{"id":25015,"date":"2013-10-13T00:42:27","date_gmt":"2013-10-13T05:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/drishtikone\/?p=25015"},"modified":"2013-10-13T00:42:27","modified_gmt":"2013-10-13T05:42:27","slug":"vijay-dashami-rams-war-was-not-against-ravan-but-for-sita","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/drishtikone\/2013\/10\/vijay-dashami-rams-war-was-not-against-ravan-but-for-sita\/","title":{"rendered":"Vijay Dashami: Ram’s war was NOT against Ravan, but FOR Sita"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

When Ram had defeated Ravan, the Demon king; Ram walked over and bowed to him as a person of immense knowledge. \u00a0Albeit gone awry.<\/p>\n

If we are looking for Good vs Evil characterization of a fight, then it makes no sense for the \u201cGood\u201d to bow down to the \u201cEvil\u201d. \u00a0But in popular parlance, that is how Vijay Dashami or Dusshera is characterized. \u00a0We are told its a fight between \u201cGood\u201d vs<\/span>\u00a0\u201cEvil\u201d.. and<\/span> the moral of the story is that \u201cGood always wins\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ram\u2019s behavior at the end of the war says something totally different.<\/p>\n

For, one who has gone beyond the dichotomies of Good \/ Evil, the Right\/Wrong and Likes\/Dislikes; a war is not a statement of morality. \u00a0A war is a necessity of maintaining social balance in human life, as life is lived in every moment sans ideas and morals. \u00a0Beyond that war and violence has no significance nor relevance.<\/p>\n

The problem with the world is that when one fights a war for greed of power or money or lust; he loves to posit moral dualities. \u00a0Usurping the high road to himself. \u00a0From Alexander to Muhammad to Babar to Aurangzeb to Hitler to Bush. \u00a0Everyone was fighting a \u201cJust\u201d battle. \u00a0And at the end of the battle, everyone of these generals demonstrated a hatred for the vanquished, as it was during the war. \u00a0Whether it was in taking slaves, killing the opponents, or vilifying\u00a0them. \u00a0Or all of these actions together.<\/p>\n

Making a war opponent as an Enemy is a moral necessity for the one who fights a war of greed.<\/p>\n

Ram\u2019s war was not a war of greed. \u00a0He had not come to usurp anything from Ravan. \u00a0He did not covet anything that Ravan had. \u00a0He fought the war to take care of his love and responsibility \u2013 Sita, who had been abducted by a lusting man. \u00a0It was not a war to even get \u201cmy woman back\u201d. \u00a0Where a woman becomes a property. \u00a0For, if a woman is a property, then one evaluates the return of one\u2019s very action. \u00a0Is taking all this trouble even worth it? \u00a0Ram had no such thought. \u00a0If Ravan could have returned Sita, Ram\u2019s love and responsibility, without a fight \u2013 none would have occurred. \u00a0It wasn\u2019t an action of calculation.<\/p>\n

War was not ideological either. \u00a0Again, if one looks carefully then one can see that a \u00a0\u201cGood vs\u00a0Evil War\u201d is fundamentally a war of ideologies. \u00a0Because the concepts of Good and Evil are merely Ideological. \u00a0Not Existential. \u00a0Existentially, only two things are important. \u00a0Truth<\/em> and Untruth<\/em>. \u00a0Truth, not as an idea or as a statement of fact or one\u2019s experience. \u00a0Truth is objective. \u00a0Truth is in every moment. \u00a0Not in a moment as you experience or state it or me for that matter. \u00a0But as it occurs Eternally and Perenially. \u00a0Primordial is its existence, and Eternal its nature.<\/p>\n

That which was<\/em> there before the beginning of time, that which is<\/em> during the reign of time, and that, which will still be<\/em> existing after the end of time. \u00a0That is the irrevocable, indestructible and inviolable. \u00a0Only<\/span> one that is Sanatan or Eternal is the Truth. \u00a0Rest, because it is temporary \u2013 whether for a fleeting second or millions of millenia<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 is Untruth.<\/p>\n

Truth is not found. \u00a0Nor is it stated. \u00a0Nor forced upon someone. \u00a0Or proven to anyone. \u00a0It is realized<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In a war, where Ram was fighting to unite with his love, the means and the end had chosen themselves. \u00a0Even when he was for the option of no war, war<\/span> for him was the only option left. \u00a0Once on the battlefield, he fought to win. \u00a0That is how life is. \u00a0Life is NOT about winning or losing. \u00a0Life is about playing each game that every moment presents to you. \u00a0The game, its rules, its winning and losing, all are for<\/span> that moment. \u00a0 They do not stretch beyond that moment of the game. \u00a0That is why Ram bowed to Ravan.<\/p>\n

In this realization \u2013 of living the life fully only in the moment, is the realization of the Truth. \u00a0And, the establishment of the central character of Dharma<\/a>. \u00a0Living in the Now, without the baggage of mind.<\/p>\n

Actually, if one sees it clearly then one will realize that Everyone lives in the now<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0Living happens ONLY in the now. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t happen<\/span> in the past or the future. \u00a0But the mind and our experience via the conditioned mind, doesn\u2019t make it appear so. \u00a0We continue to experience life in moments and experiences outside of the \u201cNow\u201d.<\/p>\n

Realization of the Truth that living happens ONLY in the Now, is awakening to your Dharma. \u00a0In that is the establishing of one\u2019s Dharma.<\/p>\n

If after collecting all the Army, getting battle ready, walking all the way to Ravan\u2019s palace; the latter had come and handed over Sita without a fight and apologized, Ram would have simply walked back. \u00a0Because fight wasn\u2019t with Ravan. \u00a0The fight was to establish love. \u00a0The moment, unfortunately however, beckoned a war. \u00a0So, the Realized One, fought a war. \u00a0A war that wasn\u2019t against Ravan. \u00a0But for Sita.<\/p>\n

And, in the whole drama of morally charged religious fervor; that is precisely what everyone forgets. \u00a0That, Ram\u2019s war was NOT against Ravan. \u00a0But FOR Sita. \u00a0\u201cAgainst\u201d is Hatred. \u00a0For is Love.<\/p>\n

One who is established in Love will do what is needed. \u00a0Not to destroy. \u00a0Even when others call it evil. \u00a0For<\/span>, Action of Love goes beyond the dualities of morality. \u00a0It is established in the Truth. \u00a0Of the moment. \u00a0Of<\/span> now.<\/p>\n

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Featured Image:\u00a0<\/strong>Ramayana carving<\/span> on a wooden door inside a temple<\/em><\/p>\n

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