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Inner Weakness

How will we rate a home that is very dirty inside, while the gate and outer walls are spic and span? We would be quite impressed at first, but as we enter the house, we will immediately realise the reality. A fruit looks very tempting at first, but as we cut it, we find that it is rotten. We meet many people in our lives who look impressive at first sight, but as we interact with them, we get to notice the fears and insecurities inside them. Some of them may have a very strong external support system in the form of powerful positions, networking, and wealth, but from inside, they are very hollow and weak.

I wonder why we concentrate so much on our outer appearance while ignoring the inner strength? Is it laziness? That's difficult to believe because many people work quite hard to improve their outer appearance. Then what? I think that the answer lies in the Ramayana. Lord Hanuma had all the strength and energy to do miracles. However, in his childhood, he did not meet Rama, and therefore his energy did not get the right direction. So much so that at one point, he wanted to eat the Sun itself, considering that to be a sweet fruit. Then Indra had to intervene and made him forget his strengths. When Hanuman met Rama and was asked to go to Lanka to find the whereabouts of Mata Sita, he was clueless until Jamvanta ji made him realise his strengths. Hanumana ji could not only cross the ocean but also found the whereabouts of Mata Sita and saved the life of Lakshmana. 

We too forget about our strength to enter our unconscious mind and find the whereabouts of our inner creativity. However, when we come into contact with the truth, we regain that power. We get back the power to understand our own unconscious mind and where our creative energy is blocked. Once we develop that capacity, we do not stop there. Even when our intelligence gets confused, as Lakshmana faints at the hands of Nagpasha of Meghnatha, inner strength can connect us to the right thing and bring Sanjeevani Booti to restore Lakshmana to consciousness. 

There is only one condition that inner Hanuman should meet: the inner Rama. If we are constantly busy attending parties, exploring endless sources of entertainment, pursuing the objects of desire, running after the targets, and living under beliefs, mental stories, and hallucinations, how will we get time to connect to our inner Rama? We may make beautiful homes that look wonderful from outside, but we do not stay comfortable if they are dirty and filthy inside. Mental stress, depression, and so many mental diseases will occur naturally in such filthy homes. It's high time we focus on the inner rather than the outer. Otherwise, despite having all the powerful positions, wealth, and a strong network of relationships, we will feel weak and vulnerable from inside, and the slightest of trouble will be enough to make us feel shaky. Swami Vivekananda once said:




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