Front Cover Back Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Introduction Hidden in Plain Sight Relationships-Human and Divine CHAPTER ONE: Kaikeyi-Manthara: Devastation by Disinformation A Mission of Manipulation Hard Heart Breaks Hearts The Imaginary Bharata Versus the Real Bharata Don't Just Talk about Others Talk with Others Spiritual Empowerment CHAPTER TWO: Rama Leaving Ayodhya: Concern for Others' Distress Minimizes Our Distress With Kaikeyi With Dasharatha With Lakshmana With Kaushalya With Sita With Courtiers Shifting Our Focus CHAPTER THREE: Rama-Lakshmana: Fatalism or Pragmatism? Ancient Echoes of Modern Concerns Seeing through the Stereotype of Fatalism Duty Comprises the Best Response to Destiny Rights Don't Trump Responsibilities CHAPTER FOUR: Dasharatha-Kaikeyi: Doomed by Destiny or Desire? The Devastating Demand Trapped between Promise and Plan Unavoidable Reaction to Unintentional Action Diligence to Duty amidst Deference to Destiny From Destiny through Duty to Liberty CHAPTER FIVE: The Four Brothers: Elevating Our Emotions Anger Triggered by Suspicion Anger Triggered by Cruelty Deliberate Triggering of Lower Emotions Torches of Freedom Light the Path to Self-injury Devotion Brings Out Our Best CHAPTER SIX: Rama-Bharata: A Succession Conflict Caused by Selflessness A Series of Shocks Sincerity Removes Suspicion Love Wins-and So Does Duty Sandals as Symbols of Selflessness A Test Passed with Delight Place Relations over Possessions Selflessness Is Enriching, Not Impoverishing Happiness Is the Byproduct, Not Product of Love CHAPTER SEVEN: Sita-Lakshmana: Intention in Tension? The Sinister Shapeshifter The Terrible Accusation The Battle between the Head and the Tongue Don't See Through Others See Others Through The Divine Centre for Relationships CHAPTER EIGHT: Maricha-Rama: To Die at Someone's Hands or for Someone's Hands? Self-actualizing Fear Constrained into Conspiracy Self-centred or God-centred? Models of Devotion-and of Non-devotion CHAPTER NINE: Rama-Shabari: The Intent of a Gift Matters More Than Its Content A Fishy Gift Contaminated Berry, Pure Heart The Many Languages of Love Spirituality More Important Than Morality and Purity CHAPTER TEN: Jatayu-Ravana: Victorious in Defeat Doomed yet Determined The Last Service with the Last Breath Auspiciousness amidst Inauspiciousness Losing the Battle, Winning the War CHAPTER ELEVEN: Vali-Sugriva: Judging without Understanding The Awesome Twosome From Inseparable to Irreconcilable Attribution Error Rama's Intervention-Martial and Verbal Deathbed Reconciliation AAA: Three Steps to Reconciliation CHAPTER TWELVE: Sugriva-Lakshmana: Comfort-Material and Transcendental Comfort Breeds Complacency Subtle Erosion of Devotion