The much harassed God!

Originally Posted by sudhavnarasimhan

Dear Cheeniya,

My my, so God came to you to unburden himself......now wonder why!? and why not to me......oh God! That'S not fair! Ha ha , sorry i am adding more trouble to your god by calling him for every small thing! even in this post!
Humour apart, i can get the point you are coming across. When my daughter as a child would ask me to pray for her also in the temple, i would say no i am here only to thank him! She later understood why i said that and we LET THINGS TO BE OR HAPPEN AS THEY SHOULD! No asking is our policy.....poor God, leave him in Peace! After all where can He go and whom can He in turn ask for peace and happiness.....at least here we talk of meditating and trying to get peace, but we don't seem to give him TIME at all for himself! He he he .....
Good post and i feel sorry at the state the inner sanctum sanctorum
is maintained! Lets all hasten to make HIS LIFE better by leaving Him alone! Not Seeking Him for anything but JUST LOVING HIM! what do you say! Hope your heart feels lighter now that you have shared your burden with us!

Dear Sudha
Yes I do feel much lighter now but the anguish that we keep causing Him is a serious matter. Do you know that Lord Balaji is hardly aloowed to sleep for more than two hours a day? If just 1% of the Bakthas who come for His darshan daily do so just for a truly spiritual experience, He can consider Himself lucky!
Seriously, it is not enough if our children are brought up to believe in God. They must be taught how to pray and what to pray for. The term 'He is a very God-fearing person' is not acceptable to me. If a person lives a life as ordained by God, what is the need to fear Him?
Sri

Originally Posted by anandchitra

Dear Sri
You have done the impossible by excelling your own self again and again and again.. please accept my humble salutations over the internet maybe this is a question I might ask God "How does Sri churn out incredible topics and even grander level of writing".. I am sure God would tell me.." Mandu Did you not realise that Sri is a of a very unique and high level calibre.. so much higher than you that you are not able to fathom the how !":)... Totally mind blowing.. well written. For the most part we do not think of the much harassed God.. so the perspective was very interesting.. If you had questioned your teacher at an young age shows your intelligence very early on.. As much as God is harassed by all the dirt on the outside I am glad you did not touch on the dirt on the inside..

Dear AC
Dont you know that too much praise can inflate a man's ego? Fortunately, being at 65 is an advantage because at that age, ego is a punctured tube! It can never be inflated no matter how much of air is pumped in!
I am honestly happy that you enjoy my writing and the subjects that I choose. When I first came to IL, I was a bit apprehensive that I should not write about anything that might hurt the sentiments of the ILites. I have now got used to write for a predominantly ladies forum! I enjoy writing here and it is nice to know that you enjoy reading what I write!
Sri

Originally Posted by Devika Menon

Dear Cheeniya Sir,

You have brought out the dilemma and the present condition of GOD very well. Humans are so very selfish that we dont even leave GOD. I have seen students who just wave at HIM from outside the temple (well it almost looks like a wave, wouldnt mistake it for prayer or bow. No ! No way)before the exams only to drown themselves at his mercy and miraculously succeed. All devotion (Selective) and no perspiration seems their motto.
There is an extra sycophancy during the Lakshmi Puja time. The height of greed . The other times Lakshmi is like a STEP MOM and during the Diwali time and on Lakshmi Puja's SHE is THE MOTHER!!

We find it so difficult to dance to the whims and fancies of one child Oh GOD how do you do it to so many self centred, gloating, pig headed , narcissistic, diplomatic ....phew humans.

Cheeniya Sir I love the humour you bring. Enjoyed this post as much as each and every other one of yours.

