We all love someone because in ourselves we are incomplete. Lord Krishna has said in Gita that we are His parts, says AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI

I have chosen the story of Goswami Tulsidas because he exemplifies what I am trying to convey. He married Ratnavati when he was 19. He loved her deeply and could not bear separation from her. One day, he had gone to the neighbourhood Hanuman temple, and by the time he returned, it had already grown dark. His wife had left for her father’s place for some urgent work. Upon not finding his wife, Tulsidas became very upset. Therefore, he decided to go to his father-in-law’s place. The night was dark and the river, which he had to cross, was in spate. Not finding any boat, he looked for some support. He spotted something like a log, which actually was a dead body. Tulsidas used that as a support to swim across.

Once on the other bank, he went to his in-law’s place. It was late in the night and all had gone to sleep. The main door was locked. Tulsidas knew that his wife was accommodated on the first floor. He looked for a rope and finding something which resembled a rope, climbed to the first floor. This was no rope; it was a snake. Once on the first floor, he knocked on her door. When she opened the door, he proudly recounted how he had managed to reach her. Instead of appreciating his efforts, she remarked that such love/devotion should be directed towards God; he will obtain everything desirable.

She was only stating what is stated in the Bhagavad Gita. With God comes everything, be it opulence, victory, wealth, morality, etc. (18.78) We all love someone or something. It is natural, because in ourselves we are incomplete. Lord Krishna has reminded us of this fact when He states that we are His parts. (15.7) Tulsidas was not unique in loving his wife the way he did. Many do but the question to be answered is whether we are gaining what we need through such love. Tulsidas did not and neither does anyone. Why? Because we are limited and so is the person we love. Don’t we accommodate/tolerate our spouses? Yes, it is a wise thing to do; we gain companionship. But is that the only goal one should have?

I also love my wife dearly. But she has not been able to give me what I seek so desperately. I need perfect guidance so that I don’t keep speculating or making wrong choices. After all, mine or my wife’s knowledge can at best be very limited. And I also don’t know the big picture, which only the omniscient God can know. Such guidance by itself is not adequate in many cases. Aren’t we all quite helpless in the ultimate sense? God, being omnipotent, can and does provide the required help as promised by Lord Krishna in the Gita. (18.58)

I have many more requirements; I need security. My peace of mind depends upon how I feel about my future, and only God can ensure a secure future. My peace of mind also depends upon spiritual practices, which keep me connected with the Almighty. Thus, I avoid being blown around like a boat in a raging storm. Then, do I have the mental strength to lead a successful life in this turbulent world, which the Lord has described as an impermanent place of miseries? (8.15) By following God’s instructions, I am able to muster such strength. This helps me go on in life fearlessly. Don’t we need courage as a basic quality to lead a quality life? The situation has come to a point that I am unable to manage without God. I keep seeking answers, help and, quite frequently, forgiveness for bad/sinful acts done in the past, which come to fruition periodically. God does not respond as frequently or exactly the way I would wish, but that is quite satisfying for me. I hope to continue loving my Lord and benefit as a result.

 Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com