LET US HELP BRING CHANGE

We are all little buddhas. We are apostles of God. We are all saviours in our own little way. We can be the Erai to a few out there. 

A man cultivates good and noble values. People regard him as a good man. When he surrenders his life to the service of God he is seen as been religious and spiritual. When he surrenders his life to the service of the fellow man he is known as Deivam in the circle of those whose lives he had touch. When he surrenders his life to both God and people he is called a Mahan. All these states are achieved in this very lifetime in this physical world. We make a mistake of looking up into the skies and beyond for God when he is right in front of us if only we wished to see. He is within us and in those who have come to know him, working tirelessly to save humanity. We give God numerous names and endless forms, coming out with a name and a form almost daily. What we forgot is that God is already existing in the form of every living creature and nature. Take a moment from our busy schedule and look outwards into the vast ocean of creation and you shall see God in all things. Take care of the needs of others and you have served God. You are God in the eyes of the receiver.

Then again we can turn into little Napoleons and place hurdles and obstruction in others way and make life difficult for them. We can harm them. We can manipulate them for our own gains. We can terrorize them. We can keep them as slaves doing our bidding.

The choice is ours, either to liven up someone's life or dampen it. We can either talk about karma and walk away from one who is suffering or help elevate their sufferings. The sick can see a doctor. The hungry can be fed. The ignorant can be schooled. But one who is plunged in debts cannot expect another to help settle it. Kamban sings of Ravana's predicament and state of mind after Rama sent him away to come back another day. Kamban equates Ravana's state of mind, in the moments of his remaining few hours of the night before dawn broke where he was spared his life, as hell and that which a debtor undergoes having brought upon him a huge debt. When one knowingly lands himself in trouble there is not much another can do. Man who has begun to make decisions for himself shall have to face the consequences of his actions. But to those who go through misery and sufferings due to unforeseen circumstances, sudden illness, sudden poverty etc we shall extend a helping hand. Children should be saved from hunger and danger at all cost. 

Man has to wake up to reality and work towards coming out of the dungeon he has fallen in. It is only when he takes the first step shall all the available doors be made known and seen by him. Sitting in the bottomless pit he would never know of the existence of these doors that could serve as opportunities for him to make his getaway and escape. The drive and initiative has to come from him though. Erai cannot possibly help one who has given up on life. He could come to the aid of one who although perseveres and toils endlessly, finds it difficult to come out of the quicksand. It is to those who persevere that Erai comes to aid. It is to those who seek a change for the better, that Erai comes knocking their door.

I believe we have answered one such rare call. As we listened to the endless stories of pain and suffering endured by the poor in the homes we provided groceries, finally we came to the home of an elderly couple. The man was in his seventies. He was still working to support themselves. They accepted the handouts we gave with gratitude to us, their guru and Erai. It brought much joy to our hearts as he mentioned that they had no worries and that the good lord and guru has taken good care of them till this day and has even extended and showered his grace by sending us over to provide them with groceries. After hearing all the sad tales and never-ending needs of the other families, there was a couple who were satisfied and grateful for their existence rather than dread the dawn of another day. 

Another milestone in our act of doing charity is when a mother asked us to take along with us, her eldest son, a teen, to distribute food and groceries. This thought of bringing those families to serve their fellow mates in hardship was in my mind for some time. As I was contemplating the ways and means that they could help out, the mother offers her children to help us in distribution. The following month she sents her other son too. When I tipped the children as an incentive in helping us, the mother apprehended us not to gift them with money as she wanted them too to do thondu or service. This was a victory for us.

Taking care of the immediate family is not an act of charity but a responsibility. Being hospitable to friends, relatives and visitors is an act of courtesy or Virunthu Upasarippu. Stepping out of the home and providing aid to a stranger, who has no blood ties, and without expecting favour, a reward, honour or merit, is an act of charity. 

Although we could not possibly change the fate of a person, we can surely change his destiny to a certain extent. Giving food to the hungry will keep him alive for another day. Providing aid to him might eliminate the need for him to turn to the streets and join the large numbers who are homeless. Giving an ear to their problems might give them the strength to persevere and not end their lives.

Let us do our part. Let us be a representative of Erai. Let us bring joy to the lives of others.