We should respect our parents irrespective of what they might have done in the past, since it is through them that we have obtained a human form and this wonderful opportunity to attain salvation. For instance, Lord Krishna killed men like Kamsa and yet we worship him. One needs to realise that everything is ordained by god and everything is ordained by him for a reason. Consequently, there is no point in debating good and bad as all actions are a result of destiny. Sin is always committed for a reason or the force of actions committed in the past. One needs to understand these causes. Such understanding requires knowledge and such knowledge can only be imparted by the Guru.
Children should take care of their parents with love. The son has no control over the physical well being of his parents, but he can at least care for them and be compassionate and loving. Care is not about providing facilities and physical comforts, but about respecting and loving one’s parents. We also need to fulfill our duties towards our parents by keeping our own bodies healthy. Otherwise we may hurt our parents as they invariably get hurt when their children are not healthy.
On nature and man
The panchabhoothams (or the five elements including earth, water, air, fire and ether) are Shiva’s (god’s) property and consequently belong to all. One who has control over these elements attains Brahman (salvation). But man only fights for ownership over the elements without understanding that they belong to all. Nature by itself is pure; it is man who is polluting it. Man has no right to spoil nature and it is his responsibility to nurture it. One needs to complement nature in all possible ways including ways of living. The clothes we wear for example, must be made by using natural fibers rather than artificial resources. For instance, the use of plastic footwear pollutes the environment. For harmony to prevail, the household, community and country needs to be kept clean and free of pollution.
On the four vedas
It is the man’s responsibility to become daivic (godly) as he grows and develops; instead he tends to debase himself and become asuric (demonic). When born, every child is divine and playful like Hanuman, and life is all about the child’s endeavor to become like Lord Rama as he grows. Only then will the four Vedas represented by Sita (compassion and friendship), Lakshmana (karma), Hanuman (shakti) and Rama (self-knowledge) follow. These four Vedas constitute the qualities of a true king or god himself. Every person is divine from birth and needs to realise this truth through experience.
The guru disciplines the student (who has the potential for mischief like the young Hanuman or the baby Krishna) to make the student realise this truth from experience. The four Vedas are also represented by Matha, Pitha, Guru and Daivam or the mother, father, guru and god. It is said that god easily reveals himself only to children and madmen. This is because if god appeared before normal people, they would immediately expose god to everybody without any discrimination. But the child cannot speak and the world will not believe the madman! This perhaps explains why god might appear easily to them.
We always tend to protect valuables like gold; similarly divinity always tends to shield itself from common experience.
The article is taken from the book The Global Mission Of Sadguru Sri Sharavana Baba