RAMA and Lakshmana visited Pampa Lake.
Lakshmana saw a crow very eager for water. Again
and again it went to the edge of the water but
would not drink.
Lakshmana asked Rama about it. Rama said:
"'Brother, this crow is a great devotee of God. Day
and night it repeats the name of Rama. Its throat is
parched with thirst, but still it won't drink for fear
of missing a repetition of Rama's name."
Monday, December 31, 2012
WHO WINS THE PRIZE
KARTIKA and Ganesa22 were seated near
Bhagavati, who had a necklace of gems around Her
neck. The
Divine Mother said to them, "I will present this
necklace to him who is the first to go around the
universe." Thereupon Kartika, without losing a
moment, set out on the peacock, his carrier.
Ganesa, on the other hand, in a leisurely fashion
went around the Divine Mother and prostrated
himself before Her. He knew that She contained
within Herself the entire universe. The Divine
Mother was pleased with him and put the necklace
around his neck. After a long while Kartika
returned and found his brother seated there with
the necklace on.
Everything can be realised simply through love of
God. If one is able to love God, one does not
lackanything.
Bhagavati, who had a necklace of gems around Her
neck. The
Divine Mother said to them, "I will present this
necklace to him who is the first to go around the
universe." Thereupon Kartika, without losing a
moment, set out on the peacock, his carrier.
Ganesa, on the other hand, in a leisurely fashion
went around the Divine Mother and prostrated
himself before Her. He knew that She contained
within Herself the entire universe. The Divine
Mother was pleased with him and put the necklace
around his neck. After a long while Kartika
returned and found his brother seated there with
the necklace on.
Everything can be realised simply through love of
God. If one is able to love God, one does not
lackanything.
THE LOVE THAT FREELY G1VETH IS THE HIGHEST
PRIUE once entered into the heart of Arjuna, the
beloved friend of Sri Krishna. Arjuna thought
that none equalled ''him in love and devotion to his
Lord and Friend. The omniscient Lord, Sri
Krishna, reading the heart of His friend, took him
one day for a walk. They had not proceeded far
when Arjuna saw a strange brahmana eating dry
grass as food, but nevertheless had a sword
dangling at his side. Arjuna at once knew him to
be a holy and pious devotee of Vishnu, one whose
highest religious duty was to injure no being. As
even grass has life, he would not eat it green but
sustained his life by eating it dry and lifeless. Yet
he carried a sword.
Arjuna, wondering at the incongruity, turned
towards the Lord and said: "How is this? Here is
a man who has renounced all ideas of injuring any
living being - down to the meanest blade of grass;
yet he carries with him a sword, the symbol oF
death and hatred!" The Lord said, "You had better
ask the man yourself". Arjuna then went up to the
brahmana and said; "Sir, you injure no living being,
beloved friend of Sri Krishna. Arjuna thought
that none equalled ''him in love and devotion to his
Lord and Friend. The omniscient Lord, Sri
Krishna, reading the heart of His friend, took him
one day for a walk. They had not proceeded far
when Arjuna saw a strange brahmana eating dry
grass as food, but nevertheless had a sword
dangling at his side. Arjuna at once knew him to
be a holy and pious devotee of Vishnu, one whose
highest religious duty was to injure no being. As
even grass has life, he would not eat it green but
sustained his life by eating it dry and lifeless. Yet
he carried a sword.
Arjuna, wondering at the incongruity, turned
towards the Lord and said: "How is this? Here is
a man who has renounced all ideas of injuring any
living being - down to the meanest blade of grass;
yet he carries with him a sword, the symbol oF
death and hatred!" The Lord said, "You had better
ask the man yourself". Arjuna then went up to the
brahmana and said; "Sir, you injure no living being,
and you live upon dry grass. Why then do you
carry this sharp sword?"
The brahmana: it is to punish four persons if 1
chance to meet them.
Arjuna: Who are they?
The brahmana: The first is the wretch Narada.
Arjuna: Why, what has he done?
The brahmana: Why, look at the audacity of that
fellow; he is perpetually keeping ray Lord awake
with^ his songs and music. He has no
consideration whatsoever for the comfort of the
Lord. Day and night, in and out of season, he
disturbs the peace of the Lord by his prayers and
praises.
