Deal or No Deal

Deal  or  No  Deal

Immature people often want to win an argument, even at the cost of a relationship.

Mature people understand that it is always better to lose an argument and win a relationship.

We often complain that God has not been merciful and in a fit of a rage ask the Divine, “Are You there, what are You doing? Do You have eyes and ears? Why are You remaining silent?”

Asks one, “I have lost my jewelry which I was keeping in my purse to pledge for the educational fee of my child, and it was pick pocketed by some woman in the bus while I was on travel a month ago. What security are you providing me?  The person scoots from the bus and there is no means to get it back. Can you intervene in any way to perform a miracle? ”

A long drawn devotee asks, “for how long are you going to watch all the ills happening in this society?  .There is rape, murder, arson, loot, etc all happening all over the country and you remain a mute spectator? Yes, I shall continue to pray, for that’s all I know and can afford to do. May better sense prevail on you such that You decide to descend and act fast”.

Says another, “Every day, my troubles are getting more and more.  My husband returns home from office drunk, drinks and slaps me and spits on the children. What kind of life is this?  I am praying night and day to you, I refuse to pray any further. It seems like you derive some joy out of testing me.  Help me. Allah, I know no one else to ask for help and although I dare say I won’t pray to You anymore, prayer I must admit has become a habit, so it shall be done, but without any feelings.” 

Yet another who goes to temple day in and day out asks, “Divine Ma, when are you going to give me some rest? I am working night and day at home and slogging.  My life is going crazy. Can you help, if so I will bequeath a heavy silk Saree for you and buy you an Aaram for your neck before next Pongal. Choice is yours. I need to be free from the shackles of a joint family. I suppose I am not asking for too much. There are people who are rejoicing and I too wish to have your Divine grace and support for the same. Jai Kali.”

The next petition to God is one which is to provide a good job overseas for which the bribe to the Lord of one’s choice is a month’s salary in installments, before three months from date of joining abroad! “God, Let’s agree on this. I have never faulted in going punctually for Sunday Mass prayers to the Church and You very well know that.  I am not asking anything for free or anything out of charity but giving You Thy rightful share of commission that would accrue, if You manage to get me the job, so that things can be sorted out well. Everyone is progressing, but You have no thoughts for me. I trust You implicitly and have no one else to fall back on. You are my One and Only Saviour. Please treat this on priority. Amen”

Each individual has his/ her story and claims with God, connects at their own level and understanding of God. It is sometimes by gentle requests, sometimes harsh retorts, and at other times, cajoling as per the moods which fluctuate. Each assumes that their strength with the Divine is of a high order and the Divine should answer them then and there to their whims and fancies, considering their regular prayers are meticulously done as a matter of routine.  They think that God definitely has to come to their beck and call, since they have rendered prayers, be it with or without concentration, albeit without fervor and feelings , and it is His duty as a form of reciprocation!

As if the Creator has nothing else to do and is twiddling His thumbs and adores the enjoyment to ruffle your feathers, for which He brought you on earth.!

Getting upset with the Almighty for everything that is happening around us has become the norm. Let me recite a story of what God would actually want from us. He definitely does not need commissions no matter how hefty it is, He doesn’t need jewels or anything costly for the Temple/ Church / Mosque/ Gurudwara from your end.  He doesn’t want you to donate money in the cash box or 'Hundi' of your place of worship, He wants something much more, so that you get closer to Him. 

You should be prepared to give what God (no matter what name you call Him ) asks of you, not what you think you can provide to Him, which you may, in your ego state, consider as something not parallel. Here is how the story goes, which is meant to transform each of us to ponder, no matter what religion.

I bet you would not have heard this story earlier. Here it goes for you and for my recap yet again.

Everyday Krishna would visit the garden and say to all the plants, “I love you”. The plants were very happy and responded saying, “Krishna, We love You too.” One day, Krishna rushed quickly into the garden very alarmed.  He went to the bamboo plant and the bamboo plant asked, “Krishna, what’s wrong?” Krishna said, “I have something to ask you, but it is very difficult.” The bamboo said, “Tell me: If I can, I will give it to you.” So Krishna said, “I need your life. I need to cut you.”

The bamboo thought for a while and then said, “You don’t have any other choice. You don’t have any other way?” Krishna said, “No, no other way”. And it said “OK” and gave himself up.

So Krishna cut the bamboo and made holes in it, and each time he carved the holes, the bamboo was crying in pain… Krishna made a beautiful flute out of it and this flute was with Him all the time.

 24 hours a day, it was with Krishna. Even the Gopis were jealous of the flute. They said, “Look, Krishna is our Lord, but we get to spend only some time with him”.

Gopis asked the bamboo, “Tell us your secret. What secret do you have, that the Lord treasures you so much?” And the bamboo said, “the secret is that I gave myself up, and He did whatever was right for me, in the process I had to undergo a lot of pain. And the Lord does whatever He wants with me, whenever He wants with me and however He wants with me. I just have become His instrument.”

So, this is Complete/ Total Surrender: where God can do whatever He wants with you, whenever He wants, as He wants. Trust Him completely and have faith in Him and always know that you are in His Hands …. What can go wrong?

This truly is Sharanagathi.