Guest guest Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Aum Namo Narayanaya pranamam to All, This story will be useful to us Gods and Demons This happened a long long time ago. A little boy asked his father: "Father, what is the difference between gods and demons?" The father said to the little boy: "Son, I will organize a big banquet at our residence where I will invite both the gods and the demons. At the end of the banquet you will get your answer." And the father sent out invitations to both the gods and the demons. On the appointed day, a most lavish banquet was organized and hundreds of gods and hundreds of demons arrived at the house. The demons were an impatient lot, disorganized and noisy. They asked the host that they wanted VIP (very important person) treatment, and therefore wanted to have their food served first to the demons and the gods must eat last. The host agreed to their request on one condition that the demons tie wooden planks to both hands when eating. The demons said that if the same condition was also applied to the gods as well then they had no objection to tying the wooden planks on both their hands when eating. All the demons had wooden planks tied to both their hands and they immediately sat on the floor, seating one next to the other in one straight line. They were all very eager to be served with delicious food. The first course of food arrived. It was the best smelling soup in a bowel with spoon. Now when the demons got spoons filled with the soup, they realized that they could not bend their hands to bring the spoons to their mouths. They tried to lift their hands over their heads and tilt the spoons with their mouths wide open. They got the soup falling in their eyes and all over the face and also on their expensive garments. The demons got noisier, became angry and started swearing at the host. Some of the demons wanted to beat up the host. Some demons tried to restrain the other demons and they started fighting among themselves. The demons agreed that it was totally useless for them to remain at this banquet as it was not possible to eat the food without bending their hands. It was impossible to eat the food without messing up their beautiful and expensive garments. With angry words the demons left the banquet. Now it was the turn of the gods to eat. The gods were of a peaceful nature. They also sat in a line on the floor. Both their hands were also tied with wooden planks. When the first course of food was served, which was the delicious soup, the gods first recited the food prayer. The gods realized that they could not bend their hands, and therefore it was impossible to eat the soup. Each of the gods thought: "Never mind if I cannot eat the soup, but let me be of help to my fellow brother who is seated next to me." The gods turned towards each other and started feeding each other. They thus enjoyed the most delicious soup. Then the next course of meal was served and they enjoyed that delicious meal. They went through five course meals and ate to their hearts content. They thanked the host; presented the host with gifts they had brought, and peacefully went back to their homes. The son was observing all that happened. The father told him that a major difference between the gods and the demons was the difference in their attitude of ‘Giving’ and the attitude of ‘Taking.’ The demons thought only about their individual self-interest whereas the gods thought about selflessly serving others. When you open your heart and give selflessly, you receive also much more than you give. with Prayers Jayasankar Vattekkat Explore and discover exciting holidays and getaways with India Travel Click here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 This is a very nice story. The devas and asuras are said to be always fighting to get supremacy. Sri Sankaracharya has given an allegorical meaning to this struggle in his Bhashya on the Brihadaranyaka upanishad. He says: The gods and asuras are the organs of speech, etc. They become gods when they perform actions in accordance with the teachings of the scriptures. For example, when a person speaks only the truth, his organ of speech functions according to the teachings, but not when he speaks falsehood. When he does an act which benefits others, his hands become gods. They become asuras when he does some evil act. Good thoughts make the mind a god and evil thoughts an asura. When a person does any action with a selfish motive all his organs become asuras. Asuras are those who are concerned only with their own happiness and prosperity. The organs have a stronger tendency to thoughts and actions based on self-interest and so asuras are larger in number than gods. The conclusion that follows from the above is that a person is an asura when he follows only his self-interest and a god when he acts for the benefit of others. This is clearly brought out in the story narrated. So gods and asuras are none other than human beings themselves. The same person may behave like a god in one situation and like an asura in another. So the Acharya says that everyone should always try to act like gods. That is the way to spiritual progress. S.N.Sastri --- On Mon, 5/18/09, jayasankar vattekkat <vinodvattekkat wrote: jayasankar vattekkat <vinodvattekkat[Guruvayur] Gods and Demons"GURUVAYURAPPAN" <guruvayur >Monday, May 18, 2009, 7:06 PM Aum Namo Narayanaya pranamam to All, This story will be useful to us Gods and Demons This happened a long long time ago. A little boy asked his father: "Father, what is the difference between gods and demons?" The father said to the little boy: "Son, I will organize a big banquet at our residence where I will invite both the gods and the demons. At the end of the banquet you will get your answer." And the father sent out invitations to both the gods and the demons. On the appointed day, a most lavish banquet was organized and hundreds of gods and hundreds of demons arrived at the house. The demons were an impatient lot, disorganized and noisy. They asked the host that they wanted VIP (very important person) treatment, and therefore wanted to have their food served first to the demons and the gods must eat last. The host agreed to their request on one condition that the demons tie wooden planks to both hands when eating. The demons said that if the same condition was also applied to the gods as well then they had no objection to tying the wooden planks on both their hands when eating. All the demons had wooden planks tied to both their hands and they immediately sat on the floor, seating one next to the other in one straight line. They were all very eager to be served with delicious food. The first course of food arrived. It was the best smelling soup in a bowel with spoon. Now when the demons got spoons filled with the soup, they realized that they could not bend their hands to bring the spoons to their mouths. They tried to lift their hands over their heads and tilt the spoons with their mouths wide open. They got the soup falling in their eyes and all over the face and also on their expensive garments. The demons got noisier, became angry and started swearing at the host. Some of the demons wanted to beat up the host. Some demons tried to restrain the other demons and they started fighting among themselves. The demons agreed that it was totally useless for them to remain at this banquet