God, when appearing with Form for the sake of upholding Dharma, behaves in a human way. He needs must! For, He has to hold forth the ideal life before man and confer the experience of joy and peace on men. His movements and activities (Leelas) might appear ordinary and commonplace to some eyes. But each of these will be an expression of beauty, truth, goodness, joy and exaltation. It will captivate the world with its charm; it will purify the heart that contemplates it. It will overcome and overwhelm all the agitations of the mind. It will tear the veil of illusion (Maya). It will fill the consciousness with Sweetness. There can be no ‘ordinary’ and ‘commonplace’ in the careers of Avatars. Whatever is seen and taken as of that nature is really ‘superhuman,’ ‘supernatural,’ deserving high reverence!

No ant can bite, without Rama’s Will! No leaf can drop from its branch, without Rama’s prompting! Sky, wind, fire, water and earth—the Five Elements that compose the Universe—behave as they do for fear of Him, and in tune with His Orders! Rama is the Principle which attracts— and endears through that attraction—the disparate elements in Nature. The attraction that one exerts over another is what makes the Universe exist and function. That is the Rama principle, without which the cosmos will become chaos. Hence, the axiom: If there is no Rama, there will be no Panorama (Universe). (RKRV Part I, pp.9-10)

Sita spoke to the fact that every individual, every being, and every creature had the feminine principle inherent in its composition. She said that though there are masculine and feminine roles, acting on the world stage, all are basically feminine, when their strength, emotions and attitudes are concerned. She said that her Lord, Rama, is the incarnation of the One and only Masculine principle in the Universe. In him, she said, there is no trace of duality, of mine and thine, of grief and joy. He is the embodiment of fearlessness. He is strength personified. Purusha or the Eternal Masculine has wedded Nature Prakriti, the Eternal Feminine. Though Nature appears manifold and variegated, it is really ONE undifferentiated Unity. Thus Sita revealed the truth of the Rama principle to Anasuya, the consort of the Sage Atri. (RKRV Part II, pp. 3-4)

The Rama Principle embodies numerous powers and potencies. The Ramayana is not a sacred text to be used only for ritualistic reading (parayanam). The Rama Principle is all-pervading like the Cosmic Spirit. In olden times people used to say that their inner secrets are known only to the Indwelling Rama Spirit (Atma-Rama). The Self is called ‘Rama’. Rama means ‘one who pleases’. How can you give a specific form to one who pleases or delights? (SSS Vol.31, p.71)

Many people are ignorant of the inner significance of the Rama story - the subtleties contained in the Ramayana and the deep significance of words like Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Bharata, Shatrughna, etc. The principle of Rama is most sacred, sublime and glorious. There is nothing in the world that cannot be achieved by cultivating the Rama Tattva. Though thousands of years have elapsed since the story of Rama took place, the Rama Principle is deeply imprinted in the hearts of the people. The Rama Principle is ever fresh, ever new and embraces infinitude itself. (SSB 1996, p.17)

The Rama Principle is contained in the smallest of the small and the largest of the large. The Principle of Rama is not confined to name and form. It is a transcendental principle, which transcends time itself. The Rama Principle lives as eternally blooming, blossoming and bursting forth. Students will understand the true nature of humanity by realising the Rama Principle. (SSB 1996, pp.17-18)

When God descends in human form as an Avatar, we should not delude ourselves into thinking that the Avatar is a simple human form like ourselves. His form may be human; but His majesty and magnificence are Infinite.

We should not mistake a white stone for sugar candy and munch it,

We should not mistake a cotton fruit for a mango and eat it. (SSB1996, p.18)

The Rama Tattva is Prema Tattva (Principle of Love). We have to emulate Rama and transform ourselves by following the path of Love. However deep and great our scholastic eminence may be, we cannot achieve anything without undergoing the transformation of the mind. (SSB1996, p.18)

The Rama Principle attracts everybody. Such a principle can be explained for days together and still cannot be expounded fully. If you keep hearing the song of the cuckoo it may tire you after sometime. If you keep on drinking, even divine nectar may taste sour at some point of time. But the story of Rama can be read or heard any number of times and one would never feel satiated. He who sings, or reads or hears or gets to read this sacred story of Rama will find it highly nectarous. No one knows the origin of Ramayana or from when it was being sung in public. However, based on certain evidences, scholars have made a few observations. The conversation that Ravana was having with Sita while abducting her, gives a hint of the age of the characters in the epic, in that era. Ravana told Sita, ‘My age is now 2000 years, your husband is just 40 years of age and your own age is 39 years’. (SSB 2002,  pp.111-112)

