“If you see the whole picture than little parts can be adjusted, but if you don’t see the whole picture, one little part can create chaos.”- Radhanath Swami
My Gurudev told this instructive story of Mahatma Gandhi at one marriage ceremony. Once upon a time Gandhiji had a serious quarrel with his wife; they both became extremely emotional and it came to the point when Mahatma Gandhi shouted at his wife, “Get out of my house, Get out from here.” She cried and she left the house.
Mahatma Gandhi was the inspiration of Martin Luther King and so many others who were promoters of nonviolent change within society, and here he is fighting with his wife! But that is the nature of marriage. If Mahatma Gandhi, who was much more experienced and empowered than any of us, couldn’t keep peace in his house, don’t think that you will be able to do it.
Sometime later he came out of his house, and he saw his wife sitting on the side. He said, “What are you doing here? You are supposed to go somewhere else.” She looked up and said, “I have nowhere else to go.” Gandhiji smiled and said, “Alright, just forget it, let us go inside,” and that was the end of the quarrel.
My Gurudev explained this as the solution for any problem in marriage – these two words ‘forget it’. Whatever the problems that you have – based on circumstances, based on two different egos – they are not important. When two egos are living close to each other, occasional disagreements and conflicts are but natural. What is important is the sacred principle of why we are together: to help each other become pure, to help each other practise yoga, the yoga of life. The higher principle is to help each other in loving God, to help each other be instruments of God‘s love in this world, and to love and protect each other for that purpose. If that’s why we are married, then nothing else is important.
Most divorces these days are based on things that are really not important. But if you don’t focus on a higher principle less important things become very important – at least apparently. If you see the whole picture than little parts can be adjusted, but if you don’t see the whole picture, one little part can create chaos.
Radhanath Swami
We can help each other in loving God.
nice article. Helping each other for spiritual & material benefit is more important. Thank you maharaj. Hare Krishna.
“If you see the whole picture than little parts can be adjusted, but if you don’t see the whole picture, one little part can create chaos.” – a nice conclusion from this sweet incident in the life of a couple. A lot to learn and practice from this. Thank you.
absolutely agree with you. Thanks.
Very nice instruction to follow. “if you don’t focus on a higher principle less important things become very important ” Grateful to you Radhanath Maharaj for such a wonderful article.
Forgive and forget is the basic foundation of a happy married life. Marriage is like a rubber band. If tension is applied from both the sides it is bound to snap. Hence when tensionis applied by one side, the other side should be released so as to avoid the band from breaking..
Thanks for sharing it!
This incident in the life of a Great Man shown how “Interdependence” is the higher principle that “Independence”.
Good thought for independence day. lol
Great learning through the story of great man, Mahatama Gandhiji, narrated by Srila Prabhupad. This story teaches us that we have to accept that differences in two different person, whoever they may be, great friends, husbund-wife or others. But more important is to support each other to grow and help each other to achieve highest goal of life, love for GOD. In last Radhanath Swami tells that if we neglect more important goal of life and more focus on small small issues that it can even lead to divorce.
This is Amazing, you are enlightening the fallen soul.. Thank you Maharaj
Hare Krsna, PAMHO Maharaj..