Dear Ramji
As you know I’ve been wading through financial issues with family members for over a year. Unfortunately they haven’t been willing to meet and discuss things, so instead all communication has been by email. It’s been so stressful even opening my inbox at times, and the emails themselves.
It’s been an amazing opportunity to apply the knowledge. I’ve realized that the underlying fear is that I’ve made a mistake. When I look deeper into it, I find the real mistake has been that I (the jiva) haven’t been in gratitude to Isvara. When I rectify that, the fear dissolves.
Is this what you mean by “sin” which originally meant “missing the mark”?
James: Yes, sin is guilt, the feeling you made a mistake. The word comes from archery and means “to miss the mark.” It is one of the primary control mechanisms in families. It’s a survival mechanism; people can’t help using it to protect themselves from loss. Love is a much better controller but most people are motivated primarily by fear. And yes, Isvara bhakti is the remedy.
