The promise

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

I found this on a site called storytellingmonk.org. I found the

hidden meaning behind this story - given by the author after the

passage , EXTREMELY useful . He talks about a common delusion in

spiritual life - .... I will let you read it after the story.

 

My thanks to the author.

Jai Maa

Nanda

 

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"What happened? What did you find out?"

 

"Nothing… much, really." The astrologer pushed his palm leaf charts

behind him and faced his friend over the low table. He didn't know

what to say. The news was not good. "What about you? Did you do

my chart?"

 

"Oh, yes, replied his friend," who was clutching his book to his

chest. "I did it." He too had bad news to tell his friend.

 

The two friends had decided to cast each other's chart. Astrologers

never read their own future – it was taboo in their trade.

 

"Look. I'm sorry. I have to tell you. You're going to die and

soon. In fact you're going to be re-born as an elephant."

 

"Oh, thank God. I mean, `Oh no!'" He was shocked by the news but

relieved. "You're going to die soon, too. You're going to be

reborn as a worm."

 

The future worm fell to his knees and begged the future

elephant, "Please, let us make a covenant between us. When you are

reborn as an elephant, you'll not cease until you find me in my worm

incarnation, and immediately put me out of my misery so that I may

be reborn as a nobler creature. Please promise you'll do this for

me. Just step on me; one foot is enough."

 

The future elephant remained silent for a while. Finally, he

said, "Yes. I shall do that for you, my friend."

 

As ordained by fate, they soon died within weeks of each other and

were reborn. The astrologer-elephant had perfect recollection of his

previous incarnation, and his sacred vow to his friend. He

immediately set out exploring the jungle, lifting rocks, looking

around the forest. But he could not find his worm friend. He asked

the other animals in the jungle, "Have you seen my little worm

friend? He's thin, he has poor eyesight, and doesn't move too fast."

None of them had seen his friend.

 

The elephant started putting posters on the trees.

 

REWARD "Have you seen this worm? "

 

Weeks and months were passing, and the elephant was beginning to

feel that he would miss his opportunity to fulfill his commitment.

One day he came across a funny-looking rock. Lowering his huge head,

he saw a little wisp of steam rising from the rock. Peering still

closer, he noticed that the smoke was coming from a little tube

protruding from the stone. It looked like a chimney! "I bet there's

a little house in there" he thought. He carefully lifted the rock

with his trunk and found himself looking straight down into a tiny

little house… and there was his friend in a rocking chair, reading

the evening news in front of a nice fire, with his wife and kids

preparing a nice dish of rotting vegetables.

 

The elephant trumpeted, "My friend, I am so happy to have found you.

Now I can fulfill my vow," and he lifted his foot. The little worm

cried "No, no, forget the foolish covenant we made. That was before

I discovered how good it was to be a worm. The deal is off, it's

cancelled! Don't do it!"

 

The elephant calmly replied, "You'll thank me later," and squashed

him.

 

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Commentary given on the above passage by the storytellingmonk.

 

Our goals change the minute we become more comfortable in our new

persona, our new role, and the new circumstances. This is a very

common delusion in the spiritual life. We may start our any endeavor

with the best of intentions—to reach the highest goal. As we begin

to enjoy the new look, the company, the pleasant feelings… little by

little, the comfort of the journey becomes the goal, and all our

efforts now aim at justifying this choice.

 

The future worm thought that being a worm was going to be awful and

he wanted to be quickly put out of his misery. But he started to

enjoy worm life. The elephant symbolizes the spiritual master, who

pushes us outside of our comfort zone, prodding us mercilessly to

remember our divine self. He crushes our illusions, our ego, and our

attachments to the world. Yes, it is painful. But as the Sufis

say, "When the ego cries at what it has lost, the soul laughs at

what it has gained."

 

 

 

 

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