Guest guest Posted January 22, 2002 Report Share Posted January 22, 2002 Once upon a time there lived a great Hunter who used to take pride in his hunting skills. Regularly he used to go for hunting. With the help of a bow and arrows, just by listening to the noices made by the animals, he was able to shoot even in the darkness! One day, he happens to go deep in to the forest and finds a Hermit who was in deep meditation. He goes to that Hermit and questions him on what he is doing... The hermit replies that he is trying to find the true meaning of life... But for the Hunter that sounded quite funny, for he was unable to understand on how can anybody find truemeaning of life just by sitting at some place! After taking rest for some time the Hunter goes on his way again for hunting. But he also started thinking on what could be the true meaning of life! While thinking that he shoots an arrow and by mistake kills a man who has gone in to the forest for collecting herbal medicines. Actually, while shooting that very same arrow which took somebody's life he changes his mind, he also wanted to search the meaning of life --- he is no more interested in his hunting --- so he doesn't even bother to go and look at the animal which was hit by his just released arrow, thus he doesn't know that he killed somebody... The hunter walks back to the Hermit and tells him that he is also interested in finding out the true meaning of life. The hermit advises him to close his eyes and think... The hunter sits quite and closes his eyes and starts thinking about the true meaning of life.... Slowly he starts realizing what is life, and what is living... Thus sitting there for quite some time he enters in to Samadhi and he realizes his true self.... The Hunter is no more a Hunter but a Realized Mahatma.... However, the wife of the Medicine Man who is killed in the forest launches a complaint to the King saying her husband is killed by a Hunter's arrow, so the King should find the culprit and bring him to justice. So the King dispatches his Police. Finally the police were able to trace and catch the Mahatma, who used to be a Hunter, they bring him to the royal court. The King questions the Mahatma, showing him the evidence of the Arrow and asks him "Is this Arrow yours?" Mahatmas says Yes. The King questions again "On so and so date did you release this arrow?" Mahatma says Yes. "Then did you see what happend to this Arrow?" asks the King "No" replies the Mahatma "Why?" questions the King "Because I lost Interest, I changed my mind after releasing the arrow... I wanted to find the true meaning of life so I went away" replies the Mahatma. "But do you know you killed a Human?" The King questions again --- thinking that this fellow is trying to escape punishment by giving false statements! The Mahatma keeps silent about that... So the King punishes him with life imprisenment along with 10 lashes everyday... Even after listening to the judgement the Mahatma keeps silent... And he was taken in to Jail... The Mahatma thus spent the rest of the life in the Prision by undergoing the punishment... --- Question1: Who is punished by the King? The Hunter or the Mahatma! Question2: If the Hunter is punished then that means the Mahatma is not there! Question3: What strikes immediately your mind related to this story (Of course, other than the word "Nonsence" :-) :-)) Yours, Madhava Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2002 Report Share Posted January 23, 2002 --- "Madhava K. Turumella" <madhava wrote: > > Even after listening to the judgement the Mahatma > keeps silent... And he was > taken in to Jail... The Mahatma thus spent the rest > of the life in the > Prision by undergoing the punishment... > > --- > Question1: Who is punished by the King? The Hunter > or the Mahatma! > Question2: If the Hunter is punished then that means > the Mahatma is not > there! > Question3: What strikes immediately your mind > related to this story (Of > course, other than the word "Nonsence" :-) :-)) Namaste Madhava, This is a brilliant story that every law student should study. There is so much potential for discussion for example Who/What really fired the arrow? I will consider your question 3 although this includes the central word 'punishment' along with the other two. In our societies we imprison/punish so many people who, having come to a crisis in their lives, turn away from past and present action and 'wake up'. In the above story: How is the herbalist's wife served by the jailing of the mahatma? How are the potential pupils of the mahatma going to hear his wisdom? What of the effect on the hunter's wife and family? Who is really effected by the punishment? The mahatma is now free of the bonds of environment. Indeed, both the Hunter and Mahatma were transient phases, roles to be played just as much as that of the 'Victim'. Obviously we can lift this story out of this level of interpretation for it has its universal meanings also but on first reading the above comments arose in answer to your question. My morning study of the words of Sri Anandamayee in 1948 are relevant: 'The word manush ( man) is derived from 'man' ( mind) and hush (conscious) which denotes the mind's awareness and vigilance. This shows that man's natural calling is to attain Self-knowledge. When children learn to read and write they have to accept rebuke and censure. God, too, now and again administers to man a mild beating; this is but a token of His Mercy. From the worldly standpoint such blows are extremely painful, but actually they bring about a change of heart and lead to Peace; by disturbing worldly happiness they induce man to seek the path to Supreme Bliss.' Later in the same section she writes: 'Whatever is to happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time is all fixed by Him; His arrangements are perfect.' This goes for the judge, lawyers, herbalist and hermit and all the other roles in the above story so with this view does the word 'punishment' change its emphasis and would such a change enlighten our law-courts? Are we ready to sit at the feet of the young American captured fighting in Afghanistan? What insights may he have had! Speculation I know but worthy of refelction maybe. Om sri ram Ken Knight Send FREE video emails in Mail! http://promo./videomail/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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