http://timesofindia.speakingtree.in/spiritual-slideshow/seekers/philosophy/corporate-lessons-from-ramayana/48644
Below lessons are extracted from a talk given by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj of ISKCON :
01) Power of bad association
It was a known fact in Ayodhya that Kaikeyi loved Lord Rama more than her own son Bharath. Then how could she become so evil ? It is by her bad association with Manthara.
02) Attachment to service, and not to the position
Lord Rama was willing to become the king as a service to Maharaj Dasarath and He was also willing to go to the forest as a service to His father.
03) Mission of life should be to vanquish the demoniac tendencies in our heart
Lord Rama’s purpose to kill the demons was fulfilled by His banishment to the forest.
04) Even extreme reversals, if taken in the proper spirit, will help us fulfill our mission in life
For example, law of gravity is only in effect in the earth’s sphere and not beyond. So also laws of material nature act only in material consciousness and not in spiritual consciousness.
05) Ram or Aaram, a test for every seeker
Citizens of Ayodhya wanted to go with Lord Rama to forest and leave behind all the comforts (Aaram) of the city Ayodhya.
06) Alertness in spiritual life
Lord Rama leaves Ayodhavasis when they were asleep. If one is inattentive or lazy, one will lose taste in Bhakti.
07) (Sometimes) Saintly persons might cause pain to others not to hurt them but benefit them
Bharat disowns Kaikeyi, or Prahlad disregards Hiranyakashipu, a doctor may cause pain (Operation) to patient to cure him.
08) Goal is to please the Lord
For Bharat, he wanted to stay in the forest which was easier than to return and rule the kingdom but he did it to please Lord Rama.
09) Lord is the proprietor
Bhoktaram Yajna tapas am (Bhagavad Gita 5.29). Bharat was ruling the kingdom on Lord Rama’s behalf by keeping the padukas on the throne. We are only care-takers. He (The Lord) is the real proprietor. He can give and take away. The care-taker acts according to the will of the owner.
10) Anybody can make a show of greatness
The reversals test us who we are. When Lakshmana cuts Surpanaka’s nose, gone was the charming form, gone was the facade and then the real ugly form manifested. One’s greatness is tested by one’s ability to tolerate provoking situations.
11) Bhakti (Sita) cannot be achieved by deception
Ravana wanted to kidnap Sita Devi by deception, but he gets Maya Sita at the end. Greed and lust are never satiated. They lead to arrogance and envy.
12) Attachments can create traps and make us suffer
Marichi takes up a golden deer form to which Sita Devi developed deep attachment to have it and thus trapped Sita Devi. We should see the substance through the eyes of the scripture. Marichi was all about false promises. For example, spider web is most attractive to the fly but actually it is a trap.
13) Maya knows our weaknesses
She can make our strength into weaknesses and take us away from the circle of instructions of great souls. Ravana uses Sita Devi’s attitude to serve great souls, to disobey Lakshmana.
14) Always stand by the right
Jatayu’s integrity. Real success is to please the Lord. Jatayu lost his life fight for Lord Rama but achieved the purpose of life to please the Lord. It is better to lose and win rather than to win and lose.
15) Patience, determination and enthusiasm
Example of Sabari. Long time ago, her Guru had asked her to wait for Lord Rama while all other disciples and the Gujru himself went back to Godhead. She showed her enthusiasm by working hard everyday to clean the place, plucking flowers and fruits for the Lord. She had complete faith in the words of her Guru and patiently waited with determination. The Lord reveals only when He wants.
16) Honesty
We cannot put a façade before the Lord. Hanumanji disguises when he went to meet Lord Rama. Lord knows within who we are … we have to be honest to receive the mercy of the Lord. Lord did not speak to Hanuman for four months.
17) Obstacles on the path of Bhakti
The demons who came to stop Hanuman during his jumping across the ocean. Mainaka
(Gold mountain) – temptation to seek comfort before achieving our real purpose. Simhika (Shadow-catching demoness) ….. while striving for Bhakti, people will chastise, criticize and misunderstand us… But we should have the willingness to tolerate. Surasa (serpant) ..Being envious of people in higher positon and try to stop their progress. This is jealousy of the mind. By devotional service, we have to devour Simhika wh represent envy.
18) Arrogance cannot undersand well-wishers
The world is a mirror of our own consciousness. Ravana was thinking Mandodari was envious of Sita, but actually he was envious of Lord Rama. Ravana was thinking of Vibhisana was disloyal and taking the side of Lord Rama, but it was he who was disloyal to Kubera, his cousin brother. When we think we know, we are not willing to listen to good counsel. Spiritual progress means simplicity and humility. If they are lacking, we will not listen to anyone thinking that we know better … that was Ravana.
19) Big or small, we can swim the ocean of Samsara by chanting Lord Rama’s holy name
Big or small, all the stones floated by writing Lord Rama’s name.
20) Pride or attachment leads to loss of intelligence
Dhyayo Visayan Pumsah (Bhagavad Gita 2.62) Every stage of this sloka was exhibited by Ravana. Loss of intelligence – even when all his stalwart-warriors including Kumbha Karna and Indrajit died… but he still did not give up.
21) Hearing about the Lord -- revival of dormant love
Lord Rama, being Paramatma, in the heart of everyone including Ravana could have killed him just by turning off Ravana’s heart. But the Lord and His pleasure potency Sita Devi went through this whole ordeal so that we can hear about the Lord and revive our dormant love.
22) Righteousness
Vibhishana comes to take shelter of Lord Rama … all the monkeys were against, except Hanumanji. Vibhishana was willing to be misunderstood or even chastised … to surrender to the Lord.
23) Counsel and advise in battle against illusion
In battle against illusion, at every stage association of devotees to put us straight without which we will fall. Lord Rama does not need but take the counsel of Vibhishana.
24) Grace of a sadhu is needed to kill demons within
Agastya muni had given a divine arrow to Lord Rama. That arrow was used by Lord Rama to kill Ravana by piercing his heart.
25) Welcoming the Lord in hearts with lamps
That is Deepaavali festival. Lord Rama is welcomed back into Ayodhya with lamps. Deepaavali is not just physical fire but lighting the hearts with the light of Lord’s grace and process of devotional service. When the heart is fully illuminated, then we can experience Lord Rama within ourself. When our love awakens in that love, compassion for all living being awakens. Then Rama rajya is awakened within the heart and then without (i.e., out in the world).
