THE ARJUNA FACTOR- A STORY- DRIDHA NISCAYA!

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Arjuna, a noble prince of India, is the hero of many legends, not

least of which is his role in the Bhagavad Gita, the pithy collection

of verses that teaches us the essence of life on earth.

Two stories from Arjuna's life exemplify our two ideas: focus and

perspective.

 

What situations call for a clear focus? When do we need a wider

perspective?

 

Prince Arjuna had four brothers- Yudhisthira, Bhima were older than

him and Nakul and Sahadeva were younger. Collectively they were

called the Paanch Pandavas : the five Pandavas. They lived with their

cousins, the Kauravas. One day, their teacher, Acharya

Dronacharaya, showed the value of having the correct focus.

 

He showed the boys a bird on a tree and told them that they each had

to try to hit the eye of the bird. When Yudhisthira came up with his

bow and arrow, the teacher asked him,"What do you see?"

"Why, O Gurudev, I see you, the tree, my brothers, and the bird!"

"Please step aside, Yudhishthira, you are not ready to shoot your

arrow."

 

When the perplexed Yudhishthira stepped aside, Duryodhana came up. On

being asked the question, he gave an even more detailed description

of the scene. What a shock to be told by the Acharya that he was not

ready yet, to shoot his arrow! Bhima,Nakul and Sahdev had the same

experience.

 

It was then Arjuna's turn.

"What do you see, Arjuna?"

"Guruji, I see the eye of the bird."

"Don't you see the tree, the sky, your brothers or me?"

"No, Guruji," said Arjuna with is eye on his target, "I see only

the eye of the bird."

"Well done, Arjuna! You are indeed ready to shoot at your

target."

 

Duryodhan's jealousy grew, when, as expected, that skilled archer got

his mark. Dronacharaya was able to give his students a lesson on the

value of a single-minded focus on a target, concentrating only on the

task at hand, to the exclusion of all else.

 

PL access THE FOLLOWING URL for further explanation

 

 

http://www.geocities.com/holistic-life/arjuna.html - 8k - Cached

 

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Taking as a bow the great weapon of the Upanishad,

One should put upon it an arrow sharpened by meditation.

Stretching it with a thought directed to the essence of That,

Penetrate that Imperishable as the mark, my friend.

 

The mystic syllable Om is the bow. The arrow is the soul.

Brahma is said to be the mark.

By the undistracted man is It to be penetrated.

One should come to be in It, as the arrow [in the mark].[30]

 

The above verse is from the Mundaka upanishad

 

AUM! AUM SHANTI! AUM SHANTIHI!