Krishna Katha - The Wrong Address

[Guest guest]

The Wrong Address The Wrong Address A professor was delivering lectures on the Vedas to a few students. One day, in the course of their studies, they came across a line which said, "The truly evolved person is one who continues to smile in the midst of the greatest of difficulties." The young students had a problem in accepting this statement at its face value. "If we are truly in difficulty, how is it possible for us to smile under such conditions?" they asked the professor. The professor took off his spectacles and looked at his young pupils

thoughtfully. "To be perfectly honest with you," he said, "I myself cannot answer that question. The truth is that I, too, cannot smile when I am in the midst of difficulties. At such moments, I seem to forget how to smile." Silence prevailed in the class, as the teacher and the students pondered over the issue. The professor continued after a pause, "However, I believe there is someone who can give you the answer." He proceeded to tell his students of an old sage who lived in their city, not far from the college. He had been an abandoned child- an orphan. When he grew up, he had lost both his legs in an accident. His life had been a series of struggles, a saga of pain and suffering. "And yet," concluded the professor, "he always wears a lovely smile! He is a wonderful human being. You must go to him and ask him to answer your question." The students were amazed to hear of this brave man. In a group, they went and knocked at his door. The door was opened by the man himself - moving briskly on a wheel-chair. He welcomed the young students cordially, and asked them the purpose of their visit. "Sir, it's this text we are discussing in the class," said one of them hesitantly. "It's all about how one must continue to smile amidst the greatest of difficulties in life. The professor told us that you were the best person to talk to.Tell us please, sir," added another. "How do you continue to smile amidst so much pain and suffering?" "I'm afraid you've come to the wrong address!" replied the old man, with genuine surprise. "I am 73 years old, and in all these years I have never had to face any difficulty! The Lord

has always been good to me, and protected me in His mercy. How can I teach you how to smile in the midst of difficulties?" The students were stunned with this answer. On probing further, the sage revealed his secret. He quoted Lord Krishna instructions to

Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, “O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.” Radhe Shyam,Arun

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[Guest guest]

Radhe Krishna!

A very good anecdote to teach us to treat happiness and sorrow in the same manner as taught in the Gita.

Regards

KVG

On 3/14/08, Arun P Pillai <arunppillay wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wrong Address

 

 

 

The Wrong Address

 

A professor was delivering lectures on the Vedas to a few students. One day, in the course of their studies, they came across a line which said,

" The truly evolved person is one who continues to smile in the midst of the greatest of difficulties. "

 

The young students had a problem in accepting this statement at its face value.

" If we are truly in difficulty, how is it possible for us to smile under such conditions? " they asked the professor.

 

The professor took off his spectacles and looked at his young pupils thoughtfully.

" To be perfectly honest with you, " he said, " I myself cannot answer that question.

The truth is that I, too, cannot smile when I am in the midst of difficulties. At such moments, I seem to forget how to smile. "

 

Silence prevailed in the class, as the teacher and the students pondered over the issue.

 

The professor continued after a pause, " However, I believe there is someone who can give you the answer. "

He proceeded to tell his students of an old sage who lived in their city, not far from the college.

He had been an abandoned child- an orphan.

When he grew up, he had lost both his legs in an accident.

His life had been a series of struggles, a saga of pain and suffering.

" And yet, " concluded the professor, " he always wears a lovely smile!

He is a wonderful human being.

You must go to him and ask him to answer your question. "

 

The students were amazed to hear of this brave man.

In a group, they went and knocked at his door.

The door was opened by the man himself - moving briskly on a wheel-chair.

He welcomed the young students cordially, and asked them the purpose of their visit.

 

" Sir, it's this text we are discussing in the class, " said one of them hesitantly.

" It's all about how one must continue to smile amidst the greatest of difficulties in life.

The professor told us that you were the best person to talk to. "

" Tell us please, sir, " added another. " How do you continue to smile amidst so much pain and suffering? "

 

" I'm afraid you've come to the wrong address! " replied the old man, with genuine surprise.

" I am 73 years old, and in all these years I have never had to face any difficulty!

The Lord has always been good to me, and protected me in His mercy.

How can I teach you how to smile in the midst of difficulties? "

 

The students were stunned with this answer.

 

On probing further, the sage revealed his secret.

He quoted Lord Krishna instructions to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra,

"O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course,

are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons.

They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radhe Shyam,Arun

 

 

 

 

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