How can we develop the balance and nobility embodied by the great spiritual individuals? Bhagawan lovingly inspires us today drawing examples from the epic, Mahabharata.When the heart is filled with all kinds of worldly desires, there is no room in it for spiritual effort. There is a vast difference between one who is attached to worldly things and one who is devoted to Dharma. This may be illustrated by the actions of Drona and Bhishma, the two principal gurus of the Kauravas. Both Bhishma and Drona were supreme masters in the arts of using astras (weapons directed by mantras) and shastras (lethal weapons). But what a difference between the two! Bhishma was highly spiritually minded. After he was wounded all over the body in the Kurukshetra battle, when blood was flowing from the wounds, lying on a bed of arrows he taught Dharma (righteousness) to the Pandavas. His teachings are contained in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata. On the other hand, when Dronacharya heard Yudhishthira say \"Aswatthama hatah\" (Aswatthama is killed), he did not even wait to hear that it was the elephant named Aswatthama that had died, he concluded that his son Aswatthama had died, and he collapsed on the battlefield. Dronacharya was filled with worldly attachments. Bhishmacharya was filled with love of Dharma (virtuous action)."

- April 18, 2024