transient nature of all these things and foolishly places so much importance in them. He is ready to spend all his life aspiring for the temporary but doesn’t stop to ask himself “what do I need?” rather than “what do I want?”. What we need is happiness not pleasure & love not desire. When man starts to detach himself from maya and attaches himself to God & works towards pleasing Him, man attains peace. Reiterating what is said in the first few lines of this post, God is inside each one of us & when we please Him by practicing faith in Him & detachment from objective pursuits, He shall bless us with peace & bliss. 

In Baba’s words, "Men who are devoted to Me are full of love. They always stand by Dharma or righteousness. They speak the truth. Their hearts melt with mercy. They are devoid of wrong conduct. They avoid sin. They will renounce everything gladly. They act in moderation. They are always engaged in doing good to others. They are not selfish. They are worried by no doubts. They do not lend their ears to flattery." 

Further about Ramayana, Baba explains that brothers, friends & collaborators with Rama each are persons saturated with Dharma.

• King Dasaratha (Rama’s father who had three wives)is a representative of the mere physical with ten senses.
• Three queens represent the three gunas of a person such as: Sathwa, Rajas & Thamas.
• The four goals of human existence or Purusharthas which are Dharma (social/ religious/ moral righteousness), Artha (financial prosperity), Kama(dharmic pleasure) and Moksha (spiritual liberation)are depicted by his four sons.
• Lakshmana is the Intellect.
• Sugriva is Discrimination.
• Vali represents despair.
• Hanuman represents courage.
• The three demons that hold key roles represent the three gunas as well. Ravana who is the key antagonist in the epic personifies the Rajasic quality alias passion.
• His brother Kumbhakarna who is known for his monstrous size, great hunger & laziness represents Thamasic quality or sloth/ dullness.
• Vibhishana the youngest brother of Ravana was of a noble character and advised Ravana to return Sita to Rama in an orderly fashion represented Sathwic quality alias calm/ serenity. After the death of Ravana, Vibhishana was crowned by Rama as the King of Lanka.
• Sita who dedicated herself to Rama at all times of joy, sorrow or hardship represents Brahma Jnaana or Awareness of the Absolute Truth.

Baba says that Brahma Jnaana is what each of us must work towards acquiring and regaining while undergoing hard work in the crucible of life.

“Make your heart pure and strong, contemplating the grandeur of the Ramayana. Be established in the faith that Rama is the Reality of your existence” - Sai Baba.