Arjuna: Who is the second person?
The brahmana: The impudent Draupadi!
Arjuna: What is her fault?
carry this sharp sword?"
The brahmana: it is to punish four persons if 1
chance to meet them.
Arjuna: Who are they?
The brahmana: The first is the wretch Narada.
Arjuna: Why, what has he done?
The brahmana: Why, look at the audacity of that
fellow; he is perpetually keeping ray Lord awake
with^ his songs and music. He has no
consideration whatsoever for the comfort of the
Lord. Day and night, in and out of season, he
disturbs the peace of the Lord by his prayers and
praises.
Arjuna: Who is the second person?
The brahmana: The impudent Draupadi!
Arjuna: What is her fault?
The brahmana: Look at the inconsiderate audacity
of the woman! She was so rash as to call my
beloved Lord just at the moment He was going to
dine. He had to give up His dinner and go to the
Kamyaka Yana to save the Pandavas from the
curse of Durvasa. And her presumption went so
far that she even caused my beloved Lord to eat
the impure remnant of her own food.
Arjuna: Who is the third?
The brahmana: It is the heartless Prahlada. He was
so cruel that he did not hesitate for a moment to
ask my Lord to enter the boiling cauldron of oil, to
be trodden under the heavy feet of the elephants
and to break through an adamantine pillar.
Arjuna: Who is the fourth?
The brahmana: The wretch Arjuna.
Arjuna: Why, what fault has he committed?
The brahmana: Look at his felony, he made my
beloved Lord take the mean office of a charioteer
of his car in the great wars of Kurukshetra.
Arjuna was amazed at the depth of the poorof the woman! She was so rash as to call my
beloved Lord just at the moment He was going to
dine. He had to give up His dinner and go to the
Kamyaka Yana to save the Pandavas from the
curse of Durvasa. And her presumption went so
far that she even caused my beloved Lord to eat
the impure remnant of her own food.
Arjuna: Who is the third?
The brahmana: It is the heartless Prahlada. He was
so cruel that he did not hesitate for a moment to
ask my Lord to enter the boiling cauldron of oil, to
be trodden under the heavy feet of the elephants
and to break through an adamantine pillar.
Arjuna: Who is the fourth?
The brahmana: The wretch Arjuna.
Arjuna: Why, what fault has he committed?
The brahmana: Look at his felony, he made my
beloved Lord take the mean office of a charioteer
of his car in the great wars of Kurukshetra.
brahmana's devotion and love, and from that
moment his pride vanished, and he gave up
thinking that he was the best devotee of the Lord.
THE BEST OFFERING TO GOD IS LOVE
ONCE a servant of a rich man came to his
master's house, and stood in a corner with great
reverence and humility. He held in his hand
something covered with a cloth, The Master
enquired, "What is there in your hand?" The
servant brought out a small custard-apple from
beneath the cloth and kept it humbly before the
master, feeling that he would be much gratified if
the master would take it. The master was much
pleased to see the loving devotion of the servant
and accepted the offering, though a trifle. With
great delight he exclaimed: "Ah, what a fine fruit is
this! Where did you get it from?"
In the same way God looks into the
heart of the devotee. He is infinite in His
grandeur, yet He is responsive to the influence
of love and devotion.
master's house, and stood in a corner with great
reverence and humility. He held in his hand
something covered with a cloth, The Master
enquired, "What is there in your hand?" The
servant brought out a small custard-apple from
beneath the cloth and kept it humbly before the
master, feeling that he would be much gratified if
the master would take it. The master was much
pleased to see the loving devotion of the servant
and accepted the offering, though a trifle. With
great delight he exclaimed: "Ah, what a fine fruit is
this! Where did you get it from?"
In the same way God looks into the
heart of the devotee. He is infinite in His
grandeur, yet He is responsive to the influence
of love and devotion.
THE DOUBTING SOUL PERISHES
ONCE a man was about to crass the sea.
Vibhishana wrote Rama's name on a leaf, tied it in
a corner of the man's wearing cloth, and said to
him: "Don't be afraid.
Have faith and walk on the water. But look here—
the moment you lose faith you will be drowned."
