Everyone was happy until...
Ayodhya was the idea kingdom, where everyone was happy and content. Rama and Sita married and lived a happy life in Ayodhya with the royal family and the citizens of Ayodhya working, eating, sleeping, celebration, and worshiping together. It seemed that this ideal time could go on forever. Then it came time for Rama to ascend to the throne as king. Since he was the first born of king Dasharatha there was to be no question. However, there was a matter of Ram fulfilling his Dharma. During the ceremony that helped the wives of Dasharatha become fertile, so they would be blessed with children, the gods made a plea for there to be a hero on Earth capable of destroying the evil demon lord Ravana. This hero needed to be a man to meet the condition of Ravana's weakness, though this man could be an avatar of a god. It was the god Vishnu, the sustainer, who blessed Dasharatha and his wives, allowing them to give birth to their four sons, Rama, Lakshman, Bharatha, and Shatrughna.
Ravana was still creating evil on the earth, while Rama in Ayodhya led this blessed life. The gods wishing Ram's Dharma in stopping this evil fulfilled, helped create a situation to help the process along. They put the seed of the idea into the the mind of Kaikeyi, one of the Ayodhyan queens and mother of Bharatha, that in order to remain in a position of royal comfort her son needed to be crowned prince instead of Rama. Kaikeyi had once saved king Dasharatha on the battle field, and for this earned several boons or favors from the king according to his word, and just like the situation with Vishvamitra, she used the kings honorable nature against him. In order to remain Truthful and Dharmic, king Dasharatha granted her the request she made in return for the boons he had once offered her. She asked that Bharatha be crowned king, and that Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen years.
The choice?
Rama learned about this not too long after the exchange between Kaikeyi and Dasharatha happened. There were many people, including Bharatha, the citizens of Ayodhya, and everyone besides Kaikeyi, who wanted him to stay, and still be crowned king. The admiration and Love for Rama was truly amazing! However, despite this, Rama chose to follow the Dharmic Way, to uphold his father's honor, to do what needed to be done. What a man! He left for the forest with Sita and Laksman following, refusing to be anywhere but where their beloved Ram was.
Practice in Follow Dharma or one's Truth with Strength and Courage
For Ram, there was no choice really, he follows Dharma no matter what! I, however, find that there are many occasions where things seem rather unclear on what it is I want to do and what the best thing to do for all beings would be in different situations, or, maybe that is just what I would like to think, and I really know....well, Ram knows. If we have a question about what is Dharmic and what is selfish, I find that reflecting on Rama is a good way to resolve the debate or at least come close given my level of concentration and connection to the Dharmic qualities that Ram represents. I invite you to give it a try too, my friend, when things seem a bit hazy, the Light of Sri Ram might be just what you need. Aum Sri Ramaya Namah. Jai Ram!
Thank you Ramayana, Swami Dharmakirti, Swami Sankarananda, Shanti Ashram, Divine Grace Yoga Ashram, satvic food, nature, honest seekers, fellowship, revelations of Strength, Courage, and Dharma from sacred scripture like the Bible, Ramayana, Koran etc. that leads the way in helping us find our own personal movements of Strength, Courage, and Dharma :-) Have a wonderful day, my friend! Thank you so much for joining me, for being wonderful you! I hope that you enjoyed “Thank You Peace :-) For Courage, Strength, and Dharma :-)” May all living beings find Strength, Courage, and inspiration to follow their own Dharma, so that we all might serve in relieving Love and Truth like a life-giving sun :-) Love, Aaron :-)