Guest guest Posted August 26, 2006 Report Share Posted August 26, 2006 MURUGA SARANAM Dear Members.. The fifth story in the series follows this mail. The subject is "Non-Attachment" and the unparalleled example of non-attachment – "Buddha" is taken here. Incidentally, this mail reminds me what I have read somewhere. It is said that nonattachment is impossible to man, as it is built into him. He has to attach to something. But he needs to redirect it towards higher things instead of lower things. Probably one has to be attached towards God. An easier way of doing it is bhakthi, service, helping others without any expectation (Like Mother Theressa) etc.. If we feel we are not able to get rid of attachment, may be, we can pray for attachment towards Higher Truth - Lord Murugan who can remove our ignorance. They say that every step we walk on this earth increases our bondage. The more things we do, the more we are attached due to karma or vinai. But the good news is that "Velundu Vinayillai, Mayilundu Bayamillai, Kanthanundu Kavalayillai, Kadambanundu Kalakkamillai" Would be glad if any of you would share your views on this. MURUGA SARANAM With Best RegardsMeyyappan S Here Goes the Story *** BUDDHA During a conversation on non-attachment, Bhagavan said, "In this part of the country, one of our ancients wrote, 'O Lord, thou hast given me a hand to use as pillow under my head, a cloth to cover my loins, hands wherewith to eat food, what more do I want? This is my great good fortune'! That is the purport of the verse. Is it really possible to say how great a good fortune that is? Even the greatest kings wish for such happiness. There is nothing to equal it. Having experienced both these conditions, I know the difference between this and that. These beds, sofa and articles around me – all this is bondage." "Is not the Buddha an example of this?" asked a devotee. Thereupon Sri Bhagavan began speaking about Buddha. "YES," SAID BHAGAVAN, "when the Buddha was in the palace with all possible luxuries in the world, he was still sad. To remove his sadness, his father created more luxuries than ever. But none of them satisfied the Buddha. At midnight he left his wife and child and disappeared. He remained in great austerity for six years, realised the Self; and for the welfare of the world became a mendicant ( bhikshu). It was only after he became a mendicant that he enjoyed great bliss. Really, what more did he require?" "In the garb of a mendicant he came to his own city, did he not?" asked a devotee. "Yes, yes," said Bhagavan. "Having heard that he was coming, his father, Suddhodana, decorated the royal elephant and went out with his whole army to receive him on the main road. But without touching the main road, the Buddha came by side roads and by-lanes; he sent his close associates to the various streets for alms while he himself in the guise of a mendicant went by another way to his father. How could the father know that his son was coming in that guise! Yasodhara (the Buddha's wife), however, recognised him, made her son prostrate before his father and herself prostrated. After that, the father recognised the Buddha. Suddhodana however, had never expected to see his son in such a state and was very angry and shouted, 'Shame on you! What is this garb? Does one who should have the greatest of riches come like this? I've had enough of it!' And with that, he looked furiously at the Buddha. Regretting that his father had not yet got rid of his ignorance, the Buddha too, began to look at his father with even greater intensity. In this war of looks, the father was defeated. He fell at the feet of his son and himself became a mendicant. Only a man with non-attachment can know the power of non-attachment", said Bhagavan, his voice quivering with emotion. Ends *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2006 Report Share Posted August 26, 2006 Being NON-ATTACHED is very very difficult and only few blessed souls can be so. Lv to all devotees N. Senthil vel murugan " S Meyyappan " <smeyyappan dhandapani Dhandapani <dhandapani > Spiritual Stories: Post #5 “BUDDHA” Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:53:09 +0300 MURUGA SARANAM Dear Members.. The fifth story in the series follows this mail. The subject is " Non-Attachment " and the unparalleled example of non-attachment – " Buddha " is taken here. Incidentally, this mail reminds me what I have read somewhere. It is said that nonattachment is impossible to man, as it is built into him. He has to attach to something. But he needs to redirect it towards higher things instead of lower things. Probably one has to be attached towards God. An easier way of doing it is bhakthi, service, helping others without any expectation (Like Mother Theressa) etc.. If we feel we are not able to get rid of attachment, may be, we can pray for attachment towards Higher Truth - Lord Murugan who can remove our ignorance. They say that every step we walk on this earth increases our bondage. The more things we do, the more we are attached due to karma or vinai. But the good news is that " Velundu Vinayillai, Mayilundu Bayamillai, Kanthanundu Kavalayillai, Kadambanundu Kalakkamillai " Would be glad if any of you would share your views on this. MURUGA SARANAM With Best Regards Meyyappan S *Here Goes the Story* * * ***** * * *BUDDHA* *During a