Ramayana_VOLUME V with index

Ramayana: A Divine Drama – Vol. V
During the war in Lanka, Rama saw one day a powerful effulgent figure
before Him. Vibhishana told Rama that it was none other than Rama's enemy,
Ravana. Seeing him, Rama felt that but for his bad qualities, Ravana, who was
so powerful and great, would not have come to such a pitiable end. Whatever
may be one's scholarship or intelligence, without the strength of character they
are likely to dehumanise man. You must fortify yourself with the strength of
character, along with the acquisition of knowledge. There is nothing that
cannot be achieved by a righteous person. (SSS Vol.22 p.3-4)
REASONS FOR RAVANA’S DESTRUCTION:
Man seeks to earn contentment and joy by subjugating the forces of Nature to
his fragile will. But all efforts to establish mastery over Prakriti (nature) or
command it, or employ it for personal aggrandisement are bound to fail, are
certain to recoil on man with deadly impact. In India, the story of the
Ramayana is well known. In that story, Ravana coveted Sita, daughter of
Earth (that is to say the Nature). He did not evince any attachment to the Lord
of nature, that is to say, Rama, (God).He sought to gain nature, and not the
master of nature (Rama—the husband of Sita). The penalty he paid was
terrible; he perished in flames of his own foolish passion. The vast empire he
built up so laboriously lay in ruins. He fell amidst corpses of the heroes who
had rendered him unswerving loyalty. Ravana was a great scholar; he had
climbed the highest pinnacle of asceticism and won many supernatural
powers. But since he did not bend before the master of Prakriti (Nature) he
suffered irreparable damnation.
When his steps are towards God, man has no reason to fear; but, when they
are turned away from Him, fear haunts him at every turn. God is the source of
joy. People yearn for joy, but they accept the genuine the counterfeit joy given
by the senses. No one knows that nature is but vesture of God. There is
nothing real except He. (SSS Vol.6 p.191-192)
Craved for the Prakriti – the objective world - discarding Purusha
Believe that Dharma or Moral Rectitude will never play false; it will ensure
joy than can be gained through all other means. Rama destroyed Ravana; it
was victory of one head over ten; Concentration over distraction. Ravana
80