To Shree Maa and ramya about Shree Maa's tells us A NEW story - Trai

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ramya posted:

 

Re: Shree Maa's tells us A NEW story - Trailinga Swami (Part 3)

 

Trailinga Swami's next move was to Kashi in Benaras, where he stayed for

more than 150 years. From Kashi come many wonderful accounts of Trailing

Swami's compassionate and truthful character...

Another story took place at the Hanuman Ghat. A local woman performed Shiva

Puja there every day. One time, seeing a naked man there, she cursed his

nudity and asked him why he didn't live in the jungle with the other animals.

The man simply ignored her and continued peacefully on his path. That night,

Shiva revealed in a dream that because of her insults to him earlier in the

day, her worship would not bear any fruit.

 

Furthermore, only that naked man, Trailinga Swami, would be the one who

granted her the fruit for which she was worshipping. Her purpose for doing the

puja was to find a cure for her husband's stomach ulcers. In the morning she

searched and searched for the Saint, and when she finally found him, she

asked for his forgiveness. Trailing Swami happily blessed her, and gave her some

ashes for her husband's cure. Applying the ashes to her bewildered husband,

she found that he was cured immediately...

 

The King stood there meekly unable to see any difference between the two

swords, to which Trailinga Swami retorted, "Foolish King, you thought your sword

was so important, but still you can't tell the difference from another one.

You are a container full of delusion and ego. That sword is not yours

forever; you cannot take it with you. But your karma will go with you everywhere.

Then why are you so angry about this sword? Why bother yourself with

anger?"

 

Trailing Swami gave the King his sword and threw the other one back into the

water. The upset King asked forgiveness from Trailinga Swami, and without a

second's hesitation, Trailinga Swami granted it, and then he again jumped

into the river.

 

The famous Bengali Saint, Ramakrishna, visited Trailinga Swami and said that

although he had taken a body, Trailinga Swami was truly Lord Shiva and the

embodiment of Wisdom. Both of them were so happy to be with one another, and

yet few words were exchanged. They communicated at the level of the heart.

Ramakrishna recognized all of the signs that indicated Trailinga Swami's

saintliness. Trailinga Swami also was most respectful...

 

 

Dear Shree Maa ~ thank you so much for continuing the story of Trailinga

Swami. And thank you, once again, ramya, for bringing it to us. It is

interesting to have read this third part, just after reading Swamiji's story of Devi

Ganga. I have been familiar with the "crazy sadhus" of India, who wander about

naked, but my impression, from the film I saw about it (this was only part of

the film) was that these sadhus and saints are greatly revered.

 

So after reading about Goddesses becoming jealous and cursing one another,

here is a story about a Swami whose behavior was often confusing if not

repulsive to some others who couldn't see Him for Who He was. And in every case,

whatever abuse Trailinga Swami endured, he ended up granting the sincere desire

of the person who had originally cursed, dismissed, or jailed him. And all

came to see Trailing Swami, not as a crazy naked man, doing strange things, but

as an ineffable Being, at the very least a great Swami, and in some cases,

even as Shiva. Sometimes a kick in the shins is not a kick in the shins. (I am

referring to the train story here.)

 

When Swamiji abruptly waved me aside, prior to the puja on the bank of the

Colorado river, he was not seeking me out for some personal corrective

attention. I was quite simply in the way, and he was building the haven kund. I

didn't realize it at the time, but not long after seeing Swamiji and Shree Maa,

both at the riverside and then at the retreat center in Washington, I came to

realize this was a blessing, a lesson, a precise demonstration of the

efficiency and elegance that characterizes all Swamiji does, and one that I would do

well to learn. (I'm working at it Swamiji.)

 

The "Now you see me; now you don't," aspect of the story was, in some ways,

fun to read. I could only imagine the dismay or amazement of those who tried

to imprison Trailinga Swami, or those who saw him enter the river at one

point, only to reappear somewhere else.

 

The very first story, about the woman at the Hanuman Ghat, seemed to

exemplify many of the others. She didn't believe him; she cursed him, and yet, after

appearing to her in a dream as Shiva, Trailing Swami not only forgave her

but also cured her husband. He seemed very great hearted when it came to

forgiveness, no matter how people treated him. And, then again, in the story of the

foolish king and his sword, we find Trailinga Swami speaking the Truth very

plainly: "...You are a container full of delusion and ego. That sword is not

yours forever; you cannot take it with you. But your karma will go with you

everywhere. Then why are you so angry about this sword? Why bother

yourself with anger?"

 

I can't describe the uncanny similarity that, once again, this story of

Trailing Swami reminded me of my brief yet powerful interactions with Swamiji who

said very much the same thing to me during a question and answer period at

the retreat center. I've written of this before, so those of you who remember

will understand what an incredibly powerful impression Swamiji made on me.

Here I am asking, "well what if the cat's already gotten out the door," in

essence, "what do I do if I am already having a feeling that is not peaceful?"

Swamiji's answer, much like Traililng Swami's: "Nothing is more important than

your peace of mind."

Though I did not move from where I sat, I felt as if blown backwards by a

great gust, and then immediately pulled back down to earth. Whew! I still let my

peace of mind get away from me, but I am getting much better at remembering

that I have goofed up again, and it seems my peace of mind and I are becoming

better companions lately.

 

One thing that surprised me about the story was to learn how contemporary it

was. In the first two episodes, I imagined this as something that happened

far back in time. The story of the railway and the British occupation put the

story squarely within it's time-frame, which is not all that long ago.

Somehow, this makes the story even more wondrous. I am very grateful to have this

story shared with us. I know I will be thinking about it, and continuing to

learn from it, for some time to come. Jai Maa! , Jai Swamiji! , Jai Trailinga

Swami!

Linda