Mother's Day - Blissful Memories

My mother once asked me -
Do you know why the army officers and soldiers get up early every morning, get ready in complete uniform, and do extensive exercises, and parades? Why do they regularly check and clean their weapons?"

I said, "Is it because they don't have anything else to do since there is no war"?
She smiled and said, 'No
"Then I don't know. Please tell me, Mother."

She said “Even if there is no war they know that the enemy can strike anytime so they want to stay prepared all the time. You know many great armies in the past, lost simply because they were not ready - They were suddenly attacked while they were drinking and dancing, enjoying parties, or sleeping. They lost because they had let down their guard. A Good general knows this and keeps his soldiers alert and ready all the time so they are not caught unaware or unprepared.

Similarly," she said "a Bhakta should also be always ready and prepared because the enemies such as Kaama, Krodha, and Lobha can strike at any time. Just as enemy spies can secretly enter an army camp and destroy it from the inside, similarly the ego, attachment, and jealousy can also silently penetrate an unaware and careless mind and destroy the Bhakti and Shradha (Devotion) from within.
Therefore, a Bhakta must always stay alert and keep his 'weapons' sharp.
His weapons are Satsang and Sumiran.

Even a mighty great army may lose the battle if it does not keep its weapons sharp and up to date.
Similarly, if a Bhakta does not keep his 'weapons'; "Satsang and Sumiran', strong and up to date, he might also lose the battle of conquering the 'Samsaara'."

This was a great lesson; one of the greatest gifts, my mother gave me just a few months before she left this physical world.
Today, on 'Mother's Day', I wish and pray that I may remember this great lesson she taught, till the end of my physical journey; to win the battle of 'Samsaara' and be free from bondage.
                                           ‘Rajan Sachdeva”