A profound and humorous question arises: Do you prepare your heart (angana) for Ram's arrival, or does Ram arrive only when your heart is prepared?
Spirituality is often misunderstood. It's not that Ram will arrive first, and then you'll prepare your heart. Rather, you must first purify your heart, regardless of whether Ram arrives or not.
In the path of devotion (bhakti), your mental state and emotions are the true rituals. Your heartfelt cries are the sacred mantra, and your tears are the offerings to the divine.
If you're a genuine and selfless devotee, then external rituals and scriptures become unnecessary. Your ego and negative tendencies become the offerings to the divine, and the divine will consume them.
However, if your heart is filled with impurities like hatred, jealousy, and desires, then Ram cannot reside there. Ram can tolerate your past mistakes, but not your continued dishonesty.
Ram and desire (kam) cannot coexist in the same heart. It's not your physical form that matters, but your inner purity. Shabari, a devotee of Ram, exemplified this purity and selfless love.
Shabari didn't perform rituals or visit temples, but her life was a continuous offering of tears and devotion. When she finally offered food to Ram, it was with such love and purity that even the leftover food was consumed by Ram.
This story highlights that even your imperfect offerings can be accepted by the divine if they're made with genuine devotion and a pure heart. However, if your heart is filled with impurities, even the grandest rituals and offerings will be rejected.
– The Spiritual Catalyst