Srimate Ramanujacharya Namaha!
Namskaaram Swami.
I present below two situations/stories which are narrated frequently. We encounter such situations frequently in our lives. Those who are ignorant and those who are very wise never get confused..but those with partial knowledge are bewildered on the correct action to be taken. So kindly please explain how to suitable action under such circumstances.
Case A/Story A: A very highly devoted man and very good in his behavior has staunch faith in God and leads a surrendered life and belief God will personally solve all his problems if required. One day there is a huge storm and floods form near by river. He is stuck in his home and starts praying for protection to God. After some time a man with a boat passes near his home and calls for help. The devoted man refuses help and says “God will personally come down to save me” and remains there to be drowned away.
Case B/Story B: A very highly devoted man and very good in his behavior has staunch faith in God and leads a surrendered life. Once while travelling in forest he meets danger by meeting a lion. He starts praying to Perumaal. Perumaal immediately starts travelling to that spot. But meanwhile the devotee finds a stick nearby and starts to use it protect himself. Then Perumaal returns back to Vaikunta and says to Thaayar that since he has started helping himself, i let him fight his own battle.
The above two may be imagination stories and may be slightly exaggerated, but in principle such situations do arise in our daily life, so how do we see such help that comes through indirect means “as a temptation to test our dependence on God” or as “indirect incarnation of God to help us”.
I must admit that for the ultimate purpose of attaining moksham/kainkaryam in Spiritual world, preferred option and only option available is to directly depend on God and Acharyas, but for normal laukeeka activities which needs to be carried until then, it is always a confusion if we are making extra endeavor without depending on God or are we missing the help sent by God indirectly?
Kindly clarify the doubt.
Adiyen
Dhanyosmi.