“ Effort (udyamam) , initiative (sahasam) ,
courage (dhairyam) , intelligence (buddhih) , resourcefulness (saktih) and
perseverance (parakramah) – where these six qualities exist , there the Lord
will always be helpful.”
To accomplish something , you need not
merely effort but well-directed effort (udyamam) . Then , you need initiative
(sahasam) ; courage (dhairyam) , which is sustained enthusiasm ; intelligence
(buddhih) ; resourcefulness (saktih) , in the form of manpower , money power ,
raw materials and infrastructure ; and then perseverance (parakramah) which
includes the ability to face failures . Though there will be other competitors
in the game , when you follow the rules of the game and win , then it is called
parakramah . But even when you have every one of these six qualities , still
there will be some unknown factor which can cause a problem . There could be a
slip between the cup and the lips . Any number of things can happen . You may
get exactly what you expected , less than what you expected , more than you
expected , or something quite different .
People generally do accept this concept ,
but they do not completely understand it . Someone might say , “ I was driving
, and for no reason at all , I had a flat tyre . Then God helped me by sending
someone , who stopped and changed the
tyre for me . God’s grace is great .” But , then the question is , “ Why did He
give you the flat tyre in the first place ?” The person thinks that the flat
tyre was given by some bad luck , or the Devil . Actually everything is earned
by you ; it is karma-phala ( results of your actions ) according to the order ,
and it comes to Ishvara (the Lord) who is the order itself .
Therefore , in the Vedic culture , Ishvara
is taken as a partner in all of our undertakings . This culture is alive even
today . We always take into account that unknown factor , called daivam . By
one’s own effort , one has to invoke that daivam . I would tell the Lord , “ If
there is any impediment , please remove it” . I may have all the six
ingredients for success but still there could be something that makes the
difference between success and failure . By my prayer , I invoke daivam , to
take care of that unknown element .
PRAYER – A DELIBERATE ACTION
A cow gathers no punya for giving milk to
its master , nor papa for kicking him . This is because it has no free will as
humans do . However , for a human being , the free-will must accompany a
deliberate action to accumulate punya-papa . Thus , while we enjoy our free
will , we find there is a lot of pressure involved . It is like when you give
some money to your brother-in-law to start a business , you are definitely
reaching out . But by this action , you also want some peace at home or you
want to win that person . This is an act of charity , under pressure . If your
eyes are on punya , then you take it as an investment . Thus , very few of your
actions are totally free . In any reaching out action , there can be
psychological pressure , circumstantial pressure , value commitment , and so on
.
On the other hand , a prayer is the only
action you can undertake where your freedom is total and complete . Prayer is a
deliberate action on your part , and therefore , it is karma , subject to
punya-papa . Prayer is a means for invoking the seventh factor , the grace
(daivam) . There can always be many hidden variables , which I cannot control
at all. All I can do is pray , out of my own volition . When you invoke Ishvara
through some ritual with certain awareness , something happens to you because
it is a deliberate action on your part . The Lord can be invoked in any form .
Action is the final expression of a human
being . If you want to give your best wishes to your close friend for his
birthday , what could you do ? After all , the wish belongs to the heart . In
your heart you can just wish . That should be enough . Why should you send a
birthday care or a bouquet of flowers or a gift ? The reason is , that acts
makes the wish real , it gives it a form . When I congratulate you for your
achievement , it is a form . Even talking is a form . We have associated words
with certain meanings through a common understanding . The script is a form . You
can go on and on . Every form is reducible to other forms . Finally , the truth
is formless , into which all names and forms resolve . That is the Lord .
In any religion , you have to have some
form , either a symbol or an action , in order to pray . In the Vedic vision ,
however , the whole world , which is full of forms , is Ishvara (the Lord) .
Therefore , involving the Lord in any form is recognizing Him to be everything
. That I can invoke the Lord in any form is a privilege granted by our scriptures
through the understanding of Ishvara .
These forms , given by our ancient books as words or actions to invoke
the Lord , are a blessing for our psyche throughout the childhood and adult
life . I can place a flower at an altar or do an elaborate ritual of puja .
This is a means to invoke the seventh factor . Just saying , ‘ Help yourself ’
is not enough . Seek help from ishvara . You can invoke the Lord to cause a
change through your attitude or your value-structure .
~ Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati
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