That is the Rama principle, without which the cosmos will become chaos. Hence, the axiom: If there is no Rama, there will be no Panorama (Universe). (RKRV Part I, p.10)

In the Divine epic of the Ramayana, there is a special profound message. That message is: man must lead the life of a human being; men must seek oneness with the Divine. Man should harmonize the three qualities in him (Sattva, rajas, Tamas). In every human being, all the three natures –human, divine, and demonic– are present. But most men today ignore their humanness and divinity and foster only their demonic nature.

Man, in fact, should strive to manifest his divinity, and not display his weakness or his demonic qualities. Rama chose to go to the forest to fulfil the pledge of his father, and thereby subjected himself to many difficulties. It may be asked: Did he go to the forest under any compulsion or out of his own resolve, or with a sense of dissatisfaction, or merely to comply with his father s pledge? No. Rama set out for the forest with the same sense of serenity and joy with which he looked forward to his coronation. Rama demonstrated the spirit of equanimity. He showed that pain or pleasure, profit or loss, victory or defeat, were the same to him. In human life, pleasure and pain, happiness and sorrow alternate all the time. It is not a good quality to welcome pleasure and turn away pain. You must welcome sorrow in the same joyous spirit in which you greet happiness. Happiness has no value unless there is also sorrow. That is why it is said, ‘Pleasure is not secured by pleasant measure.’ Pain is needed to secure pleasure. Rama demonstrated to the world the truth of this concept. (SSS Vol.31, pp.71-72)

In every act, Rama set the example. In individual conduct, in the discharge of duties to the family, and in fulfilling the obligations to society Rama demonstrated the ideals to be followed. All should begin with fulfilling the obligations of the individual. The duty of the individual is to manifest the divinity within him. As an individual, Rama revealed the divinity in him by his ideal conduct. (SSS Vol.31, p.72)

Rama s Equanimity

The Rama Principle is infinitely potent. The powers of the Divine are immeasurable. God comes down in human form to redeem mankind. Birds and beasts act according to their natural instincts. Man alone tends to violate the laws of nature and act against the laws of Dharma (right conduct). It is to teach and punish man who goes astray that the Divine comes in human form. He teaches the highest ideals and leads an ideal life to set an example. (SSS Vol.31, pp.77-78)

It is not possible to describe the boundless attributes of the Rama Principle. The name of Rama has been adored for aeons. Humanity has been in existence for many lakhs of years. Unfortunately, humanity is yet to realize its true nature. What is this nature? It is the Principle of Love. Human life should be suffused with love and rounded off with love. Life should be given up with tears of joy and not tears of sorrow. (SSS Vol.31, pp.78-79)

Rama is the friend of the universe. He is its protector. He is its patron saint. To comprehend the nature of such a unique ideal personality is not quite easy. It is easier to count the waves of the ocean than to describe the qualities of Rama. Ramachandra is the In-dweller in all beings. The cosmos is one vast mansion. Humanity is one family (or community). Only the person who recognizes this relationship between the cosmos and mankind can understand the Rama Principle. The earth lies at the feet of every human being. It is the same firmament that is above every person. All breathe the same air. The water that people drink is the same for all. Only those who recognize this unifying principle will seek to understand the Rama Principle. (SSS Vol.31, p.67-68)

The Rama Principle destroys all sins and redeems life. Everyone should seek to realize the Rama Principle (SSS Vol.31, p.69)

The word ‘Rama‘ consists of the two letters ‘Ra’ and ‘Ma.’ ‘Ra’ means ‘Atma’ and ‘Ma’ means ‘jiva’ (the individual soul). The Rama principle signifies the unity of the Atma and the jiva (the Universal Spirit: and the individual spirit). The oneness of the Supreme Omni Self and the Jiva-Atma (individual Self) is indicated by the term ‘Rama.’ This inner truth is not understood by many. (SSS Vol.22, p.203)

The world is based on three entities: Fire, the Sun and the Moon. No one can deny the existence of these three. ‘Hetu Krisanu Bhanu Himakarate.’ Krisanu means the Fire principle. Bhanu refers to the Sun and Himakara refers to the Moon. The combination of these three attracts and sustains all beings in the world. They give pleasure, provoke wonder and also delude men. Because they give pleasure, the three are called ‘Rama.’

