Can anyone become a great saint ?

ಬಸವಣ್ಣನವರ ವಚನ

ಉಮ್ಬ ಬಟ್ಟಲು ಬೇರೆ ಕಂಚಲ್ಲ ನೋಡುವ ದರ್ಪಣ ಬೇರೆ ಕಂಚಲ್ಲ ಬಾಂಡ ಒಂದೆ ಭಾಜನ ಒಂದೆ ಬೆಳಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡಿಯೆನಿಸಿನಿತ್ತಯ್ಯಾ. ಅರಿದಡೆ ಶರಣ ಮರೆದಡೆ ಮಾನವ ಮರೆಯದೆ ಪೂಜಿಸು ಕೂಡಲಸಂಗನ.

basavaNNanavara vachana

umba baTTalu bEre kanchalla nODuva darpaNa bEre kanchalla bA.nda o.nde bhAjana o.nde beLage kannaDiyenisinittayyA. aridaDe sharaNa maredaDe mAnava mareyade pUjisu kUDalasa.ngana.

Meaning:

The vessel used for eating is not a different bronze and the mirror is not made of different bronze. Material is the same; Nature is the same; When polished it shines as the mirror. If realizes (s/he) is a sharaNa; If forgotten then (ordinary) human being. (So) worship without forgetting the One in kUDalasangama

Notes:

1. Bronze was used in earlier times as mirror. When shaped and polished well, it reflects the objects. 2. Whenever there is a spiritual leader emerging lots of propaganda made stating so and so is an avatAr of some divine or associated things. (This is done more so by the followers than the spiritual people themselves ) Why ? Can't there be a good reverence to that person on his/her own merit ? Or is it that by claiming they are avatArs the rest are simply washing away their hands in the spiritual duty, that it is to be done only by avatars and not by the normals like them. But isn't there an ingenuity in them as compared to the rest of the world ? Definitely there could be. But it is out of the austerity they made to seek God in whatever little proportions in the earlier births that got them this gift. Originally all were the same material. But the ones who shaped and polished themselves by seeking the God the Ultimate Truth shine Its glory through them, the rest just continue to be the old bronze accumulating dirt. sharaNas got secured at the Feet of God and the rest who didn't seek are just the same mortals. There is no question of what one is today, but it is the effort one makes in worshiping God today that would determine the future course. (It is not intended to mean that none of the great devotees are avatArs. But just to say that avatAr concept should not be misused and every one can reach the glorious state if there is effort and the blessing of God.)

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