[Fwd: manobodhaH - 9]

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"Giridhar Srinivasaraghava Varadachari" giridhar

"Shree" shree

Re: manobodhaH - 9

Fri, 6 Mar 1998 12:02:39 -0000

hello shree

 

was contemplating on the verses yesterday evening. Such potential meaning

in it. Was only reminded of the various vivekachudamani classes we had on

Friday mornings. Adi shankaracharya in one of the verses in the book

speaks so derogatory of selfishness - he says that selfish works increases

desires and desires gives birth to selfishness. Was remembering one of the

many stories narrated by Ramakrishna paramahamsa-

 

A barber while walking on a deserted road heard a voice ask him whether he

needed seven jars of gold. the barber in his desire to become rich said

yes. The voice asked him to return to his house where he will find the

jars of gold. the barber ran all the way home and found that there were

seven jars but only six was filled up with gold. the seventh one was only

half full. Now the barber had the strong desire to fill up the seventh one

also and he started putting all his earnings into it. But the jar did not

fill up. The barber went without food to save up more money and he even

went to the king (for whom he was working) and asked for an increase in his

pay. he was granted that also and still the jar did not fill up. the king

noticed that the barber was becoming very thin and asked him one day why he

was not happy with the increased pay whereas he was much happier with

lesser pay. The king enquired whether the barber had the seven jars. Now

the barber was really taken aback by the king's words and asked him how he

knew the secret. The king replied that he was also once offered the seven

jars by a voice and instead of taking it immediately the king asked back

the voice whether the gold was to be spent or is it for mere hoarding. The

voice did not reply back and the king came away. Narrating this the king

told the barber to return the jars since the jars bring only the desire of

hoarding. The barber came to his senses and when he returned the jars

back, he had lost even his life long savings. Selfish act is like the

seventh jar of gold - always half full and increasing the desire to make it

full.

 

It is therefore imperative on our part to cut the selfish thoughts as and

when they arise in our minds. What is the most difficult to be controlled

- it is the mind since it is like a monkey. But it has got to be tied to

the pole of bhakthi/devotion to the Lord.

 

Bi for now

 

With love and regards

 

giri and shanthi