as it was not possible to eat the food without bending their hands. It was impossible to eat the food without messing up their beautiful and expensive garments. With angry words the demons left the banquet. Now it was the turn of the gods to eat. The gods were of a peaceful nature. They also sat in a line on the floor. Both their hands were also tied with wooden planks. When the first course of food was served, which was the delicious soup, the gods first recited the food prayer. The gods realized that they could not bend their hands, and therefore it was impossible to eat the soup. Each of the gods thought: "Never mind if I cannot eat the soup, but let me be of help to my fellow brother who is seated next to me." The gods turned towards each other and started feeding each other. They thus enjoyed the most delicious soup. Then the next course of meal was served and they enjoyed that delicious meal. They went through five course meals and ate to their hearts content. They thanked the host; presented the host with gifts they had brought, and peacefully went back to their homes. The son was observing all that happened. The father told him that a major difference between the gods and the demons was the difference in their attitude of ‘Giving’ and the attitude of ‘Taking.’ The demons thought only about their individual self-interest whereas the gods thought about selflessly serving others. When you open your heart and give selflessly, you receive also much more than you give. with Prayers Jayasankar Vattekkat Explore and discover exciting holidays and getaways with India Travel Click here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Pranamam Sastriji, Thank you so much for your valued replay. With Prayers Jayasankar Vattekkat --- On Tue, 19/5/09, Nilakantan sastri <snsastri wrote: Nilakantan sastri <snsastriRe: [Guruvayur] Gods and Demonsguruvayur Date: Tuesday, 19 May, 2009, 11:02 AM This is a very nice story. The devas and asuras are said to be always fighting to get supremacy. Sri Sankaracharya has given an allegorical meaning to this struggle in his Bhashya on the Brihadaranyaka upanishad. He says: The gods and asuras are the organs of speech, etc. They become gods when they perform actions in accordance with the teachings of the scriptures. For example, when a person speaks only the truth, his organ of speech functions according to the teachings, but not when he speaks falsehood. When he does an act which benefits others, his hands become gods. They become asuras when he does some evil act. Good thoughts make the mind a god and evil thoughts an asura. When a person does any action with a selfish motive all his organs become asuras. Asuras are those who are concerned only with their own happiness and prosperity. The organs have a stronger tendency to thoughts and actions based on self-interest and so asuras are larger in number than gods. The conclusion that follows from the above is that a person is an asura when he follows only his self-interest and a god when he acts for the benefit of others. This is clearly brought out in the story narrated. So gods and asuras are none other than human beings themselves. The same person may behave like a god in one situation and like an asura in another. So the Acharya says that everyone should always try to act like gods. That is the way to spiritual progress. S.N.Sastri --- On Mon, 5/18/09, jayasankar vattekkat <vinodvattekkat@ .co. in> wrote: jayasankar vattekkat <vinodvattekkat@ .co. in>[Guruvayur] Gods and Demons"GURUVAYURAPPAN" <guruvayur@grou ps.com>Monday, May 18, 2009, 7:06 PM Aum Namo Narayanaya pranamam to All, This story will be useful to us Gods and Demons This happened a long long time ago. A little boy asked his father: "Father, what is the difference between gods and demons?" The father said to the little boy: "Son, I will organize a big banquet at our residence where I will invite both the gods and the demons. At the end of the banquet you will get your answer." And the father sent out invitations to both the gods and the demons. On the appointed day, a most lavish banquet was organized and hundreds of gods and hundreds of demons arrived at the house. The demons were an impatient lot, disorganized and noisy. They asked the host that they wanted VIP (very important person) treatment, and therefore wanted to have their food served first to the demons and the gods must eat last. The host agreed to their request on one condition that the demons tie wooden planks to both hands when eating. The demons said that if the same condition was also applied to the gods as well then they had no objection to tying the wooden planks on both their hands when eating. All the demons had wooden planks tied to both their hands and they immediately sat on the floor, seating one next to the other in one straight line. They were all very eager to be served with delicious food. The first course of food arrived. It was the best smelling soup in a bowel with spoon. Now when the demons got spoons filled with the soup, they realized that they could not bend their hands to bring the spoons to their mouths. They tried to lift their hands over their heads and tilt the spoons with their mouths wide open. They got the soup falling in their eyes and all over the face and also on their expensive garments. The demons got noisier, became angry and started swearing at the host. Some of the demons wanted to beat up the host. Some demons tried to restrain the other demons and they started fighting among themselves. The demons agreed that it was totally useless for them to remain at this banquet as it was not possible to eat the food without bending their hands. It was impossible to eat the food without messing up their beautiful and expensive garments. With angry words the demons left the banquet. Now it was the turn of the gods to eat. The gods were of a peaceful nature. They also sat in a line on the floor. Both their hands were also tied with wooden planks. When the first course of food was served, which was the delicious soup, the gods first recited the food prayer. The gods realized that they could not bend their hands, and therefore it was impossible to eat the soup. Each of the gods thought: "Never mind if I cannot eat the soup, but let me be of help to my fellow brother who is seated next to me." The gods turned towards each other and started feeding each other. They thus enjoyed the most delicious soup. Then the next course of meal was served and they enjoyed that delicious meal. They went through five course meals and ate to their hearts content. They thanked the host; presented the host with gifts they had brought, and peacefully went back to their homes. The son was observing all that happened. The father told him that a major difference between the gods and the demons was the difference in their attitude of ‘Giving’ and the attitude of ‘Taking.’ The demons thought only about their individual self-interest whereas the gods thought about selflessly serving others. When you open your heart and give selflessly, you receive also much more than you give. with Prayers Jayasankar Vattekkat Explore and discover exciting holidays and getaways with India Travel Click here! Explore and discover exciting holidays and getaways with India Travel Click here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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