Ram was very active on that day because it happened to be his School Annual Day. Many cultural programmes including Fancy Dress competitions were in the offing to enjoy on that eve. He goaded his parents to start as early as possible to have front seats in the School Auditorium. As they were about to enter the main gate a beggar in rags, with a bowl in his right hand and a stick in the left hand approached them with distressing looks. Ram's father felt pity on the beggar's condition and dropped a few rupee coins in his bowl. The beggar's face filled with pleasing looks thanked them and left the place to beg in another spot. Ram's family were seated comfortably near to the stage. The programmes began. The beggar was seen in and around the auditorium and Ram's parents wondered how careless were the organisers in permitting him. As the prizes of Fancy Dress competition were announced, behold ! the beggar was called on to the stage as the recipient of First Prize. And when the beggar showed his real face, Ram got shock! He was none other than his own neighbour and schoolmate Sam, his parents having a mansion with two large sedan cars.
'An affluent in a role play of dire poverty'. In reality Sam was rich and he acted poor 'in full consciousness' for a short time for the stage show. And exactly, this is our life cycle, a stage show- entering with an assigned role, justify our role and exit when our role is finished. If this is understood with wisdom then why get absorbed in the role play and be lost in the experiences. Like Sam one should be aware of the permanent abode of eternal happiness that belongs to him and not the temporary stage show. Even in our daily yoga prayers, we declare that 'This world is one stage show. I am a 'nishkama karma yogi' (resorting to actions without anticipations) I am playing my role in this world.' Naturally, as per the dictum 'yat bhavana tat bhavati' ( you beget what you contemplate seriously), the imbibing of the noble prayer cleanses our minds for rich spiritual crop.
The whole philosophical Truth is showcased by Annamacharya in pithy keertanas. It is said that, while singing 'nanati batuku natakamu' (every day life, a drama), so emotional he became that his 'ektara' (a simple musical instrument with one string) snapped and he took it as an omen to leave his place permanently for Lord Venkateswara's Abode at Tirumala for his Liberation. This heart rending song by Bharata Ratna, Nightingale of Carnatic Music, Smt M S Subbulakshmi is available in You tube). My freelance explanation...
'This whole life which we are thinking that we are experiencing is in reality, like a drama (stage show). Liberation is the only thing that we get from our past good deeds.... Our birth is a reality, That, we exit on one day is also a reality. But between these two, what we perform is stage show only. We see the world in front of our eyes. But our true abode is Liberation only......We take food, wear clothes, but all these come with our birth and end with our death. And all those come to us in between are instruments (tools) necessary for the stage show only.....After final settlement of the accounts of the bundle of accumulated karmas (past actions) only we realise Liberation. Till then invariably the shows have to be continued......As long as the show is continued our sins and pious deeds are committed unendingly. And because of them, our drama turns out to be either hilarious or melancholic. The Lord of the Seven Hills is the Almighty. And one's Liberation is in His Firmament Above.'
Here we have to understand that being fully aware of the quintessence of Advaita vedanta of the Formless Supreme consciousness, Annamayya recommended the devotional (Almighty in FOrm) path for the masses as a sure way for Deliverance.
Let us share the educative wisdom by the great savant, which is quite helpful in bringing solace and peace with a spiritual direction to our unwary minds. If we realise that our role play on this stage called the World, is only transitory and we in truth belong to the permanent abode above, our hearts become soothing and blissful!
Om Shanti!
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