The interpretation of the Vedas is very difficult before coming to a full & complete understanding of the Vedas themselves. Hence it becomes necessary to learn it from a Guru – a jnani who has come to understand the Truth.
What should be ones attitude while learning?
It becomes a trade off to begin with for some. But it is necessary to have a full faith in the Vedas. How to come about to this stage? The wise have said that the first stage is to have an “Ishta Devata”- a personal God by the seeker and to devote himself to this Devata by “Naama Samkeertanam” – chanting the name of the Lord and by reading the stories of the Lord in the Puranas.
The trust in the Lord should be equal to the trust that Arjuna has on his friend Sri Krishna.
Life is always quoted as a roller coaster ride. Ups and Downs, joys and sorrow, thrills and fear. If the attitude of the person riding the roller coaster is of courage and cheerfulness, the working of the roller coaster known to him and there is a trust(faith) in the person who designed the roller coaster, the rider will enjoy every moment of the ride.
If the working of the roller coaster is unknown or the courage on riding this tremendous design wears/dwindles or the trust on the designer is absent, every moment of the ride is a misery and a cause for sickness. The whole purpose of the roller coaster is lost.
The designer of life is the Lord. Many have a doubt in the existence of the Lord. The Vedas proclaim “The Lord is omni present” If the studies of the Vedas is not undergone fully the purpose of the study itself is lost. This is the trade off.
Come to ride the roller coaster with a faith in the designer and one would come to enjoy it. The movement of the roller coaster and the thrills are that of a design that is brought about by an intellect that made it.
The world is a roller coaster. The designer is the Lords mind. Once the roller coaster is pushed slightly from its state of rest the car travels the entire distance of the design. Similarly, the moment – “Shrishti”- creation is kicked off life follows the design of nature in its movement and it continues. It is hence necessary to have that faith to ride this roller-coaster.
In Mahabharata, the charioteer of Arjuna is the Lord driving Arjunas’ chariot with His skills excellently through the mazes of battle formation. Arjuna uses all his skills in fighting the war having full faith in his charioteer the Lord. Arjunas chariot is driven by the Lord which represents the body and the five horses the five senses. Arjuna having complete faith in the Lord continues his work – fighting the Great War of Life. The battle field represents the world with all the good and evil forces, which is nothing but our daily life. Arjuna had several gains and several loses. He lost his own son in the battle. Yet his faith in the Lord did not shake.
To have an Ishta Devata and to have complete faith on the Devata similar to Arjunas faith in his friend Sri Krishna is all that is required to start with. A friendly/trust based unshakable attitude.
