RE: [ramakrishna] Of Vahanas and Two Sisters

[Guest guest]

>

> JAIRAM SESHADRI [sMTP:seshadri]

> Sunday, October 24, 1999 4:45 AM

> Ramakrishna

> [ramakrishna] Of Vahanas and Two Sisters

>

> Thinking back on those two encounters, i somehow felt that these birds

> and animals know far, far, far more than we humans think we know of

> them....they are far more sociable and attached to each other, far

> more communicative, far more aware...

[Madhava Replies:]

 

In deed, that is a wonderful experience. I also had similar

encounters. In the year 1990 I spent my days in an Ashram learning vedanta

at the lotus feet of my guru. Since the ashram is in a remote area, we

often find deadly snakes around there.

 

I adore Lord Siva. Eveyday morning 3:30AM I used to get up and

meditate / offer my prayers to Lord Siva, then go for the satsang which is

at 5AM in the morning. One day, after the meditation I opened my eyes to see

a very big snake, with its full vigor, looking at me. Some how, I did not

feel the fear of it. I was meditating on Lord Siva and after all this is

his ornament! It has stared at me for a few minutes and crawled near to my

pillow and settled there. I went on to my satsang and returned at 7AM and

found that the snake was sleeping over there! At first I could not

comprehend the fact that the snake is settling down there. Then I slowly

sat there on the bed. It has moved a bit and looked at me and again got

back into its relaxed posture, as if I am not a harmful creature :-) as if

it didn't care about my presence there :-) I also felt a friendly feeling

towards that snake! Any way, it has lived with me in the same kutia, near

my sleeping pillow, for almost 6 months! Those days people used to talk

about the snake and me in the ashram :-) I often used to watch a lot of

snakes around my kutia, I guess they were the visiting friends of my room

mate :-) (kutia = a small hut made of mud walls with a thatched roof).

 

Our teacher never allow anybody to kill snakes or harm any beings

that are living/visiting the ashram. She says "All these creatures have

been here even before us. By constructing the ashram we have invaded their

privacy. They, in a way, allowed us to live here. So let us not humiliate

them by misunderstanding their hospitality." By the way, in spite of all

these wild creatures living around in the ashram, there has never been a

case of snake bite or any such thing happened in the ashram!

 

Regards,

Madhava