A Scorpion Moment

[Guest guest]

Author Unknown, Source Unknown

============================================

 

There was an ascetic who saw a scorpion floundering around in the

water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the

scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of

the water, but the scorpion stung him again.

 

A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging

him.

 

But the ascetic said: "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It

is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just

because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"

[Guest guest]

It's funny that you posted this story--Mother sent me a dream a couple

of months ago, in which I was holding a scorpion that repeatedly stung

me on the hand, and yet I remained calm throughout. When I inquired

into the meaning of this, She said that when we attain prema-bhakti,

we see that even the scorpion's venom is amrita.

 

Even before we get to prema, if we remain devoted and strive to offer

all experience to the Divine, She will transform our lower (arachnid)

selves...

 

as Swami Omkarananda wrote, we are structures of light. and as Rumi

wrote, "don't go back to sleep"...a thousand pranaams and infinite

thanks to Swamiji and Shree Maa for waking me up!!! (even if I'm still

frequently groggy due to my own attachment and aversion)...and thanks

to Kali for all the coffee.

 

Kalibhakta

 

, "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote:

> Author Unknown, Source Unknown

> ============================================

>

> There was an ascetic who saw a scorpion floundering around in the

> water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the

> scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of

> the water, but the scorpion stung him again.

>

> A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging

> him.

>

> But the ascetic said: "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It

> is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just

> because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"