Name and Form- a story!

[Guest guest]

Professor-ji,

 

If you would kindly permit me, i like to share a story with you and

other members here.

 

"One day, a wandering sadhu came upon a boy herding buffaloes. He was

hungry, and the boy readily obliged him with some milk. After

drinking to his satisfaction, the sadhu began to feel generous, and

asked the herdsman, 'What would you like? I'm feeling fine, I'll give

it to you.'

 

The boy laughed and said,'I really don't need anything. I do nothing

all day long but herd my buffaloes, and am fully satisfied with that.

Besides, sadhu-maharaj, you came to me as a beggar and I gave you

alms. How can I expect anything from you in return? I am the giver,

not you.'

 

The sadhu was taken aback by the reply, and realised that this was no

ordinary buffalo-herd. But still feeling expansive he asked, 'What is

it that you love most in the world?''

 

'Why, this buffalo', the boy replied innocently, 'the one whose milk

you just drank. She is the largest I have, she gives me 10 gallons of

milk everyday, she is broad and strong, so loving and beautiful, I

love her best of all.'

 

'All right', said the sadhu, 'please do one thing. Go sit in that

cave and imagine that you are this buffalo. Think of her, keep her

picture in mind, completely self identify with her, become

her ! As you sit doing all this, repeat to yourself "Bhaisoham,

bhaisoham"(I am a buffalo, I am a buffalo). Don't worry about a

thing, I'll look after your buffaloes.'

 

The herdsman did exactly as the sadhu said, and after 3 days when the

sadhu entered the cave, he found the boy sitting motionless with his

eyes closed, repeating, "Bhaisoham, bhaisoham".

 

The sadhu said, 'So young man, how have you progressed? Come out

now.'

 

Out came the reply,'Don't call me a young-man! I am a buffalo. Can't

you see that? Look at my broad back! How can I leave this small cave?

My horns are too broad to go thru the enterance. Now don't be

foolish; go away and leave me alone or I'll gore you and toss you

out with these beautiful horns of mine.'

 

But the sadhu persisted and said, 'Try to remember my boy, I

told you to sit and do this. Now, instead of repeating, "I am a

buffalo", start to identify with Shiva and repeat "Shivoham,

Shivoham"(I am Shiva, I am Shiva).'

 

The herdsman did that, and in about fifteen minutes he was in a deep

trance(samadhi). He realized his goal: The Universal Soul in the form

of Lord Shiva. The sadhu was astonished.

 

Tears came to his eyes and he said to himself, 'This fellow sits only

three and a half days and achieves and I have wandered around

practising without success for so many years.'

 

Then the Sadhu had to take that buffalo herd as his guru, and

finally he also realized.

 

I do not remember the real names of the characters in the story, but

it is similar to what happened with Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa.

What took his guru thirty years to achieve, Shri Ramakrishna achieved

in a few days."

 

This proves that time is not the critereon; if the desire is strong

enough the result must occur without delay. All has to be

forgotten except the name and form of the deity. Hence it

is important to choose a mantra and deity to which has very strong

inherent affinity for, the Guru can be very helpful here as he can

look behind the make believe world of our imaginations .

ginations.

 

Both name and form are essential for worship. One part of

the mind takes the shape of an object; that is form.

Another part of the mind identifies and distinguishes it;

that is name.

 

To go directly to the highest form of samadhi is almost impossible.

Even Shri Ramakrishna had to worship Mother Bhavatarini for many years

before his consciousness became one-pointed enough to achieve The

Formless, but may be that was just Leela for all of us ignorants.

 

so as per the the story of keeta-bhramara nyaya (caterpillar-

butterfly logic), as you contemplate, so you shall be. This

thumb rule applies very much to any object of continuous

concentration, be it a mantra-deity, or a butterfly as in the case of

a caterpillar inside a pupa.

 

 

(From Group BRAHMANSHAKTI - POSTED BY A MEMBER)

 

May i please share this beautiful verse from Adi shankara

Bhagvadapada's Sivananda Lahiri?

 

Naratvamdevatvam nagavanamrigatvam masakataa,

pasutvam keetatvam bhavatu vihagatvaadi jananam

Sadaa tvat-paadaabja smarana paramaananda laharee

vihaaraasaktam chet hridayamiha kim tena vapushaa

 

"Let me be born as a man, as a god, as a

bird, as a monkey which jumps from tree to tree, as

a mosquito, or even as a worm. I do not decline any

janma if only it is given to me to enjoy the bliss

of contemplating the Lotus Feet of Sri Paramesvara.

What does it matter which form the body takes?(Kim tena vapushaa?)

 

Aum Namaha Shivaya!

 

Professorji writes :

 

Namaste, Naren-ji, Welcome to the Group

>

> In Hindu Religious tradition, the name of God is so important that

> the name has been identified with God. Your explanation of 'name'

> and 'form' is only on the mundane plane. On the spiritual plane,

the

> name can do a lot of havoc as well as good.