In the word ‘Rama‘ there is three sounds: Ra, Aa, Ma. ‘Ra’ refers to Agni (Fire). ‘Aa’ refers to the Sun and ‘Ma’ refers to the Moon. The combination of these three entities represents the ‘Rama Principle.’ (SSS Vol.25, pp.64-65)

Rama is embodiment of the three gunas

The Rama Principle is manifested in the Gayatri mantra. Rama is the embodiment of the three aspects of Time. He is the Lord of the three worlds and is the embodiment of the three gunas. Hence Sri Rama is the indwelling spirit in every human being. To realise this truth, it is not necessary to be a great scholar or scientist. However great a scholar may be, if he has no eyes, he cannot see the world. However great a scientist may be, when he is fast asleep he cannot see anything. But a man with open eyes if he is no scholar or scientist can see the world when he is awake. The power of sight is not derived from scholarship or science but is a gift of the Divine. Moreover, scholarship does not enable a pundit to understand his own true nature, though he can teach others. True scholarship consists in cultivating a pure heart. (SSS Vol.23, pp.45-46)

Only when we shape ourselves into a strong personality can we conduct ourselves ideally in the family and in society. Rama enshrined in Himself all these ideal qualities and shone as an ideal being. He also enshrined in Himself the principle of equanimity, unity and Bliss. This principle of Bliss is latent in every human heart. Every human has a right to realise and enjoy this principle of Bliss, which is the Rama Tattva. Rama was the Embodiment of four cardinal principles: truth, righteousness, love, and peace.

Rama was an Embodiment of Dharma, which is the basis for the entire Universe. A true human being is one who follows and practices the principle of Dharma. Burning is the Dharma of fire. Coolness is the Dharma of ice. Fire is no fire without burning. Ice is no ice without coolness. Similarly, the Dharma of man lies in performing actions with the body and following the commands of the heart. Every act performed with thought, word, and deed in harmony is an act of Dharma. Thus, a dharmic life is a divine life. (SSB1996, pp.16-17)

Significant connection between the Rama principle and the Vasanta Ritu

We must learn to chant the sweet name of Rama with a pure, unsullied heart, in a spirit of selfless devotion. In the mind of man dwell the deities representing the moon and the sun. Intelligence is endowed by the sun. However two kinds of birds have got into the mind. One bird fosters the sense of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ and fills the mind with ego. This is a destructive force. The second bird fosters the feeling of freedom from attachment and hatred. It signifies the power of the sun in the mind. Rama, who belongs to the solar race, adhered to the latter path.

There is a significant connection between the Rama principle and the Vasanta Ritu (season of spring). In the spring, the trees put forth new leaves and flowers and fill the world with gladness. When the sun s rays fall on the fresh leaves, they acquire a golden hue. The whole world puts on a glorious new look in spring. The beginning of the New Year is celebrated in various regions by preparation of special edibles from a mixture of flowers and fruits of the neem and mango trees. In consuming these edibles, people are reminded that life is a mixture of pleasure and pain, profit and loss and both are to be treated with equal-mindedness.

In the spring season, the air is redolent with the fragrance of the mango blossoms and the song of the kokila (cuckoo). There is joy in the air you breathe. The cuckoo calls are never so sweet as in the Vasanta (Spring). The kokila s song is sweet to the ears. If a crow sits on our roof, we wish to drive it away, but we welcome the kokila s song. Why this difference? The crow seeks nothing from us. The kokila has not given us a crown. The difference lies in their voice. The crow s cawing jars on the ears. The kokila s song is music to the ears. When the speech is sweet, the speaker becomes endearing.

Hence men should learn to speak sweetly and pleasingly. Sweet speech confers peace. It is the means to Self-realisation. It is in the heart of the man who is sweet-spoken that Sri Rama loves to dwell. (SSS Vol.22, pp.69-70)

The ancient sages and savants offered all their knowledge and scholarship as an offering to God. They did not regard knowledge as a means of acquiring wealth. In the days of Rama everyone was filled with a spirit of sacrifice. Rama set the example by His readiness to sacrifice the kingdom for life in the forest as an exile. Before leaving for the forest, Rama gave away all his personal possessions as gifts. Sacrifice is the essence of the Rama Principle. To develop the spirit of sacrifice the first requisite is firm faith in God. (SSS Vol.29, p. 164)

The Rama Principle is laden with many subtle secrets. (SSB 96, p.16)