If Easwara causes, knows and controls everything,  why would I want to pray and make special efforts to attain Moksha?  Why would temptations that get me into deeper trouble be thrown in my way? Knowing that I am ignorant, would he not take care of everything for me?

It is Easwara's constant endevour to take control of each of his children and guide them effortlessly through this life.  However,  for this to happen, each individual must, by his own effort, invoke Easwara and hand over control of the individual self to Him.  Unless this is done, Karma,  which is the cause of our birth,  cannot be eased out of its primry position of power within our inner self.   

Life is essentially a process of learning to make the Atma evolve to successively higher levels. Learnung cannot happen unless we actively participate in the events of life, take initiative, make mistakes, experience worldly success and its hollowness and learn the true and lasting values from our own experiences.

Easwara, of his own accord, will not interfere with the working of Karmic forces.  This is said very clearly in Srmad Bhagavatha Purana.



Conviction - An Essential Ingredient of the Journey

CONVICTION is the unwavering commitment to the Journey. No matter how many pitfalls are encounterd along the way, the Mind must never be allowed to waver from the objective. 

The Journey of life is full of distractions, The Mind is pulled in different directions at the same time and although in prioritization of its objectives, the spritual path of exploration of the self may have been given top priority, these prioritites may shift due to pressing contingencies. The mind has to tread the three paths to Moksham, simultaneously - Karma, Gnana and Bhakthi.  

The Karmic path is full of hurdles and obstacles which keep the mind completely entrapped in worldly affairs. This entrapment of the mind is also the primary means of stimulating into activity, without which it would relapse into a stupor. The stimulation by Karmic forces the mind to develop worldly knowledge.  Grappling with the forces of Karma also forces the Mind to explore ways and means to exit the involvement with worldly matters and alternate paths are considered as the objectives change from material gains to attainment of peace and tranquility. 

Both the Karmic and Gnana pathways cannot be treaded upon without a lot of Bhakthi being developed.  The Bhakthi alone provides the resolve when the going gets to be difficult and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. It is only Bhakthi that gives us the strength to overcome fear, ignorance and gives us the faith and resolve that there is a solution and it is worth striving for.

Each of the three paths has a major and equal role to play in aligning the mind in the correct direction.  In the process of tackling all three paths at the same time, the mind is buffeted by three different pulls and pushes which throws it into a violent storm. 

The search for peace and tranquility by the mind reaches far and wide and includes ones career, financial securty, relationship with others, as well as attainment, success, rewards, and a host of other worldly conquests.  

When the realization sets in that these are temporary solutions and that these will not be long lasting, and in fact, to maintain the same level of satisfaction, these inputs will have to be taken in ever increasing doses, the Mind turns to alternate paths that turn inward rather than outward. But then worldly needs will always tug and pull at the mind, as long as there is a need to work for basic essentials. In the early part of one's life, these tugs and pulls may actually weaken one's resolve to stay on the spritual path. 

Without conviction of the efectiveness of the pursuit of the spritual path, no progress can be made. The conviction is directly related to the Bhakti that the indivifual has in the path shown by Easwara. 

There are many common misconceptions that result in a mental block to appreciating the beauty of the Puranas.  Some of these are discussed below.  Reader input is welcomed to add to the listing.

These are some of the many doubts that will be arise as the journey omward is undertaken:

1. The Puranas, are perceived  as advocating violence to eradicate Adharma?  

2.  Krishna Paramathma wants all material wealth to be given up and lead only a minimal existence. 

3.  Does the interplay between Sri Krishna and the Gopis not violate moral behaviour?

4.  Does  Kirshna Paramathma require one to give up all attachments to the family in order to reach him?  Should one not do one's duty to the family? 

5.  If Easwara causes, knows and controls everything,  why would I want to pray and make special efforts to attain Moksha?  Why would temptations that get me into deeper trouble be thrown in my way? Knowing that I am ignorant, would he not take care of everything for me?

6.  Can Moksham be retained without giving up our existing senses of perception?

7.  Can Moksham be attained by following a step by step approach as in an instruction manual?