Fwd: Narada and Two Aspirants

[Guest guest]

, " prasanna kumar "

<groupowner.prasanna wrote:

 

 

Narada and Two

Aspirants

 

There was a great god-sage called Narada. Just as there are sages

among

mankind, great Yogis, so there are great Yogis among the gods. Narada

was a good Yogi, and very great. He travelled everywhere.

One day he was passing through a forest, and saw a man who had been

meditating until the white ants had built a huge mound round his body

— so long had he been sitting in that position. He said to Narada,

`Where are you going?' Narada replied, `I am going to heaven.' `Then

ask

God when He will be merciful to me; when I shall attain freedom.'

Further on Narada saw another man. He was jumping about, singing,

dancing, and said, `Oh, Narada, where are you going?' His voice and

his

gestures were wild.

Narada said, `I am going to heaven.' `Then, ask when I shall be

free.'

Narada went on. In the course of time he came again by the same road,

and there was the man who had been meditating with the ant - hill

round

him.

He said, `Oh, Narada, did you ask the Lord about me?'

`Oh, yes.' `What did He say?' `The Lord told me that you would attain

freedom in four more births.'

Then the man began to weep and wail, and said, `I have meditated

until

an ant-hill has grown around me, and I have four more births yet!'

Narada went to the other man. `Did you ask my question?'

`Oh, yes. Do you see this tamarind tree? I have to tell you that as

many

leaves as there are on that tree, so many times, you shall be born,

and

then you shall attain freedom.'

The man began to dance for joy, and said, `I shall have freedom after

such a short time!'

A voice came, `My child, you will have freedom this minute.' That was

the reward for his perseverance.

He was ready to work through all those births, nothing discouraged

him.

But the first man felt that even four more births were too long. Only

perseverance, like that of the man who was willing to wait aeons

brings

about the highest result.

 

Taken from Vivekananda Tells Stories

 

With warm Regards

 

Prasanna Kumar

 

--- End forwarded message ---