RAMAYAN: AN INSPIRING PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR MODERN LIFE
Dr. Shyam Bajpai Ph.D., Volunteer, Hindu Temple of Metropolitan Washington, and UHJT
In Hinduism the following are considered as the major scriptures:
- Vedas: Four Volumes, written in Sanskrit, not commonly recited in temples,
- Bhagavad Gita (includes concept of dharma, bhakti, karma and Moksha): Widely discussed
- Ramayan: Story of Ram who came on the earth some 10,000 years ago. Recited with music.
The story is that Ram was about to become the king. But a day before, he was asked by his father to leave the
palace and spend next 14 years in exile, under difficult conditions. Ram obeyed his father and left home right
away with his wife, Sita, and brother Laxman. It impossible to believe that a normal person would ever do that.
That is where people believe that Ram who lived an exemplary life must be some divine, an incarnation of
Supreme. Different scholars have written the life of Lord Ram in form of books called Ramayan. According to
Swami Dr. Ramkamal Das Vedanti ji of Shri Ram Mandir, Varanasi, there are about 245 Ramayan books
written by scholars. The most popular in Hindi is “Ram Charit Manas” written by Goswami Tulasi Das, some
400-500 years ago. He wrote in a simple language that every literate person can recite. However for second
generation / our kids in US, it is difficult. Diwali is Celebrated to welcome Ram back from exile of 14 years.
After attending the lectures/programs and listening Ramayan every week at Hindu Temple, now I feel that the
message in the book has been written for me to implement. Every listener or reader will interpret, Ramayan
book chapters or pages with their understanding and interest. Therefore, its influence will also vary with each
reader. So, in this article, I am going to share my experience which may be different from others.People who
read/recite/listen the Ramayan with different purpose will have different experience. Some will enjoy as story,
some as ritual, some with the hope that their desires will be fulfilled, some will be conducting research. I try to
find the things that I can implement in my life. Some people may question as how do we know if the this story
ever happened 10,000 years ago. I find that the concepts that are given in Ramayan are still beneficial to our
modern day life. So, I am putting below those concepts that can transform the society or an individual.
Ram Rajya: Good Governance. No one is above the law. Every one is protected.
Commitment: Sita ji decided to go with Ram to exile for 14 years. Marriage is life long commitment.
Strong family values: Trust, Respect , love family members and others.
Obedience: A open communication and negotiation should be replaced obedience in today’s time.
Strong Economy: Where all share the prosperity, not like today, people on the top benefit much more.
Diplomacy: Good diplomacy, send messages, warnings, before starting war.
Recognize: Recognize every one publically who helped during the difficult times.
Communication: A good communication. Respect every one with small or with big status.
Self development/improvement: Forgiveness, Do not think of any negative of any one even in dreams, Be
satisfied with whatever you earn with your hard work, believe in nature, appreciate this wonderful life given to
us, have company of good people, have faith in hard work and you, do not to react in adverse circumstances
yet act, perform ones karma, perceive the world as part of us.
Mahatma Gandhi implemented above concepts in his life. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela influenced by
Mahatma Gandhi, used similar concepts that transformed them. These Modern saints were able to do so good for
the people. Their lives still continue to inspire the entire world including me.
Noble Prize Winner Charles H. Townes, inventor of LASER said:“Religion is an attempt to
understand the purpose and meaning of our universe. Science is an attempt to understand how our
universe works. Science and religion are quite parallel, much more similar than most people think and
that in the long run, they must converge.”(IEEE Institute Feb. 2015)
Acknowledgement: I thank Pandit Pitamber Dutt Sharma, Head Priest of Hindu Temple. Pt ji’s recitation of
Ramayan with his natural, melodious voice, music and explanation inspired and connected me to Ramayan.