RE: the prayer of the frog - Remembering my teacher

[Guest guest]

Dear Prof. Murthyji:

 

Coincidentally, this is the last book my beloved teacher Swamini

Saradapriyananda amma gave to me, when I physically visited her for the last

time in Madras in the month of January...

 

Amma was living in a Furnished apartment rented by Chinmaya Mission for the

treatment purpose. The chair which Amma used to sit did not have wheels.

So when ever she wanted to give darshan to visiting disciples she was

dragging the chair to the edge of the window. (disciples are allowed to see

her only through the window)

 

I am allowed to be with Amma inside the room. And in the morning Amma told

me that the chair is not convenient. Immediately I went to get an easy

chair with wheels. Rajan was eager enough to offer such kind of chair which

he has at his home. But that was not comfortable enough to amma as she had

become physically too week! Hence, I searched through all most the whole

Madras to buy a very good chair and finally I got one. I brought it back

home. Amma sat in that chair for a few minutes... smiled at me... And asked

"Madhava, this chair is very good... Must be costly.." I nodded my head...

She asked again "How much time did it take for you to search for this?" I

said "Eight hours". Amma looked at me and said "Looks like you are too

tired... You must be becoming used to all those worldly comforts?" I kept

quite, but I knew I was very tired, and I have become too used to these AC

rooms and Cars, looks like Madras heat has taken a toll on me!

 

Amma asked again: "You had your lunch?. I shook my head. Immediately Amma

asked the cook to serve food for me. That was almost 5PM. So I told

her"Amma I shall perform my evening sandhyavandan and will have a early

dinner, I am not feeling hungry anyway..." Amma kept quite for some time.

I was sitting on the floor in the room.... Amma was having this book next

to her. Then she gave me this blue color book and told me in a humorous

way "Madhava this is for you... You have walked through Madras streets in

search of a chair for 8 hours renouncing the food, read this book, it

conveys a lot of messages..." I took that book.... Yes it is the same book

"The prayer of the frog".... I have become too fond of this book and It is

now with Swamini Seelananda in India.

 

Yesterday night I was talking to Rajan standing in the parking lot. We were

remembering Swamini Amma... At that time I wished that somebody post some

articles from this book. :-) Rajan is going to be surprised. Thank you

Murthygaru, though unknowingly, you have listened what heart is trying

convey... YES! IT IS A BEAUTIFUL BOOK. ONE OF THOSE LAST MESSAGES TO ME FROM

MY TEACHER.

 

Yours,

Madhvaa

 

 

 

Gummuluru Murthy [gmurthy]

Wednesday, June 28, 2000 3:11 PM

advaitin

the prayer of the frog

 

 

 

namaste.

 

The book by title "Prayer of the frog" by Anthony de Mello is an

excellent collection of short stories/anecdotes, which, when reflected

upon, have profound truth behind them. The book is published by Gujarat

Sahitya Prakasha, from Anand, India and is in two volumes. I was told

the book is currently out of print.

 

I will be posting some short stories/events out of these volumes which

I hope the List-members will find interesting for reflection on the

thought behind the stories.

 

Regards

Gummuluru Murthy

----

 

 

GRACE

 

A priest was sitting at his desk by the window composing a sermon

on Providence when he heard something that sounded like an explosion.

Soon he saw people running to and fro in panic and discovered that

a dam had burst, the river was in spate and the people were being

evacuated.

 

The priest saw the water begin to rise in the street below. He had

some difficulty suppressing his own rising sense of panic but he said

to himslef, "Here I am preparing a sermon about Providence and I am

being given an occasion to practise what I preach. I shall not flee

with the rest. I shall stay right here and trust in the providence

of God to save me."

 

By the time the water reached his window a boat full of peole came

by. "Jump in, Father," they shouted. "Ah no, my children," said Father

confidently. "I trust in the providence of God to save me."

 

Father did climb to the roof, however, and when the water got up there

another boatload of people went by, urging Father to join them. Again

he refused.

 

This time he climbed to the top of the bellfry. When the water came

up to his knees an officer in a motorboat was sent to rescue him.

"No thank you, officer," said Father, with a calm smile. "I trust

in God, you see. He will never let me down."

 

When Father drowned and went to heaven the first thing he did was to

complain to God. "I trusted you! Why did you do nothing to save me?"

 

"Well," said God. "I did send three boats, you know."

 

 

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