The other day in the office, a colleague came to request two days of leave.
When I casually asked the reason, he said that a distant relative had passed away and there was no one at their home to manage things.
For a moment, a thought quietly arose in my mind…
In the coming days, many people will gather there. They will come to offer condolences. They will walk in the funeral procession. Some will even offer their shoulder to carry the mortal remains.
But another question followed almost instantly…
When that person was alive, struggling through life’s challenges, how many people would have stepped forward to support them?
It is very easy to come forward and give a shoulder to a lifeless body during the final journey.
And of course, it is a noble act and part of our social duty. Many even feel they have earned great merit by doing so.
But when a living person is bent under the weight of sorrow, hardship, or loneliness, very few people step forward to offer their support.
Yet if we truly reflect, the greater virtue lies elsewhere.
Understanding the pain of a living person…
Standing beside them in their difficult moments…
Offering courage when they feel helpless…
Sharing a small part of their burden…
That is the real spiritual practice. That is the true merit.
Our revered Shri Sadguru often reminds us that through Naam Smaran (remembrance of the Divine Name), the mind becomes pure and compassion naturally awakens.
When the heart is filled with the Divine Name, a person cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of others. Instead of turning away, they feel moved to help. They extend a hand, offer strength, and become a source of support.
The shoulder given in a funeral procession carries a body for a short distance. But the shoulder offered through compassion and spiritual awareness can lift someone’s mind, restore hope, and sometimes even change the direction of their life.
Perhaps the real question we must ask ourselves is not whether we will be present at someone’s final journey.
The real question is: Will we be present while they are still walking their journey of life?
Because sometimes, the greatest service we can offer is simply this, to stand beside someone while they are still alive and silently struggling. And perhaps that is the true essence of spirituality.
“Whenever I write ‘Sadguru’ or ‘Shri Sadguru’, I am referring to my revered Shri Sadguru, P. Pu. Sadgurunath Shri Kaka Maharaj (Shri Shripad Anant Vaidya).”
Images and grammar enhancements in this post were created with the assistance of ChatGPT by OpenAI and /or inbuilt AI tool of wordpress
#SpiritualWisdom #LettingGo #LifeLessons #Focus #Discernment #InnerPeace #GrowthMindset #Sileance #shrikaka #sadguru #travel
Spiritual Awakening 