Valmiki's Story
The Ramayana is an incredible story filled with allegory and lessons to help the aspirant or seeker of truth and wisdom, so it is no surprise that the one responsible for relaying such an enlightening tale would have a similar story of revelation in his own Earthly lifetime. Before Valmiki was Valmiki, he was know as Ratnakara a hunter that ended up in a situation where he could not adequately provide for his family. This is when he resorted to stealing from travelers. One day he met a sage named Narada. Narada posed him a question of whether his family would partake in his sin. After asking his family, he learned that none of them would. Ratnakara returned to Narada with the distressing news. Narada gave him the practice of meditating and chanting “Ma Ra” (referring to sacred Rama) until the time when Narada would return. When Narada returned to Ratnakara he witnessed that the man had been covered in an ant hill for meditating in the same place for many years. For this, Ratnakara received the honor of becoming a Brahmarshi with the name Valmiki which comes from the name, Valmika (the ant-hill). Later, after founding an ashram on the banks of the Ganga River, he would be instructed to write the Ramayana in slokas (a couplet of Sanskrit verse), which continues to enlighten aspirants with many lessons in darma, truth, and persistence to the highest ideal in the divine.
Second Chances, my personal understanding of Valmiki's Story's lesson
Now that we have a really memorable story, a ant-hill man, Valmiki, and the ordeal that he went through to get to the point where he become a Saint, we can hopeful learn something meaningful for our own lives. To me, this story means Second Chances are possible. It also means that we might be trapped in a negative cycle of violence and might not even be aware of its uselessness. Ratnakara was a man doing his best to provide for his family, but they did not seem to be interested in the means by which he was acquiring their lively hood. From what I learned from Swamiji, this was a matter of a man fulfilling his duty to his family, as they would fulfill their duty in their given roles as well. When Narada shared the sacred wisdom with Ratnakara, something change in him, something was awakened, an awareness of the wrong he was doing, and a desire to cease his isolation in this evil. There was a better way to live life! It is possible! The hope comes to me when I feel trapped in a hurtful cycle at work, school, in family situations, etc. I think this is what Ratnakara felt, and withing was an awakened willingness to change so earnestly, so passionately, that he took on an incredibly austere task in devotion and purification. It is difficult for me to meditate for more than 15 minutes let alone long enough to become an ant hill! After hearing Valmiki's story, I thought, how interesting, what would that be like? Could you imagine yourself in his place? And after learning how incredibly long and elaborate, how rich with meaning, wisdom, and faith the Ramayana is, how much it has impacted culture after so many year, I thought “Wow!” Second Chances are possible! Despite getting so mixed up in the world of violence and evil, Valmiki emerged to become a Saint! ...Maybe there is hope for me yet!
Practice
We can all us a Second Chance! You never know, witting or unwittingly, if the decisions in our lives will be for the best or not. Sometimes we are asleep spiritually like Ratnakara...but hopefully we do not need to become an anthill to find Peace and balance... though that is up to you, do what your heart calls for, my friend! ...I like meditating outside, but I try to find a spot away from the ants :-)
I do find a meditative practice can be wonderfully beneficial. The longer that I can sit and accept things as they are, as life unfolds around me, and within, the good, the bad, and the ugly, might appear, and likely will according to our own personal dramas. However, in meditation, we are given the option to simply be, to wait it out...and eventually I come to realize that anger, frustration, sadness, all negative states are optional just like the positive ones. It is possible to Love it all or hate it all, as well as accept it all and be free, just be.
Adding a Mantra, Affirmation, San Kalpa, and or personal intention while meditating can be a great way of laying the ground work for a transformation...be careful, whatever you repeat the most is what you are drawing into yourself as your way of being and becoming. Chanting “Ma Ra” “Rama” or another name for the divine can align you with the divine and even more so if done with faith, surrender, and persistence. Or maybe you have a particular goal like working better with others, “God grant me a humble heart.” Feel free to make the message personal, but measure its helpfulness, do your best to be honest, to honor the Second Chance you were given.
Thank you Ramayana, Swami Dharmakirti, Shanti Ashram, satvic food, nature, honest seekers, fellowship, Second Chances, and you, my friend, for taking the time to be here today, to read these words! :-) It is amazing how we can Love and support each other just by doing what is best for ourselves, because when we do what is truly helpful beyond convenience and ease, we help all living beings just the same :-) 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 Second Chances...the story of Valmiki :-)” May we all find a Second Chance that awakens us to the possibility of being better than before! May we Practice with an open and honest heart, humble, compassionate, and Peacefully centered in Love! ...Starting over again and again as long as it takes :-) Love, Aaron :-)