God be with me

This short article is about something I observed , only recently.

When we find ourselves in troubled waters we often pray to God that O'Lord almighty please fix my problem.If someone lost a lot money in stocks , its only fair to ask God for some special favor , like Oh God ! somehow just create an opportunity so that I get some quick money . Or to be even more reasonable , Oh God ! Make my money lender ill . Just for this month . Then I would find a way to give him some EMIs ! . I think its all fair to ask such unusual favors from God . Because its only him who can do such things and if its not him that we can ask for such favors then who else !!

But asking for help is one thing and getting it is something else . Lets just think that what is God suppose to do . Yes , thats right what is "God suppose to do" . I mean he has certaing rules which probably even he doesnt want to break. So to say there is a method of living that he advocates and we should see if whatever we ask or do , fits in that method.

What is this method ?

So here is something that I noticed recently ::


In Hindu Mythology , in Mahabharat when the war is almost set to start , Lord Krishna gives Arjun the wisdom of life.I am no scholar but from what I have heard , the crisp summary of this wisdom is - Nishkam Karma . Meaning doing your job without worrying of the outcomes.

But what I noticed is that Lord Krishna , probably , has given this message even before delivering it through Gita.This is how ::

Before the war is to be started , the 2 princes from each side came to visit Krishna - Duryodhan ( the guy on the wrong side ) and Arjun ( the mighty warrior from the right side ).

They came to ask for help.Krishna declared even before they could ask anything , that he himself will not fight - so much so that he pledged not to pick a weapon during the whole war.

Realising this Duryodhan asked for his army to be on his side - which was granted.

Arjun asked from Krishna , the lord supreme , that Oh God , I just want you to be on my side . Thats all . To which Krishna said , fine I will be your chariot driver.

Now here is a message ( I guess ) .

Arjun , resembles "The man" . Krishna , ofcourse is the God . Whats being taught here is that :

1/ The man shouldnt ask nothing more than truth from God . That he be guided on the right path by lord almighty.

2/ God himself declines to do anything by "himself" . He says , Arjun its you who will have to pick up the weapon and fight . You will do everything . Meaning Karma . My role at maximum can be only to hold your horses.Horses here would signify the wild run of human mind.

Even before Gita was delivered , somewhere through this story the message was there that one should only ask for guidance , but be prepared to do everything by himself and not expect God to do it for you .

I guess thats where the saying comes from "God helps those who help themselves"

I will wrap this one with beautiful lines from the man of the century , Swami Vivekananda ::

When I Asked God for Strength
He Gave Me Difficult Situations to Face

When I Asked God for Brain & Brown
He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve

When I Asked God for Happiness
He Showed Me Some Unhappy People

When I Asked God for Wealth
He Showed Me How to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Favors
He Showed Me Opportunities to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Peace
He Showed Me How to Help Others

God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted
He Gave Me Everything I Needed

- Swami Vivekananda