Stars and God

 

One day, a teenage daughter and father were walking together. Their topic of discussion was God. The teen age daughter said that she did not believe in things that she could not see. Emotionally balanced and patient father did not say anything against the young blood's belief in "chaarvaaka matham".

 

That night was a clear one and lot of stars decorated the beautiful sky. Father and daughter were standing on the courtyard and were enjoying the crisp night with the blue star studded sky. They talked about everything under the sun arguing and agreeing about many things. Next morning, after the sun rise, father took his daughter again to the courtyard and asked her: "Daughter, do you believe that stars exist, even if you cannot see them now?

 

Daughter was perplexed because the previous night, standing under the canopy of  star-decked sky, they had such a  long discussion about stars, big dipper, comets etc and this question seemed meaningless. Anyway, she said :" Yes, they are still there. We cannot see it because of the sun's light. "

 

Father again asked his daughter: "What if you did not notice or saw the stars yesterday? Do you still think they are there whether you saw them before or not? "

 

Daughter said: "Yes, father. I do not understand why you are asking me this question. Whether I or anybody see it or not, it is there. If I did not see it during night, it is my problem."

 

Father again asked: "Daughter, do you think a blind man who never saw a star would believe that there are stars in the sky? "

 

Daughter was a little irritated and with out showing her anger replied: "Of course father, the blind person also will believe when we say that we have seen. He can not see because of his handicap. But still it is there and people who really saw are telling him. I f he has any sense, he should believe. It is the truth"

 

Father was happy to hear the reply. He said: "Daughter, now you apply the same to God. Whether you see Him or not, believe Him or not, God is there. We are not able to see because of our handicap- MAYA. There are Rishis and bhakthaas who saw God and felt the presence of God. Unfortunately they can only tell us that they saw and experienced. They cannot make us experience. Effort to see God has to come from us. But they have prescribed all the ways to progress in the path to God. Daughter, first step is to meditate upon any Ishtadevatha and chant naamam for at least ten minutes a day. Start doing that today and God will take care of the rest".

 

Daughter saw the wisdom in her father's loving eyes and affectionate words and started chanting "naaraayana" naamam everyday day for ten minutes and realized how great she was feeling and the power of naamam.

 

 

Now she is a mother and she is trying to spread that light to all children, to hers and others. Also, with her limited capability she is trying her best to throw the blue stones of the glories of Lord all along the lighted path of Bhakthi! Lot of them may break, lot of them  may roll down to the dark regions and with His blessings, one or two may actually decorate the path!