Guest guest Posted October 24, 1999 Report Share Posted October 24, 1999 a journal entry that i made on June 3, 1999 i just read it and felt like sharing it with all ... so here goes.! Must say this is not for the weak kneed... especially the first part.... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ June 3, 1999 In my room in the dorm that i vacated, here in Toronto, some years back, a mouse would manifest from the crevices of the heating, when i would finish meditating,...and this mouse unlike many i have seen, seemed to be far different. When i first saw it, i immediately thought of Ganesha ...Lord Ganapathi and His Vahana...The mouse sensed no danger from my end. It stared back at me and even seemed to be nibble away at the air...It kinda sensed the calm that i felt after my meditation...This meeting lasted for a few...but was repeated two more times on different occassions and days...The third time, however, the mouse brought a 'friend' perhaps the spouse which, unlike the 'old hand' seemed far more reticent, far more fearful of my presence. The 'old hand' however seemed to reassure the spouse, squeaking and jumping over (her?), playfully tousling her in the process. And the two pairs of beady eyes looked straight at me...somehow sensing i would not harm... how could i? They were theVahanas of Lord Ganapathi...and i was honoured to be in their presence.... Another time, sunning myself in the steps of Robarts Library, totally exhausted from the long hours of work that i had subjected myself to i rested my gaze mildly on a group of birds pecking away at the fresh green grass that the Spring had sprung on us...Seven Sisters...and two of the sisters were closer to me than the rest...Suddenly one of the two, looked straight at me and bellowed a string of full throated chirrupy, chirpy notes. Its feathers stood on end, it was as if it was performing a symphony all on its own,... for me.... And i, even then, smiled in wonder...awed...ever so grateful ... The other bird was truly surprised at the sudden plethora of happy notes emanating from its soul mate..it looked quizzically at its companion, looked around, looked again at its companion, looked around again and this time looked directly at me...and turning away, looked back at its companion still belching sweet sweet melodies...looked at me again with what seemed like a mixture of surprise and envy....and dismissing all, resumed its mechanical pecking of the grass again.... i was honoured to be in their presence...i was moved...i was warmed...i was awed...beyond measure...i was in a realm sublime... Thinking back on those two encounters, i somehow felt that these birds and animals know far, far, far more than we humans think we know of them....they are far more sociable and attached to each other, far more communicative, far more aware...and i for one, at that moment was so glad that i had only recently turned vegan! Never again will i set a trap for a mouse...never again will i dismiss a bird without a far greater reverence than i have had before ....which did not amount to a whole lot... but now thankfully does... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ there...a personal anecdote...i may be derided for courting mice ....but i can never kill one again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 1999 Report Share Posted October 25, 1999 > > JAIRAM SESHADRI [sMTP:seshadri] > Sunday, October 24, 1999 4:45 AM > Ramakrishna > [ramakrishna] Of Vahanas and Two Sisters > > Thinking back on those two encounters, i somehow felt that these birds > and animals know far, far, far more than we humans think we know of > them....they are far more sociable and attached to each other, far > more communicative, far more aware... [Madhava Replies:] In deed, that is a wonderful experience. I also had similar encounters. In the year 1990 I spent my days in an Ashram learning vedanta at the lotus feet of my guru. Since the ashram is in a remote area, we often find deadly snakes around there. I adore Lord Siva. Eveyday morning 3:30AM I used to get up and meditate / offer my prayers to Lord Siva, then go for the satsang which is at 5AM in the morning. One day, after the meditation I opened my eyes to see a very big snake, with its full vigor, looking at me. Some how, I did not feel the fear of it. I was meditating on Lord Siva and after all this is his ornament! It has stared at me for a few minutes and crawled near to my pillow and settled there. I went on to my satsang and returned at 7AM and found that the snake was sleeping over there! At first I could not comprehend the fact that the snake is settling down there. Then I slowly sat there on the bed. It has moved a bit and looked at me and again got back into its relaxed posture, as if I am not a harmful creature :-) as if it didn't care about my presence there :-) I also felt a friendly feeling towards that snake! Any way, it has lived with me in the same kutia, near my sleeping pillow, for almost 6 months! Those days people used to talk about the snake and me in the ashram :-) I often used to watch a lot of snakes around my kutia, I guess they were the visiting friends of my room mate :-) (kutia = a small hut made of mud walls with a thatched roof). Our teacher never allow anybody to kill snakes or harm any beings that are living/visiting the ashram. She says " All these creatures have been here even before us. By constructing the ashram we have invaded their privacy. They, in a way, allowed us to live here. So let us not humiliate them by misunderstanding their hospitality. " By the way, in spite of all these wild creatures living around in the ashram, there has never been a case of snake bite or any such thing happened in the ashram! Regards, Madhava Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 1999 Report Share Posted October 25, 1999 Very interesting experience Madhava! I am sure I speak for many on the list in requesting you to tell us bit more about your experiences in an Ashrama. For many of us these narratives can be very inspiring. jay Madhava K. Turumella <madhava Ramakrishna <Ramakrishna > Cc: advaitin <advaitin > 25 October 1999 14:48 RE: [ramakrishna] Of Vahanas and Two Sisters > " Madhava K. Turumella " <madhava > >> >> JAIRAM SESHADRI [sMTP:seshadri] >> Sunday, October 24, 1999 4:45 AM >> Ramakrishna >> [ramakrishna] Of Vahanas