It is very pleasant and peaceful, Being Here Now, though it can slip through our fingers quite easily. Here one moment, and gone the next. Let us see what we can learn about Being Here Now :-)
Be Here Now Vibhishan, demon devotee to the Lord. Vibhishan is one of the demons that Hanumanji comes in contact with during his assessment of demon city Lanka while on his mission from the Lord to find Sita, devoted wife of the Lord who has been abducted by Ravan, the demon king. Vibhishan is the only demon that Hanumanji, son of the wind, messenger of Shri Ram, comes in contact with that is peaceful from meeting start to finish. Hanuman takes a form of a wandering aesthetic, monk, initially, and when it becomes clear that Vibhishan is a fellow devotee of Lord Ram, Hanuman reveals himself in earnest. Even among all the demon's lust and greedy for worldly treasure, Vibhishan remains a steadfast devotee of the Lord, offering Hanumanji information to find the location of Mother Sita. Gratefully bowing Shri Hanuman leaves Vibhishan to go find Mother Sita, but this auspicious meeting in has shown a bright Light in the den of despair, Vibhishan. Vibhishan will continue to be an important character in the saga of Lord Rama, an important part of the Lord's victory. Jai Shri Ram!
In the darkness the Light has its greatest opportunity to shine. This great Light of Lanka, Vibhishan, endures in his faith of the Lord, though every one, every act, every stone, has been guided by evil. How can a faith endure so much adversity? How can faith in what is good endure in my our lives? Our senses and minds maybe telling us... “It is OK to indulge yourself. Everyone is doing it. This is the way one survives in the world. There is no need to deny yourself any desire.” The Lord will always come to Lanka, our hearts that have been fortified against any Love, any Light, because this is where the Lord is most needed. A devotee has prayed for liberation from the burdens of the darkness. No matter how dark one seems to be outwardly...maybe they even have horns, a pointed tail, and carry a pitch fork...but there is Vibhishan crying out in his heart for the Lord, waiting patiently for his arrival, remaining devote in his worship. Let us all work on liberating our inner Vibhishans in one another, though we may have difference, though not every moment of our interactions with one another may be pleasant, let us remember that we are all, at heart, devoted to the Lord with every breath, every effort to live life, every step we take, the Lord's arrival is being drawn closer. This True Knowledge is why Vibhishan remains devoted to the Lord despite all odds.
Practice in liberating our inner Vibhishan. You are invited to treat someone you are uncomfortable with with kindness.
Thank you for Being Here Now with me my dear friend, my brother and sister in the Lord :-) You are invited to join me next week for Hanumanji's meeting with Mother Sita in the Royal Garden of Lanka.