HAND YOUR BURDEN TO THE LORD TO HOLD

D. When I am here I am convinced; I am impressed.
But when I go out and think of society or of my country
and I remember your answer 'know thyself.'

M. What can you do to society or your country when you are weak? You must become strong first.
But I tell you, Self-attainment is the supreme strength.
Do not fear that you will lose strength to act when you become a jnani.

D. I have that fear.

M. You should not have it. If you are destined or chosen to do a particular thing, it will be done.

D. Then should I resign everything? Can I not perform tapas and ask God to grant my desires?

M. You can. But there must be some Abhyasa, some sadhana for tapas or for your prayers to reach God. When you are in the Sadhana whether it is medi-
tation or prayer, will you be thinking of your desires or of God?

D. If I think of my desires in meditation, it is no dhyana at all.

M. Then take it that there is the same dhyana, the same tapas, the same meditation, for both. Sakama or nishkama, whether it is actuated by desire or is disinterested.
Even when your desires are fulfilled, the tapas grows. It does not cease. That is the true character of tapas. It is the same in the case of bhakti also.

Now I put a question to you. When a man with luggage gets into a railway carriage where does he keep it?

D. He keeps it in his compartment or in the luggage-van.

M. So he does not carry it upon his head or on his lap?

D. None but a fool would do so.

M. If you call him a fool who keeps it on his head, thousand times more foolish is it to bear your burden when you get into the spiritual life, whether it is vichara-marga, the path of knowledge or bhakti-marga, the path of devotion.

D. But can I throw off all my responsibilities, all my commitments?

M. Now, look at the temple tower, gopura. There are many statues in it and there is a big statue, one in each corner. Have you seen them?

D. Yes. I have.

M. Now I tell you this. The big tall tower is sup-
ported by those statues.

D. How can that be? What do you mean?

M. I mean when speaking thus, that it is not more
foolish than your attitude when you say that you have
to carry and are carrying all cares, burdens, responsibilities,
etc

The Lord of the universe carries the whole burden.
You imagine you do. You can hand all your burden to his care. Whatever you have to do you will be made an instrument for doing that at the right time. Do not think you cannot do it unless you have the desire to do it. Desire does not give you the strength to do. The strength is the Lord's.

D. Am I to understand that you are giving me the essence of Karma yoga.

M. It is the essence of Karma yoga, of bhakti yoga, why, even of jnana yoga, for even though the paths, in the beginning, may differ, they all eventually lead to this position.

- Sat Darshana Bhashya and Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi