WHEN asked why he did not lead the life of a
householder with his wife, the Master replied:
'Kartikeya (Son of Siva) one day happened to
scratch a cat with his nail. On going home, he saw
that there was the mark of a scratch on the cheek
of his Divine Mother, Parvati. Seeing this he asked
her, 'Mother, low did you get this ugly scratch on
your cheek?' The mother of the universe replied,
'This is the work of your own hand; it is the scratch
of your nail.' Kartikeya asked in wonder: 'How is it,
Mother? I do not remember to have scratched you
at any time. The Mother replied, 'Darling, have you
forgotten the fact of your laving scratched a cat
this morning?' Kartikeya said, Yes, I did scratch a
cat, but how did your cheek get the scar?' The
Mother replied, 'Dear child, nothing exists in this
world but Myself. The whole creation is Myself;
whomsoever you may hurt, you only hurt me.'
Kartikeya was greatly surprised to hear this; and
then he determined never to marry. For, whom
could he marry? Every woman was mother to him.
Realizing thus the motherhood of woman, he gave
up marriage. I am like Kartikeya. I consider every
woman as my Divine Mother."
Saturday, December 29, 2012
HOW'S A FALLEN SANNYASI
Do you know how it looks for a Sannyasi to accept
money or to be attached to an object of
temptation? It is as if a brahmana widow who had
practised continence and lived on simple boiled
rice and vegetables and milk for many years, were
suddenly to accept an untouchable as her
paramour.
There was a low-caste woman named Bhagi Teli in
our part of the country. "She had many disciples
and devotees. Finding that she, a Sudra, was being
saluted by people, the land-lord became jealous and
engaged a wicked man to tempt her. He succeeded
in corrupting her and all her spiritual practice came
to nothing. A fallen Sannyasi is like that.
money or to be attached to an object of
temptation? It is as if a brahmana widow who had
practised continence and lived on simple boiled
rice and vegetables and milk for many years, were
suddenly to accept an untouchable as her
paramour.
There was a low-caste woman named Bhagi Teli in
our part of the country. "She had many disciples
and devotees. Finding that she, a Sudra, was being
saluted by people, the land-lord became jealous and
engaged a wicked man to tempt her. He succeeded
in corrupting her and all her spiritual practice came
to nothing. A fallen Sannyasi is like that.
MODERN JANAKAS!
A GENTLEMAN of modern education was once
discussing with the Master the nature of householder
uncontaminated by worldliness. To him, the
Master said, "I know of what sort is your
'uncontaminated family-man' of the present day! If
a poor brahmana comes to beg of this master of
the house, he (being an uncontaminated familyman
and having no concern with money matters,
for it is his wife who manages all those things!) says
to the begging brahmana, 'Sir, I never touch
money, why do you waste your time in begging of
me?' The brahmana, however, proves inexorable.
Fired with his importunate entreaties your
uncontaminated family-man thinks within himself
that he must be paid a rupee, and tells him openly:
'Well, sir, come tomorrow, I shall see what 1 can
do for you.' Then going in, this typical householder
tells his wife, 'Look here, my dear, a poor
brahmana is in great distress; let us give him a
rupee.' Hearing the word 'rupee' his wife gets out
of temper and says tauntingly, 'Aha, what a
generous fellow you are! Are rupees like leaves and
straws to be thrown away without the least
thought?" 'Well, my dear,' replies the master in an
apologetic tone, 'the brahmana is very poor and we
should not give him less.' 'No', says his wife, T
cannot spare so much. Here is a two Anna bit; you
can give that to him, if you like.' As the Babu is a
family-man quite uncontaminated by worldliness,
he takes, of course, what his wife gives him, and
next day the beggar gets only a two Anna piece.
So you see, your so-called uncontaminated familymen
are really not masters of themselves. Because
they do not look after their family-affairs, they
think that they are good and holy men, while, as a
matter of fact, they are hen-pecked husbands
guided entirely by their wives, and so are but very
poor specimens even of common humanity."
discussing with the Master the nature of householder
uncontaminated by worldliness. To him, the
Master said, "I know of what sort is your
'uncontaminated family-man' of the present day! If
a poor brahmana comes to beg of this master of
the house, he (being an uncontaminated familyman
and having no concern with money matters,
for it is his wife who manages all those things!) says
to the begging brahmana, 'Sir, I never touch
money, why do you waste your time in begging of
me?' The brahmana, however, proves inexorable.
Fired with his importunate entreaties your
uncontaminated family-man thinks within himself
that he must be paid a rupee, and tells him openly:
'Well, sir, come tomorrow, I shall see what 1 can
do for you.' Then going in, this typical householder
tells his wife, 'Look here, my dear, a poor
brahmana is in great distress; let us give him a
rupee.' Hearing the word 'rupee' his wife gets out
of temper and says tauntingly, 'Aha, what a
generous fellow you are! Are rupees like leaves and
straws to be thrown away without the least
thought?" 'Well, my dear,' replies the master in an
apologetic tone, 'the brahmana is very poor and we
should not give him less.' 'No', says his wife, T
cannot spare so much. Here is a two Anna bit; you
can give that to him, if you like.' As the Babu is a
family-man quite uncontaminated by worldliness,
he takes, of course, what his wife gives him, and
next day the beggar gets only a two Anna piece.
So you see, your so-called uncontaminated familymen
are really not masters of themselves. Because
they do not look after their family-affairs, they
think that they are good and holy men, while, as a
matter of fact, they are hen-pecked husbands
guided entirely by their wives, and so are but very
poor specimens even of common humanity."
GREATER EVEN THAN THE GURU!
A POOR brahmana had a rich cloth merchant as
his disciple. The merchant was very miserly by
nature. One day the brahmana was in need of a
small piece of cloth for covering his sacred book.
He went to his disciple and asked for the required
piece of cloth; but the merchant replied: "I am very
sorry, sir. Had you told me of this a few hours
earlier, I would have given you the thing wanted.
Unfortunately, now I have no small piece of cloth
which will answer your purpose. However, I shall
remember your requirement, but please remind me
of it now and then." The brahmana had to go
away disappointed. This conversation between the
guru and his worthy disciple was overheard by the
wife of the latter from behind a screen. She at once
sent a man after the brahmana, and calling him
inside the house, said, "Revered Father, what is it
that you were asking from the master of the
house?" The brahmana related all what had
happened. The wife said: "Please go home sir; you
will get the cloth tomorrow morning." When that
merchant returned home at night the wife asked
him, "Have you closed your shop?" The merchant
said, "Yes, what is the matter?" She said, "Go at
once and bring two cloths of the best quality in the
shop." He said, "Why this hurry? I shall give you
the best cloth tomorrow morning." The wife,
however, insisted, "No, T must have them just
now or not at all." What could the poor merchant
do? The person whom he had now to deal with
was not the spiritual guru whom he could send
away with vague and indefinite promises, but the
'curtain guru' whose behests must be
instantaneously obeyed, or else there would be no
peace for him at home. At last the merchant,
willingly enough, opened the shop, at that late hour
of the night, and brought the cloths for her. Early
next morning, the good lady sent the article to the
guru with the message, "If in future you want
anything from us, ask me, and you will get it."
his disciple. The merchant was very miserly by
nature. One day the brahmana was in need of a
small piece of cloth for covering his sacred book.
He went to his disciple and asked for the required
piece of cloth; but the merchant replied: "I am very
sorry, sir. Had you told me of this a few hours
earlier, I would have given you the thing wanted.
Unfortunately, now I have no small piece of cloth
which will answer your purpose. However, I shall
remember your requirement, but please remind me
of it now and then." The brahmana had to go
away disappointed. This conversation between the
guru and his worthy disciple was overheard by the
wife of the latter from behind a screen. She at once
sent a man after the brahmana, and calling him
inside the house, said, "Revered Father, what is it
that you were asking from the master of the
house?" The brahmana related all what had
happened. The wife said: "Please go home sir; you
will get the cloth tomorrow morning." When that
merchant returned home at night the wife asked
him, "Have you closed your shop?" The merchant
said, "Yes, what is the matter?" She said, "Go at
once and bring two cloths of the best quality in the
shop." He said, "Why this hurry? I shall give you
the best cloth tomorrow morning." The wife,
however, insisted, "No, T must have them just
now or not at all." What could the poor merchant
do? The person whom he had now to deal with
was not the spiritual guru whom he could send
away with vague and indefinite promises, but the
'curtain guru' whose behests must be
instantaneously obeyed, or else there would be no
peace for him at home. At last the merchant,
willingly enough, opened the shop, at that late hour
of the night, and brought the cloths for her. Early
next morning, the good lady sent the article to the
guru with the message, "If in future you want
anything from us, ask me, and you will get it."
BHAGAVATA IN THE EAR, BROTHEL IN THE MIND
Once, two friends were going along the street
hen they saw somwe people listening to a reading
of the Bhagavata. "Come, friend," said the one to
the other, "let us hear the sacred book." So saying
he went in and sat down. The second man peeped
in and went away. He entered a house of ill fame.
But very soon he felt disgusted with the place.
"Shame on me!" he said to himself. "My friend has
been listening to the sacred word of Hari and see
where I am!" But the friend who had been listening
to the Bhagavata also became disgusted. "What a
fool I am!" he said. "I have been listening to this
fellow's blah-blah, and my friend is having a grand
time." In course of time they both died. The
messenger of death came for the soul of one who
had listened to the Bhagavata and dragged it off to
hell. The messenger of God came for the soul of
the one who had been to the house of prostitution
and led it up to heaven.
Verily, the Lord looks into a man's heart and does
not judge him by what he does or where he lives.
hen they saw somwe people listening to a reading
of the Bhagavata. "Come, friend," said the one to
the other, "let us hear the sacred book." So saying
he went in and sat down. The second man peeped
in and went away. He entered a house of ill fame.
But very soon he felt disgusted with the place.
"Shame on me!" he said to himself. "My friend has
been listening to the sacred word of Hari and see
where I am!" But the friend who had been listening
to the Bhagavata also became disgusted. "What a
fool I am!" he said. "I have been listening to this
fellow's blah-blah, and my friend is having a grand
time." In course of time they both died. The
messenger of death came for the soul of one who
had listened to the Bhagavata and dragged it off to
hell. The messenger of God came for the soul of
the one who had been to the house of prostitution
and led it up to heaven.
Verily, the Lord looks into a man's heart and does
not judge him by what he does or where he lives.
MASTER OF EVERYTHING, SLAVE OF SEX!
A JOB-SEEKER got tired of visiting the manager
in an office. He couldn't get the job. The manager
said to him, "There is no vacancy now; but come
and f see me now and then." This went on for a
long time, and the candidate lost all hope. One day
he told his tale of woe to a friend. The friend said:
"How stupid you are! Why are you wearing away
the soles of your feet going to that fellow? You had
better go to Golap. You will get the job
tomorrow." "Is that so?" said the candidate. "I
am going right away." Golap was the manager's
mistress. The candidate called on her and said:
"'Mother, I am in great distress. You must help me
out of it. 1 am the son of a poor brahmana. Where
else shall I go for help? Mother I have been out of
work many days. My children are about to starve to
death. I can get a job if you but say a word." Golap
said to him, "Child, whom should I speak to?" She
said to herself: "Ah, the poor brahmana! He has
been suffering too much." The candidate said to
her, "I am sure to get the job if you just put in a
word about it to the manager." Golap said, "I shall
speak to him today and settle the matter." The very
next morning a man called on the candidate and
said, "You are to work in the manager's office,
from today." The manager said to his English boss:
"This man is very competent. I have appointed
him. He will do credit to the firm."
