Lack of Fear

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Lack of Fear

There is a beautiful story about a young girl who was rowing a

ferry across a river because her father was sick. One Sanyasi who came to cross

the river asked her, " Young girl! You are ferrying this boat. Are you afraid? "

She said, " What is there to be afraid of? " " How did your great-grandfather die? "

asked the Swamiji. " Oh, he was drowned in the flood, " she answered. " And your

father? " He enquired. " He was also drowned in the flood. " The Sanyasin asked

again " So many paramparas [generations] of your family have died of drowning,

are you not afraid of taking up the same job again? " The young woman said,

" Swamiji, how did your grandfather die? " " Oh, he died comfortably in bed,

surrounded by his relations. " " And your father? " the young woman continued. " He

also died in the bed surrounded by his – six children, seven grandchildren. "

Answered the Sanyasi. The woman asked, " Are you not afraid of sleeping in bed? "

 

Death is inevitable for everybody. We cannot escape from it

even if we stop performing all our actions. We should not brood over such

inevitable things unnecessarily. We have to perform our duty courageously

following our Dharma.

 

jatasya hi dhruvo mrtyur

dhruvam janma mrtasya ca

tasmad apariharye 'rthe

na tvam socitum arhasi

 

 

 

One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take

birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should

not lament.

 

 

Theame taken from Youth: A Time of Promise and for Effort, vol. 2,

chapter " Throwing off the Shackles of the Past " p. 237 –by Rev.

Chariji