The Mystery of the Moment-The Effects Of A Fast Lifestyle

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We live an era where patience is not cultivated. Ours is the Instant Age. We are used to instant communication, instant food, instant message, instant medicine—the list can go on. We are accustomed to these so much that if someone talks of patience, we immediately jump to dub him as 'outdated" and as someone who has not caught up with the times. Science and technology have brought wonders in our day-to-day lives but nothing happens without paying a price somewhere. The price for this instant-mindset is loss of patience.

This loss of patience can be seen in the growing urban culture. Look at the restless taxi-drivers trying to overtake even in narrow side-lanes. Think of the impatient people who start honking their horns the moment the traffic signal turns green. Or the people who want to eat whatever they wish to even as they want to lose weight overnight. Everywhere ever-greater number of people seem to search for shortcuts and easy-to-do methods.

Most people in today"s fast life style seem to overlook the need for cultivating patience, especially those who take up spiritual life. They want to apply the same rules as in their high-speed life style to the spiritual life. They want results, immediate and quick. They argue that if there is any truth is spiritual matters, we must get results. They are right but wrong as well. They are right in saying that they must get results, for the proof of the pudding lies in eating. What use is mere talk about higher life if there are no results? But they are also wrong in expecting immediate results. One cannot force results to come forth immediately as much as one cannot expect a child to become an adult overnight.
What is the way out then? To patiently continue one"s struggle, without losing hope. Says Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi,

'It is very necessary to have a fixed time for these things [spiritual practices]. For it cannot be said when the auspicious moment will come. It arrives so suddenly. No one gets any hint of it beforehand.
The auspicious moment means the moment when one discovers one"s inner divine core or some pointer towards it. No one can ever schedule its arrival.

One may recall here the story of Shabari mentioned in the Ramayana. Shabari was an ascetic living in an ashrama near a mountain in South India. She lived a life of devotion and purity and was a disciple of Rishi Matanga. Her guru had blessed her that she will meet Rama, her chosen form of God in her life time itself. After her guru"s passing away, she continued to live in that ashrama, patiently waiting for the arrival of Sri Rama. Her daily routine consisted of getting up early in the morning, ablutions, meditation and prayer, followed by cleaning the ashrama pathway and decorating it with flowers. Everyday she swept clean the path and decorated it with flowers in expectation that Rama, her beloved Lord, might arrive any day.

Waiting for the Lord was Shabari's main form of tapas—for years. By the time Rama reached her ashrama, during his search for Sita who had been abducted by the demon king Ravana, Shabari was an old woman. Though old in years, she was young in spirit and eagerly carried on all activities of her chosen life with enthusiasm and sincerity. When Rama finally arrived at her place and blessed her with his presence, she was overwhelmed with joy and devotion. Rama asked her whether her tapas of several years bore any fruit. She replied with contentment and joy, "My life is now blessed for I have seen you."

There is an interesting incident recorded in the memoirs of Swami Brahmananda, an eminent disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. The incident runs thus : One morning Swami Gnaneshwarananda hurried out of his room, leaving behind an unmade bed and general confusion. He met Maharaj (Swami Brahmananda) on the maidan, a large, open field near his room. After paying his respects, he was startled to hear Maharaj say: 'Take me to your room; I wish to see the place where you sleep."

Swami Gnaneshwarananda, feeling ashamed, replied: 'Maharaj, can you not come a little later? I was not expecting you and the room is not fit to receive you."

Maharaj said: 'My boy, you must always be expecting me."

Swami Gnaneshwarananda understood the deep meaning of the incident and the words of Maharaj—that one must always be prepared to receive the Lord, the most honoured guest.

Patanjali, the great teacher of Yoga, says that one attains a firmness in one"s efforts and reaches a steady state of mind when one follows the path of yoga 'for a long time, continuously and without interruption, with devotion and respect." Sri Ramakrishna also spoke of another dimension of the mystery of the moment. He said : Suppose you bring a light into a room that has been dark a thousand years; does it remove the darkness little by little? The room is lighted all at once!

That magic moment of illumination may arrive at any time. And how much does it take to lighten up? It is believed that a pearl-oyster commences the making a pearl only when a drop of pure rain water falls into its mouth when the star Swati is in ascendance and not otherwise. The moment is important.

Conclusion

To sum up, one should be patient but ever ready. It is as essential as starting the spiritual journey. Reflecting this attitude of mind, Josephine Macleod, an American devotee of Swami Vivekananda once said, 'Meeting Swamiji changed my life, in a twinkling! But I was ready, “readiness is all"

About the author

Swami Atmashraddananda

Swami Atmashraddhananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and editor of The Vedanta Kesari from the year 2004 .