a new web-site and a new joke..

[Guest guest]

Here is a website I came across recently:

http://www.stephen-knapp.com/

Stephen has written numerous books such as "The Secret Teachings of

the Vedas", "Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence" etc etc

 

Also his web-site contains several free e-books such as

Why Be a Hindu: The Advantages of the Vedic Path

(http://www.stephen-knapp.com/why_be_a_hindu.htm)

 

I see some heavy discussions surrounding purpose of life etc in the

e-group. As Stephen

Knapp says in his web-site "Sometimes we need to lighten up, not

take life so seriously. So in that regard, here is a page of humor

and joke that will lighten things up a bit. "

 

THE RED PHONE

 

This is a joke that I often tell, with my own

embellishments, while on lecture tours in India. You'll see why.

 

There was a simple and little Hindu priest who lived in

Mathura. Once he had the chance to go visit the Pope at the Vatican

in Italy. After traveling to the Vatican, he walked up the steps and

through the halls of the opulent building where the Pope stayed. He

looked in awe at the beautiful marble floors and majestic columns.

Then he came into the Pope's office and he greeted the Pope who

was

seated behind his desk. The little Hindu priest sat nearby and they

exchanged pleasantries. Then the Hindu priest noticed a red phone

sitting at the end of the desk. So the Hindu priest asked what it

was.

 

"Oh, that's my hotline to God," replied the

Pope. "Whenever things get too difficult and I need to have a

personal talk with God, I give Him a call."

 

"Oh," said the priest. "Would you mind if I

tried it?"

 

"No, not at all," the Pope responded.

 

So the little Hindu priest picked up the phone, dialed

the number, and sure enough, he got through to God. So he offered

his respects and prayers, said he was very happy to talk to Him, and

then hung up the phone after only five minutes. He was a simple

priest and did not have much more to say to God. He then thanked the

Pope for the privilege of using the special red phone.

 

The Pope replied, "Oh that is quite all right. By the

way, that will be $75."

 

"Seventy-five dollars?" inquired the Hindu priest.

 

"Oh yes," said the Pope. "You know, long

distance

charges. It's a long way from here to God, you know."

 

So the priest pulled out his wallet and gave the pope

the seventy-five dollars.

 

Several months later, the Pope had the opportunity to

visit India, and it was arranged for him to come to Mathura and

visit the little Hindu priest. So the Pope approached the little hut

of the Hindu priest, ducking his head as he walked through the door.

He sat in a chair in front of the little table where the Hindu

priest was pleased to again meet the Pope. They exchanged greetings

when the Pope noticed the same kind of red phone on the priest's

table as he had at the Vatican. So the Pope asked what that was.

 

"Why, I also have a hotline to God," replied the

Hindu

priest.

 

"Do you mind if I use it?" asked the Pope. "I

really

have a lot on my mind."

 

"Please do," responded the priest.

 

So the Pope got on the phone and got a good connection

and managed to get through to God. He offered his prayers, but then

had many things to discuss. He talked about the trouble in the

Vatican, the difficulties with the priests and legal charges in the

United States, the changing attitudes of the congregation in England

and Europe, and so on. Fifteen minutes went by, then a half-hour,

then finally after nearly an hour he was able to put the phone down.

Then he said, "Thank you very much. I feel a lot better now. I

had

so much to talk about. By the way, how much will that be?"

 

The Hindu priest thought a moment and then said, "Two

rupees."

 

"What," the Pope replied, surprised at how

inexpensive

it was. "Why so cheap?"

 

"Why don't you know?" asked the little Hindu

priest. "Here it is a local call."

 

from

http://www.stephen-knapp.com/jokes_and_anecdotes.htm

 

DISCLAIMER: I did not mean to offend any group here. But if you do

think a bit more, this joke may be *considered* a commentary on the

famous Gita sloka

"Ishwara Sarva-bhutanam hridesha Arjuna thistathi"

 

How is this joke a commentary? Christianity does not to

the theory that man is divine. Man is only made in the "image" of

God, sort of like the long-distance phone. However one of the core

priciples of Hinduism is that a human being is essentially divine

(closer to God like the local call!) and does not know his true

nature because of Avidya.

 

 

regards

Sundar Rajan

[Guest guest]

--- Sundar Rajan <avsundarrajan wrote:

 

 

> THE RED PHONE

>

> This is a joke that I often tell, with

> my own

> embellishments, while on lecture tours in India.

 

Namaste,

 

It seems as if the person who wrote this story/joke

suffers from the same problem as the Pope!

 

Here is a Ramakrishna story:

'A man kept a solution of dye in a tub. Many people

came to him to have their cloth dyed. He would ask the

customer,' What colour should you like your cloth

dyed?'

If the customer wanted red, then the man would dip the

cloth in the tub and say, 'Here is your cloth dyed

red.'

If another customer wanted a cloth dyed yellow, the

man would dip his cloth in the same tub and say,' Here

is your cloth dyed yellow.'

If the customer wanted his cloth dyed blue, the man

would dip it in the same tub and say,'Here is your

cloth dyed blue.'

Thus would he dye the clothes of his customers,

dipping them all in the same solution.

One of the customers watched all this with amazement.

 

The man asked him, 'Well! What colour do you want for

your cloth?'

The customer said, 'Brother, dye my cloth the colour

of the dye in your tub.'

 

 

'These things do not become clear until one has

realised (God). He assumes different forms and

reveals Himself in different ways for the sake of His

devotees.' Ramakrishna

 

Maybe such a story as this could be included in your

lecture tours,

 

Happy travelling

 

 

ken knight

 

=====

‘From this Supreme Self are all these, indeed, breathed forth.’

 

 

 

 

 

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