Chinna - but at the same time - Pedda Katha

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

Love and Love alone...

 

It is a wonderful story followed by some strict rules for

introspection and to rededicate ourselves for the path which leads

to Truth. Enjoy and emulate.

 

Love and Love alone ...

 

P. Gopi Krishna

 

 

THE GURU AND HIS DISCIPLE

 

There was once a disciple of a Guru who went to his Guru and

said, " Guruji, I want to live a spiritual life. I want to live in

the service of God. I want to go beyond the binding chains of this

mundane, materialistic world. But, I feel that I am not quite ready.

My desires for a family, for wealth and enjoyment are still too

strong. Grant me some time

to fulfill these wishes and then I will come to your holy feet. "

 

So the Guru said, " No problem, my child. Go. Get married, have a

family and earn wealth. In ten years I will come back for you. My

blessings are with you. "

 

With the blessings of his Guru, the man went out and quickly found a

beautiful girl to marry. They had 3 beautiful children, and the man

become financially successful.

 

After 10 years, there was a knock on the door of their home. The

man's wife opened it to see a haggard-looking man standing on the

doorstep. The man asked to see her husband. At first she started

scolding the man, thinking that he was just there to

beg for money. But, the husband realized that the person was his

Guru so he lovingly invited him inside.

 

" I have come to take you away from this world of illusions now that

you have fulfilled your desire of having a wife, family and

earnings. Come with me, my son, let me show you the way to God. "

 

But, the man looked at his Guru pitifully and he said, " Dear,

Beloved, Guru. Yes, you are right. You have given me my 10 years

ever so generously and with your blessings I have prospered. But, my

children are very young and my wife is again with child. She would

not be able to handle the burden of all of them alone. Allow me to

stay another ten years until the children are old enough to care for

themselves. "

 

A true Guru will guide you to the path, show you the light and help

when help is requested, but will never force a disciple - against

the disciple's will - to follow any particular path. Thus, the man's

Guru compassionately agreed, saying, " So be it, my son. Stay another

10 years until you feel that your mission is fulfilled. "

 

Ten years later, the Guru returned to the home to find a large bull-

dog out front guarding the house. Immediately he recognized his

disciple in the dog and saw - with his divine vision - that the man

had passed away several years prior but, due to his intense

protectiveness over his family and wealth, he had reincarnated as a

guard dog.

 

The Guru put his hand on the dog's head and said, " My child, now

that you have regressed from a human to a dog due to your attachment

to these worldly things, are you finally ready to come with me? "

 

The dog licked the hand of his Guru lovingly and said, " My beloved

Guruji. You are right that it is my own attachment which has driven

me to take birth as a dog, but you see my children have many enemies

who are envious of their wealth and power. These enemies are very

dangerous to my children and I must stay here to protect them.

However, I am sure that within a few years everything will sort

itself out and they will be fine. Give me just seven more years to

protect them, then I am yours. "

 

The Guru left and returned 7 years later.

 

This time, there was no dog out front and the home was filled with

grandchildren running around. The Guru closed his eyes and saw with

his divine vision that his disciple had taken birth in the form of

a cobra, wedged into the wall near the family safe to guard the

money.

 

He called the grandchildren of the house: " My children, " he

said. " In the wall to the right of your safe, there is a cobra

curled up in a small nook. Go there and bring the cobra to me. Do

not kill it. It will not harm you, I promise. But, just break its

back with a stick and then bring it to me. "

 

The children were incredulous, but went to the wall where the old

man had directed them.

Incredibly they saw that just as the Guru had said a cobra was

curled up in the wall. Following his orders, they broke the cobra's

back and carried it outside to the Guru. The Guru thanked the

children, threw the cobra over his neck and left.

 

As he walked away carrying the cobra over his neck, the Guru spoke

to the cobra, injured and aching, " My child, I am sorry for hurting

you, but there was no other way. Twenty seven years and three births

ago you left to taste the material world of sensual pleasures.

 

But the ways of Maya are so alluring and so subtle that they trap us

instantly. You have wasted these lifetimes in the futile pursuit of

material success and in attachment to people who also are only

actors in the Cosmic Drama. My child, all here is Maya - Cosmic

Illusion. It lures us into its trap, convincing us that it is real,

permanent, everlasting and significant.

 

But, in reality, the only thing which is real is HIM, and the only

true purpose of life is to get close to HIM. These attachments

merely divert our attention and focus away from the true purpose of

life. I had no choice but to come to your rescue as I saw you

sinking deeper and deeper into the deep clutches of Maya. " !

 

Having said so, the Guru full of love and care carried the snake to

his ashram to teach him the Truth, while the snake regretting his

act of attachment to the world and not to his Guru or the Truth sunk

in shame and realised what he had lost and had wasted all these

years!!

 

SPIRITUAL COMMENTARY

 

So frequently in life we think, " Just one more year " then I will cut

back on my luxuries and cut back on my time at the office.

 

" Just one more year " and I will dedicate more time to meditation and

spiritual pursuits.

 

" Just one more year " and then I will go to India, sit at my Guru's

feet and delve into the divine depths of spirituality.

 

" Just one more year " and then I will cut down on my sensual

pleasures. " . ...and on and on.

 

But, that " one more year " never comes.

 

Our intentions are good. We want to be more spiritual. We want to

devote more time to spiritual pursuits. We want to spend less, need

less and serve more. We want to be the master over our lust, anger

and greed rather than vice versa.

 

But, the power of Maya is stronger than the power of our will. Thus,

we continue to find excuses for why we must continue to work 50 or

60 hour work-weeks, why we still have no time for meditation, why we

can't squeeze a visit to the holy places of India into our

year's planning, and why we must continue to satiate our insatiable

sensual urges.

 

The only way to break free from the veil of illusion that Maya wraps

around our minds is to surrender to God and beg Him to show us the

true light.

 

The only way to break free is to make AND STICK TO concrete vows of

how we are going to be better people next year.

 

Rather than saying " I will find time to meditate " we must say " I

will not leave for work without sitting in meditation and I will not

sleep at night without doing my nightly introspection. "

 

Rather than saying, " I will try to come to India and visit holy

places whenever I can, " we must say " I will take my vacation this

year in India and nowhere else. "

 

Rather than say, " I will try to cut back on my expenses so that my

financial needs are less, " we must say, " I will not buy another

jacket or pair of shoes [or anything] until the ones that I have are

broken, torn or no longer fit me. "

 

Rather than say, " I will try to overcome my anger, lust and greed, "

we must commit to having daily appointments with God in which we

introspect on all the times we allowed ourselves to be overpowered

by these emotions and we must pray for strength, DAILY,

to be remain calm, peaceful and sattvic in our lives. "

 

If we wait for the right time, that time will never come. The only

time is NOW.

 

May God bless us all with the clarity of vision to realize that the

external world is Maya and with the strength, fortitude and

dedication to remove the veil and attain the Divine Truth!!

" Gopi Krishna " <gopi