Love,
Devika Mol

Dear Mol
I too have seen this waving at God. They do so from passing cars, speeding mobikes and while walking. Of course, we know that He accepts everything. But what is most annoying is the bribe people offer Him for getting things done. It is offered for seemingly illegitimate things like winning a lottery, favourable judgement in a land grab case etc. And the greater is the size of the bribe offered, the more are the chances of the offer not being met! And those who take Him for a ride are the ones who put on a very pious appearance!
Mol, the points that you have raised in your FB have really made me introspective. It is nice to know that the atrocities that we commit in the name of God are noticed by you!
Sri

Dear Sri,
Poor, poor God! You harassed him at 4 PM with your blog & now already a few more have done the same, in answering you. So, I too continue!!
I loved your teacher’s comment

The exasperated teacher told me that if I confined myself to my house, all would be right with my school!
But we would have missed out on a literary Cheeniya if you had been confined to your house – ofcourse your Amma would have been exasperated, “mechukatting” you!


Gods & Goddesses are harassed not only by requests, but by litres and litres of milk, sandal paste, kgs of butter….the list is long. They are forced to wear all kinds of synthetic vasthrams, costume jewellery, fancy bindis etc. We pray to them to grant us bountiful wealth to buy Belgium diamonds, but as a thanksgiving we offer them only American diamonds.
Hanumars must have got bored with varieties of special vadais, most of them are too hard to bite, ofcourse made by us mortals.
Kesaris, venpongals are overflowing with ghee because we are eternally on a diet, but thankfully do not put Him on a diet.
We break numerous coconuts to make Him oblige us , by granting our wishes.
The offerings are taking new turns in temples, now a days. In Mangadu, ladies go round the entire Praharam, on their knees, as if God has punished them.
On Tuesdays, all Durga temples are full of lime juice and lemon lamps. It is as though we have entered lemon gardens.
But I will not say Bhakthi is lacking since it is their frantic bhakthi which makes them do all these.
I recollect here one of my earlier posts :
I asked God to take away my pain - God said NO.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to grant me patience - God said NO.
Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it is not granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. God said NO.
I give you blessings, happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me suffering - God said NO.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow - God said NO.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life - God said NO.
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others as much as He loves me.
God said - Ahhh, finally, you have the idea.

Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by cheeniya

Dear AC
Dont you know that too much praise can inflate a man's ego? Fortunately, being at 65 is an advantage because at that age, ego is a punctured tube! It can never be inflated no matter how much of air is pumped in!
I am honestly happy that you enjoy my writing and the subjects that I choose. When I first came to IL, I was a bit apprehensive that I should not write about anything that might hurt the sentiments of the ILites. I have now got used to write for a predominantly ladies forum! I enjoy writing here and it is nice to know that you enjoy reading what I write!
Sri

Dear Sri
Your reply is more focussed on my appreciation and it appears to me you have overlooked my last statement. I concede i am not in your calibre of writing nor am I as talented as your others readers. However it is important point of discussion that I thought I would bring it to your notice again.
Being a student of Advaita, I mentioned in my last line .." As much as God is harassed by all the dirt on the outside I am glad you did not touch on the dirt on the inside.. "
It is my opinion that all these outside dirts that you have mentioned can be easily cleaned by the many cleaning solutions available today.. But for those who do not keep their mind clean.. where they clutter it with dirty thoughts and deeds.. where would the solution lie.. Hence my statement ...sorry to waste your time to comment again..

hello sudha

quickly checked the pooja room
ahaha...

its there everywhere sudha
perhaps the lord doesnt reside
where it is clean and shining...!!!
or why would most homes have it this way...
actually i meant the way some of us put chandan and kumkum and not to mention the garlands that are small and does not reach the full photo....only his eyes...!!lest he see what wrongs we do ahaha....

sathya

hello chitra

dirt on the inside
thats for hiding na?
we put out our best silks
chant those matras right?
nobody is talking about cleaning inside ya....!!
right you thought right
but we have to clean inside out to be right...!!
thanks for the en(joy) ride...!!

sathya

Originally Posted by Chitvish

Dear Sri,
Poor, poor God! You harassed him at 4 PM with your blog & now already a few more have done the same, in answering you. So, I too continue!!
I loved your teacher’s comment

The exasperated teacher told me that if I confined myself to my house, all would be right with my school!
But we would have missed out on a literary Cheeniya if you had been confined to your house – ofcourse your Amma would have been exasperated, “mechukatting” you!


