CHINNA KATHA FROM BHAGAVAN’S DISCOURSE. No. 35.

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35 - Think of a plan

 

In one village a feud was going on for long between two groups of people

for one reason or another. One resident of that village who had two

acres of land was growing grapes and selling them for his livelihood. He

did not belong to either of these fighting groups. But both the groups

opposing each other came to this individual and they started

pressurising him to join their respective party. So, under compulsion he

joined the party which contained a larger number of evil-minded people.

Few months later, this honest fellow was arrested by the police along

with all the other members. As a result there was no one to look after

his grape garden. The vines having no water for weeks, shrivelled and

began to wither away. There was no fruit and, therefore, there was no

income and enough food for his wife and children at home.

 

In the jail, this man used to get one post card every week from his

wife. The rules and regulations of the jail were such that letters

received by the prisoners would not be censured while letters posted by

the prisoners would be censured. Once, his wife wrote to him: " You seem

to be well looked after in the prison but have you thought of our

miserable condition? Since you left home our grape garden is dried up

and there is no one to till the land and prepare the land for the next

crop. Nor have I any money to set the land right. Even now, the children

and I are half starved. So, if you suggest some method by which I can

get the dried up land soil tilled, only then I and the children will

have something to eat in the near future at least. Please let me know. "

 

As soon as he read the letter, he felt very sad. But he could hit upon a

plan. He wrote to his wife thus: " Do not worry, I have not ever told you

about a treasure trove, a vessel containing a lot of gold coins which I

had put down below in the rut in our garden. You simply have to dig it

up and make use of the coins " . This letter had to be censured and the

jail superintendent read it. He did not post the letter. He got together

all the prisoners and told them to dig up the whole grape garden with a

view to find the treasure trove. In a short time the entire garden was

dug up. But they did not find any treasure trove.

 

On the third day there was a heavy rain and that year (grapes) yield was

very good. The wife was very happy. She sold the grapes and got plenty

of money.

 

At the end of six months, the husband was released from prison. As soon

as he came home she eagerly questioned: " How did you manage to send so

many men to plough the land? " The wife had not received her husband's

letter, so she did not know about his plan. The husband replied: " Yes,

by the grace of God I could think of a plan and make them believe about

the treasure trove. Let us thank God. "

 

What is the inner meaning of this story? This individual, this

cultivator had two acres of land. Man has two inches of heart. In our

heart there are two groups; the bad qualities and the good qualities.

These two groups are clashing with each other. In between the Jiva, the

householder and owner of the heart, the first was not seduced by the two

parties. But later he was pulled towards one group. Jiva has a wife -

she is Nivrithi and her children Pravirthi. Because the Jiva joined one

group he had to be in jail. That is bondage. However, he realises that

the field of heart had to be cleansed (ploughed) to find the wisdom -

gold. To get that wisdom all the prisoners (those in bondage) have to

dig the field of heart. After the process of digging and cleansing one

reaps the harvest of bliss. So what is it that is essential?

Purification of the field of heart by means of prescribed sadhanas.