Lord Rama Shows Us How to Live

In the Yoga Vasishta, there is a conversation between Bharadwaja Maharshi and Valmiki.

Bharadwaja asks Valmiki:
मह्यं च भगवन्ब्रूहि कथं संसारसंकटे
रामो व्यवहृतो ह्यस्मिन् भरतश्च महामनाः
शत्रुघ्नो लक्ष्मणश्चापि सीता चापि यशस्विनी
रामानुयायिनस्ते वा मन्त्रिपुत्रा महाधियः
निर्दुःखितां यथैते नु प्राप्तास्तद्ब्रूहि नु स्फुटम्

Bharadwaja asks, 'Please tell me, O Bhagavan. Rama and Bharata are mahamanaha (great-minded), while Shatrughna, Lakshmana, Sita Devi, and the sons of ministers who followed them are mahadhiyaha (very wise). They are not ordinary people; their perspectives are different. How did they tackle the adversities in their lives?

'Lord Rama and Sita Devi did not come to earth on vacation to enjoy or merely receive pujas and respect. At every step, around every corner, they faced troubles—physical, mental, emotional, in terms of power, relationships, livelihood, conflicts, jeopardies, and insecurities. Along with their team—Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna, Hanuman, and others—they only faced troubles.

'Compared to what they endured, our challenges are insignificant. Did they ever get sad, depressed, or lament their fate? Did they see their troubles as injustice or curses, or did they face them with detachment? How did they cross the samsara sagara (ocean of worldly life)?'

Valmiki replies:
श्रुणु वत्स भरद्वाज यथापुष्टं वदामि ते
श्रुतेन येन संमोहमलं दूरे करिष्यसि

Valmiki says, 'Listen, dear Bharadwaja. I will explain in detail how they handled the challenges of worldly life. By understanding their approach, you will rid yourself of ignorance and impurities.

तथा व्यवहार प्राज्ञ यथा व्यवहृतः सुखी
सर्वासंसक्तया बुद्ध्या रामो राजीवलोचनः

'Rama, with equipoise and detachment (asamsaktaya), faced every situation knowing that all experiences are mithya (unreal). With this understanding at the core, he dealt with every incident as part of the game of life.

'Not only Rama, but all those around him—Sumitra, Kausalya, Dasaratha, Vasishta, Lakshmana, and Bharata—were parama jnanis (supremely wise). They faced adversities as part of a grand illusion, a divine game, with understanding and detachment.'

Valmiki further advises Bharadwaja:
तथा व्यवहर – 'Conduct yourself in the same way, and you too will find happiness in life.'

एतैर्यथा हुतं दत्तं गृहीतमुषितं स्मृतं
'Hutam duttam' refers to the actions prescribed by the Vedas and Shastras. 'Grihitamushitam' refers to worldly affairs.

Valmiki explains, 'They never stopped doing their duties—be it worldly or spiritual. They performed all activities with a different perspective and understanding, which made all the difference.'

अपरसंसारसमुद्रपाती
लब्ध्वा परां युक्तिमुदारसत्त्वः
न शोकमायाति न दैन्यमेति
गतज्वरस्तिष्ठति नित्यतृप्तः

Valmiki elaborates, 'Even if one is deeply entrenched in the ocean of worldly life, internal equanimity and equipoise can transform suffering into nothingness. Pleasure and pain are illusions—part of the divine game.

'Think of a boxer in the ring. When punched, he doesn’t lament but takes it as part of the sport. He knows that being punched is essential to improve his game. Similarly, with the right perspective (yukti), adversities become insignificant.'

When this understanding becomes firm, one is free from suffering (dukkha) and sorrow (dainyam). There is no need for sympathy, nor does one complain to others.

गतज्वरः – Ignorance is like a fever, not our original nature. It can be cured with the medicine of scriptural wisdom. Understanding how Lord Rama and others faced adversities is this medicine.

Valmiki concludes, 'Take this medicine, and you will be cured of ignorance. You will become nitya trupta—ever satisfied—and no longer dissatisfied with life.'

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi