Guest guest Posted November 1, 1999 Report Share Posted November 1, 1999 Namaste everyone ! RE: >Message: 4 > Sun, 31 Oct 1999 17:26:47 -0500 > " JAIRAM SESHADRI " <seshadri >the monk and the butcher and the cow > >Hi jayanti! > >> I believe you know Mukti Chaitanya, from Sacramento.. Kindly give >> him my greetings. > >yes i do ...infact i just saw him yesterday...and he will be going to >India for four months from Dec 2...i will convey your greetings to >him > >> I hope I didn't cause problems by moving Mother's web site. I >tried >> to notify everyone on the in advance, but I forgot to write you >> directly. You can keep the links by replacing >> " www.scescape.com/saradama/mandir/... " ' with >> " www.srisarada.org/mandir/.... " > >not at all... i have dismantled my website as well.... > >> Back to our problem: >> >> I'm curious that you assume that the monk tells the truth only to >> save his soul. For some this could be the case, but I suspect, >> frankly, such a motive negates the spiritual value of practicing >> truth. >> >> Sri Ramarishna held the practice of truth for truth's sake above all >> practices. He further claimed that one who practices absolute truth >> (unmotivated) for twelve years would have the power of truth in >> his/her words. The power of a holy person's blessings and curses lies >> in their spiritual practice of truth. > >i agree with you wholeheartedly...your viewpoint is correct > > > >monk who lied, is not only >> >making the ultimate sacrifice of foregoing his most cherished goal of >> >salvation in the 'next world' but also paying it for in this life by >> >devoting his life to meet the butcher's needs. >> >> How so? By lying he's not recognizing the butcher at all! He's >> deliberately MISLEADING the butcher. > >but is he if he devotes time to taking care of the butcher's needs >through 'alternate ways' sacrificing his time..the Buddha who stopped >the sacrifice of a goat offered his own life in replacement..in the >same way if the monk satisfies the hunger of the butcher some other >way...even if at the offering of his own life how is he misleading >the butcher...? > >> As with the first monk, if he is sincere in trying to save the cow >> with no thought of himself, this would be admirable. I also doubt >> his soul would be in jeopardy. But he could just as well be lying >> because it's easier than telling the truth and standing one's >> ground. This hardly seems admirable, nor helpful to his soul. > >> The third alternative, the monk tells the butcher which way the >cow >> went because he feels compassion for the butcher, this too, would be >> admirable. But again, if he, as you say, merely tells the truth >> because he thinks he'll save his soul thereby...... poor fellow.... >> >> Spiritual life isn't based on action. Each of the actions can be >> right, if one's motivation and understanding is sound, and one is >> willing to accept the consequences. >> >> What do you think? > >i htink you are right ...it is just that as i said earlier...given >the choice between two monks who just says truth for truth's sake >(without taking into account the circs of each case or a monk who >lies for the sake of the cow and goes all out to make up for it by >satisfying the butcher's needs through some alternative needs...i >would choose the latter as my guru... ALWAYS! > > > >pranaams to you Jayanti >jairam Comment: May we add a little humour to this 'indian rubber' topic [it keeps bouncing back] ? Jayantiji and jairamji my joyful pranams to you both ! Has anyone asked the cow how SHE feels about this ? Maybe the cow is quite content, to offer herself as a sacrifice, to the butcher's carving block. The cow probably knows more than we do, that she is here to serve humanity. The cow probably also knows that man is made 'in the image and likeness of God', and if man wishes to consume her products, to nourish himself and his family, then she feels most honored. Just think how sad, the poor bats, rats and other similiar rodents, feel...nobody wants them to grace their table, only the 'poorest of the poor', amongst mankind, consume their flesh. However, I have this to say to these dejected mammals: " Bats and rats, take heart ! Since the numbers of the 'poorest of the poor' are increasing daily, at at alarming rate, soon this benevolent self-sacrifice, shall be no longer denied you. " Incidentally, we have reached the stage, in western society, where domestic dogs and cats, are receiving better nourishment than the 'poorest of the poor' in our midst.....in western society, it seems that DOG is spelt backwards! Oh, well, " c'est la vie " , 'so ist das leben' 'that's life' ! om shanthi om +om Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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