Rays of Dharma

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

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Rays of Dharma
happiness he would be willing to set aside the true value of life.
Religion is not meant merely for the sake of utterance; one has to put it into practice. True religion can help in having real satisfaction at the time of death. Outward show of religion does not become helpful at that time. The shades formed by anger, greed etc. and their impacts are called “Leshyäs’. It is now possible to study their impact from the scientific point of view. It has been observed that when one indulges in greed, his fingers get slightly bent. It is good that we cannot take photographs of one's attitude. Had it been possible, we could know how different we actually happen to be from what we look.
Selfishness leads one to become hypocritical and deceptive. We come across people, who coat brass with gold and try to sell it as real gold or who lay frozen ghee over the water in a tin and sell it as ghee. When such cunning men want to profess as gentlemen, they approach some monk or a so-called saint to perform rituals like Satyanäräyan poojan or Shäntisnatra poojan. The average man cannot make out their hypocrisy and might adore them as religious persons. It is, however, not possible to achieve true well-being, so long as one does not resort to truthfulness.
A truthful life cannot be attained in the absence of serenity. This was evident in the life of the saint-poet Ananddhanji. While he sang the songs of the Lord, tears used to flow from his eyes. Even the listeners were overwhelmed by his sense of devotion. His songs are rapt with spiritualism. He could forget the world and stay tuned to his soul. As the crystal of sugar has to melt in milk in order to render it sweet, it is necessary for one to be absorbed in religion in order to make life sweet.
Mogul emperor Akbar once called saint Haridäs in order to hear his devotional songs. Haridas sang to the best of his ability and the court was filled with applause. But the devotional tears were absent in his eyes. Thereupon Akbar asked, “When I saw you singing in wilderness, tears were flowing from your eyes; how come, your eyes are tearless now?” Haridas replied, “That time I was trying to please
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