and Two Sisters >> >> Thinking back on those two encounters, i somehow felt that these birds >> and animals know far, far, far more than we humans think we know of >> them....they are far more sociable and attached to each other, far >> more communicative, far more aware... > [Madhava Replies:] > > In deed, that is a wonderful experience. I also had similar >encounters. In the year 1990 I spent my days in an Ashram learning vedanta >at the lotus feet of my guru. Since the ashram is in a remote area, we >often find deadly snakes around there. > > I adore Lord Siva. Eveyday morning 3:30AM I used to get up and >meditate / offer my prayers to Lord Siva, then go for the satsang which is >at 5AM in the morning. One day, after the meditation I opened my eyes to see >a very big snake, with its full vigor, looking at me. Some how, I did not >feel the fear of it. I was meditating on Lord Siva and after all this is >his ornament! It has stared at me for a few minutes and crawled near to my >pillow and settled there. I went on to my satsang and returned at 7AM and >found that the snake was sleeping over there! At first I could not >comprehend the fact that the snake is settling down there. Then I slowly >sat there on the bed. It has moved a bit and looked at me and again got >back into its relaxed posture, as if I am not a harmful creature :-) as if >it didn't care about my presence there :-) I also felt a friendly feeling >towards that snake! Any way, it has lived with me in the same kutia, near >my sleeping pillow, for almost 6 months! Those days people used to talk >about the snake and me in the ashram :-) I often used to watch a lot of >snakes around my kutia, I guess they were the visiting friends of my room >mate :-) (kutia = a small hut made of mud walls with a thatched roof). > > Our teacher never allow anybody to kill snakes or harm any beings >that are living/visiting the ashram. She says " All these creatures have >been here even before us. By constructing the ashram we have invaded their >privacy. They, in a way, allowed us to live here. So let us not humiliate >them by misunderstanding their hospitality. " By the way, in spite of all >these wild creatures living around in the ashram, there has never been a >case of snake bite or any such thing happened in the ashram! > > Regards, > Madhava > >>Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah >Vivekananda Centre London >http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 1999 Report Share Posted October 26, 1999 Namaste I wholly agree with Jay. Madhava-ji, please share with us your experiences in the ashram. It will really reveal a new dimension of life to people like me who have no idea what an ashram is all about. Thanks in advance. Om Shanti Kathi > > Vivekananda Centre [sMTP:vivekananda] > Monday, October 25, 1999 10:43 PM > Ramakrishna ; madhava > Re: [ramakrishna] Of Vahanas and Two Sisters > > " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda > > Very interesting experience Madhava! > > I am sure I speak for many on the list in requesting you to tell us bit > more > about your experiences in an Ashrama. For many of us these narratives can > be very inspiring. > > jay > > > > > > Madhava K. Turumella <madhava > Ramakrishna <Ramakrishna > > Cc: advaitin <advaitin > > 25 October 1999 14:48 > RE: [ramakrishna] Of Vahanas and Two Sisters > > > > " Madhava K. Turumella " <madhava > > > >> > >> JAIRAM SESHADRI [sMTP:seshadri] > >> Sunday, October 24, 1999 4:45 AM > >> Ramakrishna > >> [ramakrishna] Of Vahanas and Two Sisters > >> > >> Thinking back on those two encounters, i somehow felt that these birds > >> and animals know far, far, far more than we humans think we know of > >> them....they are far more sociable and attached to each other, far > >> more communicative, far more aware... > > [Madhava Replies:] > > > > In deed, that is a wonderful experience. I also had similar > >encounters. In the year 1990 I spent my days in an Ashram learning > vedanta > >at the lotus feet of my guru. Since the ashram is in a remote area, we > >often find deadly snakes around there. > > > > I adore Lord Siva. Eveyday morning 3:30AM I used to get up and > >meditate / offer my prayers to Lord Siva, then go for the satsang which > is > >at 5AM in the morning. One day, after the meditation I opened my eyes to > see > >a very big snake, with its full vigor, looking at me. Some how, I did > not > >feel the fear of it. I was meditating on Lord Siva and after all this is > >his ornament! It has stared at me for a few minutes and crawled near to > my > >pillow and settled there. I went on to my satsang and returned at 7AM > and > >found that the snake was sleeping over there! At first I could not > >comprehend the fact that the snake is settling down there. Then I slowly > >sat there on the bed. It has moved a bit and looked at me and again got > >back into its relaxed posture, as if I am not a harmful creature :-) as > if > >it didn't care about my presence there :-) I also felt a friendly > feeling > >towards that snake! Any way, it has lived with me in the same kutia, > near > >my sleeping pillow, for almost 6 months! Those days people used to talk > >about the snake and me in the ashram :-) I often used to watch a lot of > >snakes around my kutia, I guess they were the visiting friends of my room > >mate :-) (kutia = a small hut made of mud walls with a thatched roof). > > > > Our teacher never allow anybody to kill snakes or harm any beings > >that are living/visiting the ashram. She says " All these creatures have > >been here even before us. By constructing the ashram we have invaded > their > >privacy. They, in a way, allowed us to live here. So let us not > humiliate > >them by misunderstanding their hospitality. " By the way, in spite of all > >these wild creatures living around in the ashram, there has never been a > >case of snake bite or any such thing happened in the ashram! > > > > Regards, > > Madhava > > > >>Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > >Vivekananda Centre London > >http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ > > > > > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 1999 Report Share Posted October 26, 1999 Dear madhav a n tom ur experiences r gr8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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