Fw: the prayer of the frog - 3

[Guest guest]

-

Gummuluru Murthy <gmurthy

<advaitin >

Monday, July 03, 2000 3:00 PM

the prayer of the frog - 3

 

 

 

namaste. Continuing on with the excerpts from "The prayer of the frog"

by Anthony de Mello.

 

Regards

Gummuluru Murthy

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RELIGION: HOW SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATIONS GROW

 

 

On a rocky seacoast where shipwrecks were frequent there was once

a ramshackle little life-saving station. It was no more than a hut

and there was only one boat, but the few people who manned the

station were a devoted lot who kept constant watch over the sea and,

with little regard for themselves and their safety, went fearlessly

out in a storm if they had any evidence that there had been a

shipwreck somewhere. Many lives were thus saved and the station

became famous.

 

As the fame of the station grew, so did the desire of people in the

neighbourhood to become associated with its excellent work. They

generously offered of their time and money so new members were

enrolled, new boats bought and new crews trained. The hut too was

replaced by a comfortable building which could adequately handle

the needs of those who had been saved from the sea and, of course,

since shipwrecks do not occur everyday, it became a popular gathering

place - a sort of local club. As time passed the members became so

engaged in socializing that they had little interest in life-saving,

though they duly sported the life-saving motto on the badges they wore.

As a matter of fact, when some people were actually rescued from the

sea, it was always such a nuisance because they were dirty and sick

and soiled the carpeting and the furniture.

 

Soon the social activities of the club bacame so numerous and the

life-saving activities so few that there was a show-down at a club

meeting with some members insisting that they return to their original

purpose and activity. A vote was taken and these trouble makers, who

proved to be a small minority, were invited to leave the club and

start another.

 

Which is precisely what they did - a little further down the coast,

with such selflessness and daring that, after a while, their heroism

made them famous. Whereupon their membership was enlarged, their hut

was reconstructed ... and their idealism smothered. If you happen to

visit that area today you will find a number of exclusive clubs dotting

the shoreline. Each one of them is justifiably proud of its origin and

its tradition. Shipwrecks still occur in those parts, but nobody seems

to care much.

 

 

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