WHEN Rama and Lakshmana went to take their
bath in Pampa Lake, they thrust their bows into
the ground. Coming out of the water, Lakshmana
took out his bow and found its tip stained with
blood. Rama said to him:
"Look, brother! Look. Perhaps we have hurt some
creature." Lakshmana dug in the earth and found a
big bull frog. It was dying. Rama said to the frog in
a sorrowful voice: "Why didn't you croak? We
should have tried to save you. You croak lustily
enough when you are in the jaws of a snake." The
frog said:
"O Lord when I am attacked by a snake I croak,
saying: 'O Rama, save me!' This time I found that it
was Rama Himself who was killing me; so I kept
still."
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
LORD NARAYANA AND HIS SELFDEFENDING DEVOTEE
ONCE, Lakshmi and Narayana were seated in
Vaikuntha, when Narayana suddenly stood up.
Lakshmi had been stroking his feet. She said,
"Lord, where are you going?" Narayana answered:
"One of My devotees is in great danger. I must
save him." With these words He went out. But He
came back immediately. Lakshmi said, "Lord, why
have You returned so soon?"
Narayana smiled and said: "The devotee was going
along the road overwhelmed with love for Me.
Some washermen were drying clothes on the grass
and the devotee walked over the clothes. At this
the washermen chased him and were going to beat
him with their sticks.
So I ran out to protect him." "But why have You
come back?" asked Lakshmi. Narayana laughed
and said, "I saw the devotee himself picking up a
brick to throw at them. So I came back."
Vaikuntha, when Narayana suddenly stood up.
Lakshmi had been stroking his feet. She said,
"Lord, where are you going?" Narayana answered:
"One of My devotees is in great danger. I must
save him." With these words He went out. But He
came back immediately. Lakshmi said, "Lord, why
have You returned so soon?"
Narayana smiled and said: "The devotee was going
along the road overwhelmed with love for Me.
Some washermen were drying clothes on the grass
and the devotee walked over the clothes. At this
the washermen chased him and were going to beat
him with their sticks.
So I ran out to protect him." "But why have You
come back?" asked Lakshmi. Narayana laughed
and said, "I saw the devotee himself picking up a
brick to throw at them. So I came back."
SELF-HELP AND SELF-SURRENDER
A FATHER was once passing through u field with
his two little sons. He was carrying one of them in
his arms while the other was walking along with
him holding his hand. They saw a kite flying and
the latter boy giving up his hold on his father's
hand, began to clap his hands with joy, crying,
"Behold, papa, there is a kite!" But immediately he
stumbled down and got hurt. The boy who was
carried by the father also clapped the hands with
joy, but did not fall, as his father was holding him.
The first boy represents self-help in spiritual
matters, and the second self-surrender.
his two little sons. He was carrying one of them in
his arms while the other was walking along with
him holding his hand. They saw a kite flying and
the latter boy giving up his hold on his father's
hand, began to clap his hands with joy, crying,
"Behold, papa, there is a kite!" But immediately he
stumbled down and got hurt. The boy who was
carried by the father also clapped the hands with
joy, but did not fall, as his father was holding him.
The first boy represents self-help in spiritual
matters, and the second self-surrender.
Monday, December 31, 2012
HOW A GURU TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLE TO SEE GOD
A DISCIPLE asked his teacher, "Sir, please tell me
how I can sec God." "Come with me," said the
Guru, "and I shall show you." He took, the disciple
to a lake, and both of them got into the water.
Suddenly the teacher pressed the disciple's head
under the water. After a few moments he released
him and the disciple raised his head and stood up.
The Guru asked him, "How did you feel?" The
disciple said, “Oh! I thought I should die; I was
panting for breath”. The teacher said, "When you
feel like that for God, then you will know you
how I can sec God." "Come with me," said the
Guru, "and I shall show you." He took, the disciple
to a lake, and both of them got into the water.
Suddenly the teacher pressed the disciple's head
under the water. After a few moments he released
him and the disciple raised his head and stood up.
The Guru asked him, "How did you feel?" The
disciple said, “Oh! I thought I should die; I was
panting for breath”. The teacher said, "When you
feel like that for God, then you will know you
IF YOU ARE EARNEST
A MAN may not know the right path, but if he has
bhakti and the desire to know God, then he attains
Hint through the force of sheer bhakti.
Once, a sincere devotee set out on a pilgrimage to
the temple of Jagannath in Puri. He did not know
the way; he went west instead of south. He, no
doubt, strayed from the right path, but always
eagerly asked people the way, and they gave him
the right directions, saying, This is not the path;
follow that one.' At last the devotee was able to get
to Puri and worship the Deity.
So you see, even if you are ignorant, some one will
tell you the way if you are earnest.
bhakti and the desire to know God, then he attains
Hint through the force of sheer bhakti.
Once, a sincere devotee set out on a pilgrimage to
the temple of Jagannath in Puri. He did not know
the way; he went west instead of south. He, no
doubt, strayed from the right path, but always
eagerly asked people the way, and they gave him
the right directions, saying, This is not the path;
follow that one.' At last the devotee was able to get
to Puri and worship the Deity.
So you see, even if you are ignorant, some one will
tell you the way if you are earnest.
THAT DIVINE YEARNING
GOD cannot be seen without yearning of heart,
and this yearning is impossible unless one has
finished with the experiences of life. Those who
live surrounded by 'woman and gold', and have not
yet come to the end of their experiences, do not
yearn for God.
When I lived at Kamarpukur, Hriday's son, a child
of four or five years old, used to spend the whole
day with me. He played with toys and almost
forgot everything else. But no sooner did evening
come than he would say, "I want to go to my
mother." I would try to cajole him in various ways
and would say, "Here, I'll give you a pigeon." But
he wouldn't be consoled with such things; he
would weep and cry, "I want to go to my mother."
He didn't enjoy playing any more. I myself wept to
see his state.
One should cry for God that way, like a child. That
is what it means to be restless for God. One
doesn't enjoy play or food any longer. After one's
experiences of the world are over, one feels thisand this yearning is impossible unless one has
finished with the experiences of life. Those who
live surrounded by 'woman and gold', and have not
yet come to the end of their experiences, do not
yearn for God.
When I lived at Kamarpukur, Hriday's son, a child
of four or five years old, used to spend the whole
day with me. He played with toys and almost
forgot everything else. But no sooner did evening
come than he would say, "I want to go to my
mother." I would try to cajole him in various ways
and would say, "Here, I'll give you a pigeon." But
he wouldn't be consoled with such things; he
would weep and cry, "I want to go to my mother."
He didn't enjoy playing any more. I myself wept to
see his state.
One should cry for God that way, like a child. That
is what it means to be restless for God. One
doesn't enjoy play or food any longer. After one's
restlessness and weeps for God.
TO HAVE GENUINE YEARNING FOR GOD IS TO ATTAIN HIM
A MAN had a daughter who became a widow
when she was very young. She had never known
her husband. She noticed the husbands of other
girls and said one day to her father, "Where is my
husband?"
The father replied: "Govinda25 is your husband. He
will come to you if you call Him." At these words
the girl went to her room, closed the door, and
cried, to Govinda, saying: "O Govinda, come to
me! Show Yourself to me! Why don't you come?"
God could not resist the girl's piteous cry and
appeared before her.
when she was very young. She had never known
her husband. She noticed the husbands of other
girls and said one day to her father, "Where is my
husband?"
The father replied: "Govinda25 is your husband. He
will come to you if you call Him." At these words
the girl went to her room, closed the door, and
cried, to Govinda, saying: "O Govinda, come to
me! Show Yourself to me! Why don't you come?"
God could not resist the girl's piteous cry and
appeared before her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)