in an office. He couldn't get the job. The manager
said to him, "There is no vacancy now; but come
and f see me now and then." This went on for a
long time, and the candidate lost all hope. One day
he told his tale of woe to a friend. The friend said:
"How stupid you are! Why are you wearing away
the soles of your feet going to that fellow? You had
better go to Golap. You will get the job
tomorrow." "Is that so?" said the candidate. "I
am going right away." Golap was the manager's
mistress. The candidate called on her and said:
"'Mother, I am in great distress. You must help me
out of it. 1 am the son of a poor brahmana. Where
else shall I go for help? Mother I have been out of
work many days. My children are about to starve to
death. I can get a job if you but say a word." Golap
said to him, "Child, whom should I speak to?" She
said to herself: "Ah, the poor brahmana! He has
been suffering too much." The candidate said to
her, "I am sure to get the job if you just put in a
word about it to the manager." Golap said, "I shall
speak to him today and settle the matter." The very
next morning a man called on the candidate and
said, "You are to work in the manager's office,
from today." The manager said to his English boss:
"This man is very competent. I have appointed
him. He will do credit to the firm."
THE FALL OF THE TWELVE HUNDRED
THERE is the story of twelve hundred nedas10 and
thirteen hundred nedis11. Virabhadra, the son of
Nityananda Goswami had thirteen hundred
'shaven headed' disciples. They attained great
spiritual powers. That alarmed their teacher. "My
disciples have acquired great spiritual powers,"
thought Virabhadra. "Whatever they say to people
will come to pass. Wherever they go they may
create alarming situations; for people offending
them unwittingly will come to grief." Thinking
thus, Virabhadra one day called them to him and
said, "See me after performing your daily devotions
on the banks of the Ganges." These disciples had
such high spiritual nature that, while meditating,
they would go into Samadhi and be unaware of the
river water flowing over their heads during the
flood-tide. Then the ebb-tide would come and still
they would remain absorbed in meditation.
Now, one hundred of these disciples had
anticipated what their teacher would ask of them.
Lest they should have to disobey his injunctions,
they had quickly disappeared from the place before
he summoned them. So, they did not go to
Virabhadra with others. The remaining twelve
hundred disciples went to the teacher after
finishing their morning meditations. Virabhadra
said to them: "These thirteen hundred nuns will
serve you.
I ask you to marry them." "As you please, revered
sir," they said. "But one hundred of us have gone '
away." Thenceforth each of these twelve hundred
disciples had a wife. Consequently they all lost their
spiritual power. Their austerities did not have their
original fire. The company of women robbed them
of their spirituality because it destroyed their
freedom.
thirteen hundred nedis11. Virabhadra, the son of
Nityananda Goswami had thirteen hundred
'shaven headed' disciples. They attained great
spiritual powers. That alarmed their teacher. "My
disciples have acquired great spiritual powers,"
thought Virabhadra. "Whatever they say to people
will come to pass. Wherever they go they may
create alarming situations; for people offending
them unwittingly will come to grief." Thinking
thus, Virabhadra one day called them to him and
said, "See me after performing your daily devotions
on the banks of the Ganges." These disciples had
such high spiritual nature that, while meditating,
they would go into Samadhi and be unaware of the
river water flowing over their heads during the
flood-tide. Then the ebb-tide would come and still
they would remain absorbed in meditation.
Now, one hundred of these disciples had
anticipated what their teacher would ask of them.
Lest they should have to disobey his injunctions,
they had quickly disappeared from the place before
he summoned them. So, they did not go to
Virabhadra with others. The remaining twelve
hundred disciples went to the teacher after
finishing their morning meditations. Virabhadra
said to them: "These thirteen hundred nuns will
serve you.
I ask you to marry them." "As you please, revered
sir," they said. "But one hundred of us have gone '
away." Thenceforth each of these twelve hundred
disciples had a wife. Consequently they all lost their
spiritual power. Their austerities did not have their
original fire. The company of women robbed them
of their spirituality because it destroyed their
freedom.
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