The man was walking easily on the water. Suddenly
he had an intense desire to see what was tied in his
cloth.
He opened it and found only a leaf with the name
of Rama written on it. "What is this?" he thought.
"It‟s just the name of Rama!" As soon as doubt
entered his mind he sank under the water.
Vibhishana wrote Rama's name on a leaf, tied it in
a corner of the man's wearing cloth, and said to
him: "Don't be afraid.
Have faith and walk on the water. But look here—
the moment you lose faith you will be drowned."
The man was walking easily on the water. Suddenly
he had an intense desire to see what was tied in his
cloth.
He opened it and found only a leaf with the name
of Rama written on it. "What is this?" he thought.
"It‟s just the name of Rama!" As soon as doubt
entered his mind he sank under the water.
POWER OF THE HOLY NAME
A KING who was guilty of the heinous sin of
killing a brahmana went to the hermitage of a Rishi
to learn what penance he must perform in order to
be purified. The Rishi was absent, but his son was
in the hermitage.
Hearing the case of the king, he said, "Repeat the
'name' of God (Rama) three times, and your sin
will be expiated."
When the Rishi came back and heard of the
penance prescribed by his son, he remarked
indignantly, "Sins committed in myriads of births
are purged immediately by uttering the 'name' of
the Almighty but once. How weak must be your
faith, O fool, since you have ordered the holy
'name' to be repeated thrice? For this weakness of
your faith, you shall become an outcaste." And the
son became Guhaka of the Ramayana.
killing a brahmana went to the hermitage of a Rishi
to learn what penance he must perform in order to
be purified. The Rishi was absent, but his son was
in the hermitage.
Hearing the case of the king, he said, "Repeat the
'name' of God (Rama) three times, and your sin
will be expiated."
When the Rishi came back and heard of the
penance prescribed by his son, he remarked
indignantly, "Sins committed in myriads of births
are purged immediately by uttering the 'name' of
the Almighty but once. How weak must be your
faith, O fool, since you have ordered the holy
'name' to be repeated thrice? For this weakness of
your faith, you shall become an outcaste." And the
son became Guhaka of the Ramayana.
BUT FAITH WORKS MIRACLES
A MILK-MAID used to supply milk to a
brahmana priest living on the other side of a river.
Owing to the irregularities of the boat service, she
could not supply him milk punctually every day,
Once, being rebuked for her going late, the poor
woman said, "What can I do?
I start early from my house, but have to wait for a
long time at the river bank for the boatman and the
passengers. The priest said, "Woman! They cross
the ocean of life by uttering the name of God, and
can't you cross this little river?" The simple-hearted
woman became very glad at heart on learning this
easy means of crossing the river. From the next
clay the milk was being supplied early in the
morning. One day the priest said to the woman,
"How is it that you are no longer late nowadays?"
She said, "I cross the river by uttering the name of
the Lord as you told me to do, and don't stand
now in need of a boatman." The priest could not
believe this and said, "Can you show me how you
cross the river?" The woman took him with her
and began to walk over the water. Looking
behind, the woman saw the priest in a sad plight
and said, "How, is it, sir, that you are uttering thebrahmana priest living on the other side of a river.
Owing to the irregularities of the boat service, she
could not supply him milk punctually every day,
Once, being rebuked for her going late, the poor
woman said, "What can I do?
I start early from my house, but have to wait for a
long time at the river bank for the boatman and the
passengers. The priest said, "Woman! They cross
the ocean of life by uttering the name of God, and
can't you cross this little river?" The simple-hearted
woman became very glad at heart on learning this
easy means of crossing the river. From the next
clay the milk was being supplied early in the
morning. One day the priest said to the woman,
"How is it that you are no longer late nowadays?"
She said, "I cross the river by uttering the name of
the Lord as you told me to do, and don't stand
now in need of a boatman." The priest could not
believe this and said, "Can you show me how you
cross the river?" The woman took him with her
and began to walk over the water. Looking
behind, the woman saw the priest in a sad plight
name of God with your mouth, but at the same
time with your hands you are trying to keep your
cloth untouched by water? You do not fully rely on
Him."
Entire resignation and absolute faith in God are at
the root of all miraculous deeds.
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