conversation on non-attachment, Bhagavan said, " In this part of the country, one of our ancients wrote, 'O Lord, thou hast given me a hand to use as pillow under my head, a cloth to cover my loins, hands wherewith to eat food, what more do I want? This is my great good fortune'! That is the purport of the verse. Is it really possible to say how great a good fortune that is? Even the greatest kings wish for such happiness. There is nothing to equal it. Having experienced both these conditions, I know the difference between this and that. These beds, sofa and articles around me – all this is bondage. " * * " Is not the Buddha an example of this? " asked a devotee. Thereupon Sri Bhagavan began speaking about Buddha. * " YES, " SAID BHAGAVAN, " when the Buddha was in the palace with all possible luxuries in the world, he was still sad. To remove his sadness, his father created more luxuries than ever. But none of them satisfied the Buddha. At midnight he left his wife and child and disappeared. He remained in great austerity for six years, realised the Self; and for the welfare of the world became a mendicant (*bhikshu*). It was only after he became a mendicant that he enjoyed great bliss. Really, what more did he require? " " In the garb of a mendicant he came to his own city, did he not? " asked a devotee. " Yes, yes, " said Bhagavan. " Having heard that he was coming, his father, Suddhodana, decorated the royal elephant and went out with his whole army to receive him on the main road. But without touching the main road, the Buddha came by side roads and by-lanes; he sent his close associates to the various streets for alms while he himself in the guise of a mendicant went by another way to his father. How could the father know that his son was coming in that guise! Yasodhara (the Buddha's wife), however, recognised him, made her son prostrate before his father and herself prostrated. After that, the father recognised the Buddha. Suddhodana however, had never expected to see his son in such a state and was very angry and shouted, 'Shame on you! What is this garb? Does one who should have the greatest of riches come like this? I've had enough of it!' And with that, he looked furiously at the Buddha. Regretting that his father had not yet got rid of his ignorance, the Buddha too, began to look at his father with even greater intensity. In this war of looks, the father was defeated. He fell at the feet of his son and himself became a mendicant. Only a man with non-attachment can know the power of non-attachment " , said Bhagavan, his voice quivering with emotion. Ends ***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2006 Report Share Posted August 26, 2006 Yes, non-attachment is a very near impossible thing to do. I cant say with certainty that i'm non-attached. I mean, even fathers are attached to their kids; so how can a mother not be attached? So the solution? Sometimes, switching off the solution brings the answer. Here, I'd like to share a story I'd heard about Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. When an old lady posed exactly this question: "How can I be non-attached? I have not seen God. I have not heard his voice; I do not even know what he/she feels like! "But I love my granddaughter. I have seen her, touched her when I hugged her, I have fed her, dressed her up.... So its natural that I get attached to her. I cannot even begin to understand what your monk mean!!" Sri Ramakrishna - who himself preferred Bhakti as the preferred means to attain God - comforted her kindly. "The next time you perform any personal or loving act towards your granddaughter, just think of her as Devi herself. Then you will get devotion (through the channel of your granddaughter) towards the Supreme Mother". I feel this makes a lot of sense. Because every living being is a manifestation of God. (In an earlier post very long ago, I had quoted a wise person that "we're not human beings trying to get a spiritual experience. We're already spriritual beings trying to experience life at the human level". So when we do namaste, we're greeting the divine spirit who has manifested before us in the form of another human being (to whom we're doing namaste). Well, I have written a lot, and hope its been easy for group members to read. This thinking has worked for me (whenever I consciously practiced it). But when I forget this principle and think of myself as human, not as spririt, then I go thru a lot of pain and nonsense. Thanks for the stories and keep them coming. Patricia S Meyyappan <smeyyappan wrote: MURUGA SARANAM Dear Members.. The fifth story in the series follows this mail. The subject is "Non-Attachment" and the unparalleled example of non-attachment – "Buddha" is taken here. Incidentally, this mail reminds me what I have read somewhere. It is said that nonattachment is impossible to man, as it is built into him. He has to attach to something. But he needs to redirect it towards higher things instead of lower things. Probably one has to be attached towards God. An easier way of doing it is bhakthi, service, helping others without any expectation (Like Mother Theressa) etc.. If we feel we are not able to get rid of attachment, may be, we can pray for attachment towards Higher Truth - Lord Murugan who can remove our ignorance. They say that every step we walk on this earth increases our bondage. The more things we do, the more we are attached due to karma or vinai. But the good news is that "Velundu Vinayillai, Mayilundu Bayamillai, Kanthanundu Kavalayillai, Kadambanundu Kalakkamillai" Would be glad if any of you would share your views on this. MURUGA SARANAM With Best RegardsMeyyappan S Here Goes the Story *** BUDDHA During a conversation on non-attachment, Bhagavan said, "In this part of the country, one of our ancients wrote, 'O Lord, thou hast given me a hand to use as pillow under my head, a cloth to cover my loins, hands wherewith to eat food, what more do I want? This is my great good fortune'! That is the purport of the verse. Is it really possible to say how great a good fortune that is? Even the greatest kings wish for such happiness. There is nothing to equal it. Having experienced both these conditions, I know the difference between this and that. These beds, sofa and articles around me – all this is bondage." "Is not the Buddha an example of this?" asked a devotee. Thereupon Sri Bhagavan began speaking about Buddha. "YES," SAID BHAGAVAN, "when the Buddha was in the palace with all possible luxuries in the world, he was still sad. To remove his sadness, his father created more luxuries than ever. But none of them satisfied the Buddha. At midnight he left his wife and child and disappeared. He remained in great austerity for six years, realised the Self; and for the welfare of the world became a mendicant ( bhikshu). It was only after he became a mendicant that he enjoyed great bliss. Really, what more did he require?" "In the garb of a mendicant he came to his own city, did he not?" asked a devotee. "Yes, yes," said Bhagavan. "Having heard that he was coming, his father, Suddhodana, decorated the royal elephant and went out with his whole army to receive him on the main road. But without touching the main road, the Buddha came by side roads and by-lanes; he sent his close associates to the various streets for alms while he himself in the guise of a mendicant went by another way to his father. How could the father know that his son was coming in that guise! Yasodhara (the Buddha's wife), however, recognised him, made her son prostrate before his father and herself prostrated. After that, the father recognised the Buddha. Suddhodana however, had never expected to see his son in such a state and was very angry and shouted, 'Shame on you! What is this garb? Does one who should have the greatest of riches come like this? I've had enough of it!' And with that, he looked furiously at the Buddha. Regretting that his father had not yet got rid of his ignorance, the Buddha too, began to look at his father with even greater intensity. In this war of looks, the father was defeated. He fell at the feet of his son and himself became a mendicant. Only a man with non-attachment can know the power of non-attachment", said Bhagavan, his voice quivering with emotion. Ends *** All-new Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster. 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Guest guest Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 MURUGA SARANAM True. A down-to-earth, easy to practise and effective method in fact. Thats all can describe in few words. In fact every act can be divine if done with sincerity. MURUGA SARANAM With Best Regards Meyyappan S On 8/27/06, Patricia Jay <patriciajay2000 wrote: Yes, non-attachment is a very near impossible thing to do. I cant say with certainty that i'm non-attached. I mean, even fathers are attached to their kids; so how can a mother not be attached? So the solution? Sometimes, switching off the solution brings the answer. Here, I'd like to share a story I'd heard about Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. When an old lady posed exactly this question: " How can I be non-attached? I have not seen God. I have not heard his voice; I do not even know what he/she feels like! " But I love my granddaughter. I have seen her, touched her when I hugged her, I have fed her, dressed her up.... So its natural that I get attached to her. I cannot even begin to understand what your monk mean!! " Sri Ramakrishna - who himself preferred Bhakti as the preferred means to attain God - comforted her kindly. " The next time you perform any personal or loving act towards your granddaughter, just think of her as Devi herself. Then you will get devotion (through the channel of your granddaughter) towards the Supreme Mother " . I feel this makes a lot of sense. Because every living being is a manifestation of God. (In an earlier post very long ago, I had quoted a wise person that " we're not human beings trying to get a spiritual experience. We're already spriritual beings trying to experience life at the human level " . So when we do namaste, we're greeting the divine spirit who has manifested before us in the form of another human being (to whom we're doing namaste). Well, I have written a lot, and hope its been easy for group members to read. This thinking has worked for me (whenever I consciously practiced it). But when I forget this principle and think of myself as human, not as spririt, then I go thru a lot of pain and nonsense. Thanks for the stories and keep them coming. Patricia .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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