Gods & Goddesses are harassed not only by requests, but by litres and litres of milk, sandal paste, kgs of butter….the list is long. They are forced to wear all kinds of synthetic vasthrams, costume jewellery, fancy bindis etc. We pray to them to grant us bountiful wealth to buy Belgium diamonds, but as a thanksgiving we offer them only American diamonds.
Hanumars must have got bored with varieties of special vadais, most of them are too hard to bite, ofcourse made by us mortals.
Kesaris, venpongals are overflowing with ghee because we are eternally on a diet, but thankfully do not put Him on a diet.
We break numerous coconuts to make Him oblige us , by granting our wishes.
The offerings are taking new turns in temples, now a days. In Mangadu, ladies go round the entire Praharam, on their knees, as if God has punished them.
On Tuesdays, all Durga temples are full of lime juice and lemon lamps. It is as though we have entered lemon gardens.
But I will not say Bhakthi is lacking since it is their frantic bhakthi which makes them do all these.
I recollect here one of my earlier posts :
I asked God to take away my pain - God said NO.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to grant me patience - God said NO.
Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it is not granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. God said NO.
I give you blessings, happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me suffering - God said NO.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow - God said NO.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life - God said NO.
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others as much as He loves me.
God said - Ahhh, finally, you have the idea.

Love,
Chithra.

Dear Chithra
Is that post an English translation of some Upanishad? Chaitreya Upanishad or something? Sounds very profound! By the way, if God starts pruning us to make us more fruitful, we'll end up as a Bonsoi version!

On a rough estimate, around 96% of every human being is a total waste and a burden on the planet! Also, we consume ten times of what we give back and thereby deplete our planet's resources very fast.

About all the offerings that you mention, I have nothing to say since you term them as 'manifestation' of Bakthi. As far as I am concerned, I consider them as pure barter with the odds heavily loaded against the Almighty as you have yourself cited in your example of American Diamond in return for the Belgian blue jaguars!

I have observed one thing about all vows of Penitence. They are performed mostly after our request is granted. Very few do it in anticipation of the granting of his request.
Sri

Originally Posted by anandchitra

Dear Sri
Your reply is more focussed on my appreciation and it appears to me you have overlooked my last statement. I concede i am not in your calibre of writing nor am I as talented as your others readers. However it is important point of discussion that I thought I would bring it to your notice again.
Being a student of Advaita, I mentioned in my last line .." As much as God is harassed by all the dirt on the outside I am glad you did not touch on the dirt on the inside.. "
It is my opinion that all these outside dirts that you have mentioned can be easily cleaned by the many cleaning solutions available today.. But for those who do not keep their mind clean.. where they clutter it with dirty thoughts and deeds.. where would the solution lie.. Hence my statement ...sorry to waste your time to comment again..

Dear AC
Do I sense a tinge of resentment in your reply? Whatever I wrote was in a light-hearted way as I know that you have a penchant for humour.

Coming to the dirt inside and outside, I find it difficult to keep even the dirt outside at bay! What can I say about the 'Inner cleansing'? I have as much dirt inside as any normal human being but I take care to see that it is not passed on to others! I have seen some households that keep their houses spotlessly clean by dumping all the dirt in their neighbourhood!

I guess it is ok to have the mind clustered with dirty thoughts as long as we keep our minds totally opaque. If I let my dirty thoughts kill me in stages, it is ok with me but I shall certainly not poison the whole community with them!

Sri

Dear Sri
Now its my turn for the sorry. The only reason i even brought it up is to read an equivalent of the replies you give in the vedanta post/threads. Being a vedanta student I can always read more on Gita and Advaita etc.. actually wasting your time is a redundant statement because with all the oats and kollu replies I would have wasted more.. sometimes this is what happens when multitasking.. I was watching basketball with dh and must have looked at a great 3 point throw and hence this.. so sorry.