God, The Most Beloved Father:-
In order to have mental is one loves and regards God as one’s spiritual Father, Teacher, Saviour, Mentor and Guide. For this, one has to understand clearly that God is called the Father not because man owes the procreation of his body to Him and not because God created Matter or the souls but for other reasons. The following few usages of the word ‘Father’ will make this point clear.
One calls the Mayor of a city as ‘The City Father’ not in the ordinary sense of the word but in the sense that, as Mayor, he is chiefly responsible for the peace and welfare of the people abiding in the bounds of the city. He is called the City-Father, because, over-all, he looks after the health and happiness of its inhabitants as a father should look after his children.
Again, a person who has been the key figure in the task of political liberation of his country from the yoke of aliens, or who plays a major role in reconstructing his country, is known as the Father of the Nation. Evidently, he is called ‘The Father’ because he gave the political or economic re-birth to the nation which already had its territorial, linguistic, cultural, ethnic or social existence.
Similarly, a person who propounds a new theory or gives the world a new system of thought, is known as the father of that theory or that art or science. Further, one who commands respect among many people because of his wise guidance, affection and towering stature is also known as the ‘Father figure.’
In the same manner, God is known as the Father of the world not because He created the souls or the Matter but because it is He who brings liberation to souls from the bondage of five vices which are the cause of all sufferings. It is not that he creates the world in any gross sense but that he brings about the spiritual regeneration; He gives them the moral and spiritual birth by teaching Divine Knowledge and Raja Yoga through the medium of a human being who comes to be known as ‘Prajapita Brahma’ or Adam. He is called the Father, for He gives to the man- kind the inheritance of complete Purity, Peace and prosperity at the end of the Iron Age in each World Cycle. He gives them the love, guidance and care of a spiritual Father as also of a Mother, Guide and Precepter. So, it is most appropriate to remember Him as the Most Beloved Mother-Father, Teacher and Preceptor or Guru.
Dedication to God :-
MAN has in him many shortcomings and flaws. But, perhaps, the greatest of all vices in man that brings his downfall or creates hurdles in his life is his ego and his emotional attachment. It is pride that spoils man’s relations with otoers and makes his be- haviour rough or unrighteous and it is mental or emotional attach- ment that puts him in various bondages and bogs him down in the marsh of vices or the quagmire of Maya. Yoga it is that frees man from his enslavement to these two.
Raja Yoga enjoins upon man to dedicate himself to God. It demands man’s devotion to God, considering Him as the Holiest, the Wisest, the Mightiest, the Most Beautiful, the Most Faithful and the Most Merciful and Loveful Father. This naturally makes him to have unswerving faith in God and to surrender himself unto Him so that His divine forces can work upon him to remove the hard crust of vices or the rust of evil that covers him. This inner feeling of self-surrender brings to him the meekness so that he now thinks it fit to act upon the advice of God and to act according to His will. His pride of erudition, worldly wisdom, riches, youth and vigour, etc. now vanishes and. instead, he now becomes humble, kind consi- derate and compassionate in the way of His Master or Mentor-the Most Merciful and Benevolent God Shiva.
Because of this dedication, his love no longer remains confined to his few friends, blood relatives or to those whom he likes. Its sphere now widens and takes the whole world in its range, for He now considers the whole world as his family under the Fatherhood of God. Now He has not only the spirit of comaradeship but of brotherhood. There cannot be in him now any idea of exploiting others or harming them even in thought.
His mind is now not divided by distinctions of race, caste, colour or language, rather he looks upon the world as a Drama, having huge variety and he has love for all. He does not have attachment towards some, aversion or ill will towards others and a feeling of no-concern towards the rest; rather he feels that he should be of service to the world so that it becomes a better place to live in. He now lives as a trustee under God and has, therefore, no lust.
Considered from this point of view, a yogi does his duties with- out attachment and without ego. He considers himself to be in the service of mankind and acts according to the directions of God.