Humans err in trying to find the worthiest among rich and
famous. They are just like many among us, many are just better at feathering
their nests, often by exploiting other humans. The worthiest of humans may more
easily be found among simple hermits and others living in quiet isolated abodes.
No wise and compassionate human can accumulate a huge amount of wealth and be
proud of that when there are millions of children suffering from hunger or
malnutrition. Saint Kabir has stressed this point.
Only a few humans can find contentment in the simplicity of
a hermit. Most must continue to strive in the world for needs they perceive as
essential for themselves and their families. But all can strive to reserve a
portion of their time and energy to serve the world around them. It is only
then that one becomes deserving of help from the Universe. Little can be
achieved without such help. Our very breath comes because the Universe cares
for us every moment of our lives. It is because we are children of Father
Universe and Mother Earth that is but a part of him. Would we not become more
worthy if we similarly care for children, not just ours but also others that we
encounter and can help even in small ways?
Children are the most precious of all life on Earth and it
surely pleases the Universal eye when we make some happy. If one finds enough
wealth to spare, then one can help children and others in need with a portion
of one’s wealth too. Some of the richest persons have switched to a ‘give’ mode
from a ‘gimme’ mode such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. Others are still
trapped in it. Hopefully they too shall change their stance, for greed is one
of the doors to hell according to the Bhagvat Gita or as the folk lore puts it
metaphorically yet accurately,
Gimme, gimme, more, more
To the bottomless pit opens a door
Yet there are few humans who are divine or angelic beings
born on Earth to help distressed humans or others on their way to becoming one
and it is such as these that can find joy in utter simplicity and spend all
their time in service of others or in purifying their souls so as to become
worthy of becoming angelic companions of the Lord some day.
Jesus Christ was a divine being that took birth on Earth on
Christmas day to rescue humans from their distress. He reiterated that when one
serves the needs of a child one serves the Lord.
An ancient Sanskrit, Bhāgavata Purāna, record, From Canto 4,
Chapter 12 , describes the tale of another that became an angelic being through
purification as described in an earlier
post in this blog and repeated here.
“King Dhruva realized that this universe consisting of God's external energy was just like a dream. He considered everything created comprising his body, his wives, children, friends, his influence, riches, the pleasure grounds, the facilities for his women and the beauty of the earth with its oceans, as something transient and for that reason he left for the Himalayan forest. There he purified his body, bathing in pure water and in yoga postures, controlled the breathing process by withdrawing the mind from his physical senses. Concentrating on the Lord he constantly kept in mind, he thus became fully absorbed in the Lord. Constantly engaged in his devotion for Lord, the Supreme Personality he attained everlasting bliss and again and again overcome by a stream of tears that made his heart melt and all the hairs of his body stand on end. He no longer remembered that he had a body and was thus liberated being materially bound.
Dhruva then saw a very beautiful heavenly vehicle descending from the sky which illumined him and the ten directions as if the full moon itself had appeared. Therein he discerned two beautiful demigods with four arms, a blackish skin, being quite young and with eyes as pink as a lotus flower. They held clubs and were attractively dressed and decorated with helmets, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Understanding them to be two Angels of the Lord, he stood up, respectfully joined his hands offering his respects while Nanda and Sunanda, the two angels of the One smilingly approached and addressed him. Nanda and Sunanda said, “Oh best of kings! All good fortune to you! Listen attentively to our words. You are the one who greatly satisfied God by doing penance. You have achieved the world of the Lord that is so difficult to achieve that not even the greatest of enlightenment could reach there. Come and see the supreme abode around the moon, the sun, the other planets and the stars are rotating. Then in having paid his obeisance to the two associates, whose form shone with golden effulgence Dhruva got on board”
“King Dhruva realized that this universe consisting of God's external energy was just like a dream. He considered everything created comprising his body, his wives, children, friends, his influence, riches, the pleasure grounds, the facilities for his women and the beauty of the earth with its oceans, as something transient and for that reason he left for the Himalayan forest. There he purified his body, bathing in pure water and in yoga postures, controlled the breathing process by withdrawing the mind from his physical senses. Concentrating on the Lord he constantly kept in mind, he thus became fully absorbed in the Lord. Constantly engaged in his devotion for Lord, the Supreme Personality he attained everlasting bliss and again and again overcome by a stream of tears that made his heart melt and all the hairs of his body stand on end. He no longer remembered that he had a body and was thus liberated being materially bound.
Dhruva then saw a very beautiful heavenly vehicle descending from the sky which illumined him and the ten directions as if the full moon itself had appeared. Therein he discerned two beautiful demigods with four arms, a blackish skin, being quite young and with eyes as pink as a lotus flower. They held clubs and were attractively dressed and decorated with helmets, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Understanding them to be two Angels of the Lord, he stood up, respectfully joined his hands offering his respects while Nanda and Sunanda, the two angels of the One smilingly approached and addressed him. Nanda and Sunanda said, “Oh best of kings! All good fortune to you! Listen attentively to our words. You are the one who greatly satisfied God by doing penance. You have achieved the world of the Lord that is so difficult to achieve that not even the greatest of enlightenment could reach there. Come and see the supreme abode around the moon, the sun, the other planets and the stars are rotating. Then in having paid his obeisance to the two associates, whose form shone with golden effulgence Dhruva got on board”
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all
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