The Master's say, "To Live in The Master's Will is to Live in The Lord's Will and in the Remembrance of The Lord. The only way to protect ourselves from Maaya, worldly thoughts and attachments is by living in The Company of The Master and The Lord.
There is an interesting story from Mahabharata, which teaches us a lot. Many of us keep pondering, Why did Krishna not save the Pandavas when they played dice with Duryadhana & Shakuni?
Uddhava, the charioteer of Krishna, had always wondered about the apparent disconnect between Krishna’s teachings and actions, and wanted to understand the reasons for the same. He asked Krishna, ‘Lord, you taught us to live in one way, but you lived in a different way. In the drama of Mahabharat, in the role you played, in your actions, I did not understand many things. I am curious to understand the reasons for your actions. Would you fulfil my desire to know?’
Krishna said, ‘Uddhava, since you have lived SELFLESSLY, My responses to you here, would be known as ‘Uddhava Gita’. Please ask without hesitation.’
Uddhava starts asking – ‘Krishna, first tell me who is a real friend?’
Krishna says, ‘The real friend is one who comes to the help of his friend in need even without being called. He is there with you always.'
Uddhava: ‘Krishna, you were a dear friend of the Pandavas. They trusted you fully as Apadhbhandava (protector from all difficulties). Krishna, you not only know what is happening, but you know what is going to happen. You are a great gyani. Just now you gave the definition of a true, close friend. Then why did you not act as per that definition. Why did you not stop Dharmaraj (Yudhishtra) from playing the gambling game? Or why did you not turn the luck in favour of Dharmaraj, by which you would have ensured that dharma wins. You did not do that also. You could have at least saved Dharmaraj by stopping the game after he lost his wealth, country and himself. You could have released him from the punishment for gambling. Or, you could have entered the hall when he started betting his brothers. You did not do that either. At least when Duryodhana tempted Dharmaraj by offering to return everything lost if he betted Draupadi (who always brought good fortune to Pandavas), you could have intervened and with your divine power you could have made the dices roll in a way that is favorable to Dharmaraj. Instead, you intervened only when Draupadi almost lost her modesty and now you claim that you gave clothes and saved Draupadi’s modesty; Only when you help a person at the time of crisis, can you be called ‘Apadhbandhava’. If you did not help in the time of crisis, what is the use? Is it Dharma?’ As Uddhava posed these questions, tears started rolling from his eyes.
Krishna laughed. ‘Dear Uddhava, the law of this world is: ‘only the one who has Viveka (intelligence through discrimination), wins’. While Duryodhana had Viveka, Dharmaraj lacked it. That is why Dharmaraj lost’.
Uddhava was lost and confused. Krishna continues ‘While Duryodhana had lots of money and wealth to gamble, he did not know how to play the game of dice. That is why he used his Uncle Shakuni to play the game, while he betted. That is Viveka.
Dharmaraj also could have thought similarly and offered that I, his cousin, would play on his behalf. If Shakuni and I had played the game of dice, who do you think would have won? Can he roll the numbers I am calling or would I roll the numbers he is asking.
Dharmaraj did not include me in the game. But, without using his Viveka, he did another blunder. He prayed that I should not come to the hall, as he did not want me to know that through ill-fate, he was compelled to play this game. He tied me with his prayers and did not allow me to get into the hall; I was just waiting for someone to call me through their prayers.
‘Can I ask you another question’, says Uddhava. Krishna gives him the permission to proceed.
'Does it mean that you will come only when you are called! Will you not come on your own to help people in crisis, to establish justice?’, asks Uddhava.
Krishna smiles. ‘Uddhava, in this life, everyone’s life proceeds based on their own karma. I don’t run it; I don’t interfere in it. I am only a ‘witness’. I stand close to you and keep observing whatever is happening. This is The Lord’s Dharma’.
‘That means, you will stand close to us, observe all our evil acts; as we keep committing more and more sins, you will keep watching us. You want us to commit more blunders, accumulate sins and suffer’, says Uddhava.
Krishna says.’Uddhava, please realise the deeper meaning of your statements. When you understand & realise that I am standing as witness next to you, how could you do anything wrong or bad. You definitely cannot even think wrong. You forget this and think that you can do things without my knowledge. That is when you get into trouble.
Dharmaraj’s ignorance was that he thought he can play the game of gambling without my knowledge. If Dharmaraj had realized that I am always present with everyone in the form of ‘Sakshi’ (witness), then wouldn’t the game have finished differently?’
The Master's say, "Through The Simran and Dhyaan of The Word given by The Master, we can make The Master our Companion. Once our mind is filled with The Master's Word, The Master becomes our constant companion and He becomes our Friend. Our thoughts will always be Righteous. He will not allow us to falter.
Through The Antar Simran and Antar Dhyaan of The Naama, we Realise The Lord inside us. From here, Every Act and deed that we do is the step taken by The Lord Himself.
We Realise The Lord is in control of His creation. He is the Doer and we are just a spectator. All we can do is do Naama Bhakti and immerse in The Lord. When We become One with The Lord, We find The Master and The Lord to be ONE."
Thus, this life is all about Living in The Master's Will and do Meditation. It is only The Naama Bhakti which can save us from the Maaya. It is The Naama, which will help us Realise Everything is happening as per The Lord's wish, we are not the doers. All we can do is, Live in The Master's Will and do as much Naama Bhakti as possible. If we do, then, The Master's Grace shall take care of us.
Authored by K. Giri
