Even if we get a small scratch on our body, we cry, we grudge, we complaint why this happened to us. Do we ever think what Sant Ashtwakar would have gone through. Hope, most of us know about Sant Ashtwakar. For those, who don't, here's a small brief. Sant Ashtwakar, a saint in the times of Mahabharat, was responsible for giving spiritual wisdom to Raja Janak. He got his name because he was born with 8 twists in his body. You can imagine how abnormal someone would look if his head is in one direction, chest in some other and feet in some other direction.

Even though his body was so deformed, he never complained about it, but was thankful, for God had given him great wisdom and knowledge, that he could defeat the greatest of learned men of his time in discussion at the age of 12. I think, Sant Ashtwakar's prayer would have been something like this ""Oh God! Thank you for giving me this opportunity that I can recite your Name. You are so thoughtful, you knew, if you gave me a handsome and fit body, I could have lost to Ahankaar (Ego). You cut my Ego from birth, so that I could concentrate on your Name. You gave me ample opportunity to believe that your nature, your creations are so beautiful, and that if you want, you can do anything. I have seen
people boasting of their wealth, their beauty , etc. Thank you God, for keeping me away from such distractions, so that I can concentrate on your Name""

There are always at least two ways to look at a situation. We can grudge at not getting something, or we can thank God for not giving us that thing, so that He could save us from future problems that we don't foresee today.

(References : Pls. see this video at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jeOguqNIAo   This is a very motivating story.)

When we remember God/recite his Name, we are trying to thank him. For example, when we say ""Wah-he-guru"" we are actually praising Him. Similarly, when we say ""Ram"", we feel that he is ""Ramya hoya"" ie.existent in all His creations, thus we feel His presence in our surroundings. Think of a person, who is reciting ""Waheguru"" but still has complaints over Akaal Purakh's acts, such person will live in duality. He/She is thanking and complaining to the same identity at one time. No wonder people say ""We spend hours in Simran, but do not feel anything changing from within""

Try this for an experiment : Whenever we do Ardaas, observe how many times we say ""Kirpa Karo"" and how many times we say ""Shukar Hai"" If our Ardaas/Benti is ruled by ""Kirpa Karo"" means that we do not accept what Akaal Purakh is doing with our life. A person who realizes that God is always with him/her and that God will never do wrong with him/her, will say ""Shukar Hai"" more often.

Bhulan Chukan Di Khima,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !


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