Are prayer & penance necessary ?
Question
Namaskar Dear Dhanjay,
I often wonder why gods(basically the holy trinity) were forced to give boons to whoever invoked them by penance whereas they never seem to do anything for the poor & worst suffering's call for help even after pure cry from heart.Also I have heard 'devatas are mantra aadheen',I want to know why so?
It seems these devatas help only those who do tapas for them,this is like plain business then why should anybody pray to them/respect them at all,better to prod on with our own efforts whatever be the result atleast we'll have satisfaction of making it on our own.If it is business indeed where is place for love/devotion.
I am asking the above question because I am very puzzled as to seek blessings(or help to put it bluntly) of divine beings while walking on path of brahmacharya or would it tantamount to begging & disrespect to one self when shastras also say 'aham brahmasmi' & 'tat tvam asi'.
I hope I was able to express my anguish/confuscion.
Waiting for your reply in earnest.
Indrajit.
Answer
1. Penance is nothing but earnest, one pointed effort with a particular objective. As in any other activity, one begets as much as he or she deserves based on destiny and effort. Suffering or happiness has no connection with the same. Suffering is the result of some past karma that deserves such pain and like all other things follows the law of karma which is just and impartial. Not even the trinity can bypass these laws.
2. Not even the Supreme helps those who require help just because they do so. If such was the case, there wouldn't have been one case of suffering here on Earth. One has to first become eligible to receive help. Such eligibility comes from effort which then transcends into grace. When one has engulfed himself with karma that demands suffering, what can Gods or Goddesses do? Nothing bypasses the laws. Our ignorance is the cause of suffering and none are to blame. Those who receive blessings or favors from such Gods make themselves eligible through ardorous austerity/effort.
3. There is no rule that one has to pray to the Supreme or any God/Goddess. Prayer is a personal action based on trust and belief. Those who rely only on their own efforts sincerely also finally realize the presence of a higher Super-power called the Almighty (who resides within all as the Atman, the true self). One can take the path which appeals the most.
4. That which one deserves comes. It comes immaterial of whether one wants it or doesnt. The same is the case with blessings. When actions get ripe, the results follow, call it blessings or some thing else.
An occurance is termed bad when it causes pain and good when it gives pleasure. The wise stay internally unaffected by both, knowing both to be the effect of Maya (illusion) and hence unreal. In reality, nothing happens, for who suffered or enjoyed? None. The ignorant Jiva (with its false concept of I-ness), having forgotten its true stainless state oscillates in the apparent waves of pain or pleasure fueled by its own lack of knowledge.
5. Aham Brahmasmi/Tat tvam Asi The Aham (I-sense) referred to here is the higher self, the true self or the Atman and not the little, false self the Ego. The Atman has no respect or disrespect, being above all duality. It is the Supreme power of powers, the very Lord, without a second. Who then exists to disrespect it?
Hence work towards negating the little, lower self called the Ego, the source of all pain and suffering which posed this query about respect & disrespect. Then this question disappears at once.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)