Ramayana Life Lessons: Timeless Wisdom from Lord Rama for Modern Living

Plurality And Righteousness

Rāmāyaṇa is the epic poem of the richest and longest surviving civilization on the face of the planet. The essence of Rāmāyaṇa can be boiled down to two words: Plurality and Righteousness.

Plurality:

Rāmāyaṇa presents a wide variety of personalities, without holding any one of them specifically ideal or advocating one as better than the other. Everyone in Rāmāyaṇa chooses their own life path and style reflecting their own personality. Dhasaratha has thrī wives, whereas Rāma chooses to be wedded to only one wife for life and Hanuma chooses to remain a a bachelor for life. Lakṣmaṇa chooses to be with his brother and protect him all the time, whereas Vibhīṣaṇa chooses to differ with his mighty brother.

Kaikayi’s people involve themselves in her life even after her marriage, whereas Sītā’s people do not involve in her life after marriage. Vasiṣṭha and Viṡvāmitra choose to lead an ascetic life all through, whereas Rāvaṇa, inspite of being a Brāhmaṇa, chooses to dominate the world at all costs. Vālmīki, the poet, stays behind the scenes and doesn’t patronize any one of these characters over the other. He presents each character in its full force. He doesn’t become judgmental about any one of them. He lets the characters speak for themselves.

Righteousness (Dharma):

Rāmāyaṇa presents various challenging situations. Each one of the personalities succīd or fail in those situations. The situations illustrate whether the personality a) could maintain to its core nature, withhout wavering and b) could stay on the right side of the ethical, moral and socially agreeable side of the equation. Vālmīki, continues to stay behind the scenes and doesn’t come out to laud or denounce their choices. The choices speak for themselves.

These two aspects make up the framework of Rāmāyaṇa. It is much more than a simple ‘good over the evil’ story. You will enjoy and appreciate Rāmāyaṇa much more dīply, if you kīp this framework in mind. Rāmāyaṇa, then, would help you in reflecting on your own life and the happenings in the society. That is the benefit of reading Rāmāyaṇa.

The imagination of an entire civilization held the central characters of the story, Rāma, Sītā, and Hanuma as ideal, because each one of them choose to lead a noble life of their choice and preserved their character even under the most trying circumstances. They stayed on the right side of the equation, without regard to the personal difficulties and sacrifices that their choices called upon.

Symbolism Of 10 Evils

Ten heads of Ravan represent the ten bad qualities:

1.Ahankara – Ego; 2.Kama – Desire;
3.Krodha – Anger; 4.Moha – Attachment ;
5.Lobha – Greed; 6.Mada – Passion;
7.Matsarya – Jealousy; 8.Dvesha – Hatred;
9.Bhaya – Fear; 10.Swartha – Selfishness.

Kama vasana (Lust)
Krodha (Anger)
Moha (Delusion)
Lobha (Greed)
Mada (Over Pride)
Matsara (Jealousy)
Manas (Mind)
Buddhi (Intellect)
Chitta (Will)
Ahankara (Ego)

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An Excellent Interpretation of Ramayan

Ram is your soul. Sita is your heart. Ravan is your mind that steals your heart from your soul. Lakshman is your consciousness, always with you and active on your behalf. Hanuman is your intuition and courage that helps retrieve your heart to re-animate your soul.

Valmiki Ramayanam shows us how Rama is an ideal man. This doesn’t end with Pattabhishekham.

Tulasi Ramayanam shows us how Rama is a great God.

Rāmāyaṇa presents various challenging situations. Each one of the personalities succīd or fail in those situations. The situations illustrate whether the personality a) could maintain to its core nature, without wavering and b) could stay on the right side of the ethical, moral and socially agreeable side of the equation. Vālmīki, continues to stay behind the scenes and doesn’t come out to laud or denounce their choices. The choices speak for themselves.

These two aspects make up the framework of Rāmāyaṇa. It is much more than a simple ‘good over the evil’ story. You will enjoy and appreciate Rāmāyaṇa much more deeply, if you keep this framework in mind. Rāmāyaṇa, then, would help you in reflecting on your own life and the happenings in the society. That is the benefit of reading Rāmāyaṇa.

The imagination of an entire civilization held the central characters of the story, Rāma, Sītā, and Hanuma as ideal, because each one of them choose to lead a noble life of their choice and preserved their character even under the most trying circumstances. They stayed on the right side of the equation, without regard to the personal difficulties and sacrifices that their choices called upon.

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Rama Vs. Ravana: 

Let’s look at some Life Lessons we can all learn from Lord Rama’s life. If we live and abide by the values taught in the Ramayana or Ramacharitmanas, we can try to achieve perfection and success in every aspect of life. So let’s start…

1) Lord Ram showed us that the dharma of a child is to obey the elders, by following the words of His parents and Guru always. We should value and follow the advice of our elders and teachers.

2) He and Lakshman accompanied Sage Vishwamitra into the forest to kill the demons, who were disrupting the lives of the sages living there. We too should always give up the wrong for what is right and hold on to it.

3) Even though He knew he was strong enough, He did not show His strength at Sita’s swayamvar till asked by His guru, Sage Vishwamitra, to go and lift the bow. Strength with humility is required to succeed.

4) Once He made friends with anyone, He did everything He could to help them…like Sugreeva and Vibhishana. He never forgot His friends. Be a true friend!

5) If Rama took up a task, He always completed that successfully. He never did anything half-heartedly, be it killing the demons in the forest or helping Sugreeva kill Vali or completing the 14 year in exile. Determination and commitment will never fail you.

6) Lord Rama savored fruits offered to Him by Shabri, a poor old women, after she had tasted each one of them. She had nothing much to offer – but love. Love can come to us in any form and from anyone…be ready to accept it.

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The Tenets Of Dharma: 

Valmiki has related the virtues of Lord Rama in his “Valmiki Ramayana”

Sri Rama is well versed in the tenets of Dharma, firm in his commitments, an epitome of propriety, uncritical, forgiving, compassionate to the poor and miserable, soft-spoken, grateful, in control of His senses, kind-hearted, endowed with a steady intellect, ever engaged in universal good, non-calumnious, agreeable in His speech to all beings and truthful.”

Lord Rama never found faults with anybody. He was always tranquil at heart and would always speak in a mellifluous (sweet) and consoling manner. Even if somebody used harsh words against him, He would not retort. He would be forever be grateful to anybody who did Him even a single favor, and would forget and forgive hundreds of offences committed against Him by others. He would cultivate association with only those possessing noble character, those advanced in age and knowledge, being always courteous to them. He would start the conversation with those people who came to meet Him, and would speak sweet and fair. Even though endowed with great strength and valor, He would never be conceited.

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A Great Resource On Valmiki Ramayanam:

https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/sloka?field_kanda_tid=1&language=dv&field_sarga_value=1