Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Story: The Chameleon

Sri Ramakrishna: "Listen to a story. Once a man entered a wood and saw a small animal on a tree. He came back and told another man that he had seen a creature of a beautiful red colour on a certain tree. The second man replied: 'When I went into the wood, I also saw that animal. But why do you call it red? It is green.' Another man who was present contradicted them both and insisted that it was yellow.

Presently others arrived and contended that it was grey, violet, blue, and so forth and so on. At last they started quarrelling among themselves. To settle the dispute they all went to the tree. They saw a man sitting under it. On being asked, he replied: 'Yes, I live under this tree and I know the animal very well. All your descriptions are true.

Sometimes it appears red, sometimes yellow, and at other times blue, violet, grey, and so forth. It is a chameleon. And sometimes it has no colour at all. Now it has a colour, and now it has none.' "In like manner, one who constantly thinks of God can know His real nature; he alone knows that God reveals Himself to seekers in various forms and aspects.

God has attributes; then again He has none. Only the man who lives under the tree knows that the chameleon can appear in various colours, and he knows, further, that the animal at times has no colour at all. It is the others who suffer from the agony of futile argument.
 

Story: The Chameleon

Sri Ramakrishna: "Listen to a story. Once a man entered a wood and saw a small animal on a tree. He came back and told another man that he had seen a creature of a beautiful red colour on a certain tree. The second man replied: 'When I went into the wood, I also saw that animal. But why do you call it red? It is green.' Another man who was present contradicted them both and insisted that it was yellow.

Presently others arrived and contended that it was grey, violet, blue, and so forth and so on. At last they started quarrelling among themselves. To settle the dispute they all went to the tree. They saw a man sitting under it. On being asked, he replied: 'Yes, I live under this tree and I know the animal very well. All your descriptions are true.

Sometimes it appears red, sometimes yellow, and at other times blue, violet, grey, and so forth. It is a chameleon. And sometimes it has no colour at all. Now it has a colour, and now it has none.' "In like manner, one who constantly thinks of God can know His real nature; he alone knows that God reveals Himself to seekers in various forms and aspects.

God has attributes; then again He has none. Only the man who lives under the tree knows that the chameleon can appear in various colours, and he knows, further, that the animal at times has no colour at all. It is the others who suffer from the agony of futile argument.
 

Story of Farmer;Story told by Sri Ramakrishna

There was a farmer to whom an only son was born when he was rather advanced in age. As the child grew up, his parents became very fond of him. One day the farmer was out working in the fields, when a neighbour told him that his son was dangerously ill—indeed, at the point of death. Returning home he found the boy dead.

His wife wept bitterly, but his own eyes remained dry. Sadly the wife said to her neighbours, 'Such a son has passed away, and he hasn't even one tear to shed!'

After a long while the farmer said to his wife: 'Do you know why I am not crying? Last night I dreamt I had become a king, and the father of seven princes. These princes were beautiful as well as virtuous. They grew in stature and acquired wisdom and knowledge in the various arts. Suddenly I woke up. Now I have been wondering whether I should weep for those seven children or this one boy.'

To the jnanis the waking state is no more real than the dream state.

Story of Farmer;Story told by Sri Ramakrishna

There was a farmer to whom an only son was born when he was rather advanced in age. As the child grew up, his parents became very fond of him. One day the farmer was out working in the fields, when a neighbour told him that his son was dangerously ill—indeed, at the point of death. Returning home he found the boy dead.

His wife wept bitterly, but his own eyes remained dry. Sadly the wife said to her neighbours, 'Such a son has passed away, and he hasn't even one tear to shed!'

After a long while the farmer said to his wife: 'Do you know why I am not crying? Last night I dreamt I had become a king, and the father of seven princes. These princes were beautiful as well as virtuous. They grew in stature and acquired wisdom and knowledge in the various arts. Suddenly I woke up. Now I have been wondering whether I should weep for those seven children or this one boy.'

To the jnanis the waking state is no more real than the dream state.

Seeking Man

Sri Ramakrishna - "A man wanted a smoke. He went to a neighbour's house to light his charcoal. It was the dead of night and the household was asleep. After he had knocked a great deal, someone came down to open the door. At sight of the man he asked, 'Hello! What's the matter?' The man replied: 'Can't you guess? You know how fond I am of smoking. I have come here to light my charcoal.' The neighbour said: 'Ha! Ha! You are a fine man indeed! You took the trouble to come and do all this knocking at the door! Why, you have a lighted lantern in your hand!'

"What a man seeks is very near him. Still he wanders about from place to place.

Seeking Man

Sri Ramakrishna - "A man wanted a smoke. He went to a neighbour's house to light his charcoal. It was the dead of night and the household was asleep. After he had knocked a great deal, someone came down to open the door. At sight of the man he asked, 'Hello! What's the matter?' The man replied: 'Can't you guess? You know how fond I am of smoking. I have come here to light my charcoal.' The neighbour said: 'Ha! Ha! You are a fine man indeed! You took the trouble to come and do all this knocking at the door! Why, you have a lighted lantern in your hand!'

"What a man seeks is very near him. Still he wanders about from place to place.

Guru and his Disciple

Sri Ramakrishna : "Through restlessness — the restlessness a child feels for his mother. The child feels bewildered when he is separated from his mother, and weeps longingly for her. If a man can weep like that for God he can even see Him.

"At the approach of dawn the eastern horizon becomes red. Then one knows it will soon be sunrise. Likewise, if you see a person restless for God, you can be pretty certain that he hasn't long to wait for His vision.


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"A disciple asked his teacher, 'Sir, please tell me how I can see God.' Come with me,' said the guru, 'and I shall show you.' He took the disciple to a lake, and both of them got into the water. Suddenly the teacher pressed the disciple's head under the water.

After a few moments he released him and the disciple raised his head and stood up. The guru asked him, 'How did you feel?' The disciple said, 'Oh! I thought I should die; I was panting for breath.' The teacher said, 'When you feel like that for God, then you will know you haven't long to wait for His vision

Guru and his Disciple

Sri Ramakrishna : "Through restlessness — the restlessness a child feels for his mother. The child feels bewildered when he is separated from his mother, and weeps longingly for her. If a man can weep like that for God he can even see Him.

"At the approach of dawn the eastern horizon becomes red. Then one knows it will soon be sunrise. Likewise, if you see a person restless for God, you can be pretty certain that he hasn't long to wait for His vision.


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"A disciple asked his teacher, 'Sir, please tell me how I can see God.' Come with me,' said the guru, 'and I shall show you.' He took the disciple to a lake, and both of them got into the water. Suddenly the teacher pressed the disciple's head under the water.

After a few moments he released him and the disciple raised his head and stood up. The guru asked him, 'How did you feel?' The disciple said, 'Oh! I thought I should die; I was panting for breath.' The teacher said, 'When you feel like that for God, then you will know you haven't long to wait for His vision

"How can a man get rid of his ego?"

"How can a man get rid of his ego?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "You cannot get rid of it until you have realized God.
 If you find a person free from ego, then know for certain that he has seen God."

"How can a man get rid of his ego?"

"How can a man get rid of his ego?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "You cannot get rid of it until you have realized God.
 If you find a person free from ego, then know for certain that he has seen God."

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Sri Ramakrishna:Parable of salt doll


Sri Ramakrishna: "In samadhi one attains the Knowledge of Brahman – one realizes Brahman. In that state reasoning stops altogether, and man becomes mute. He has no power to describe the nature of Brahman.

"Once a salt doll went to measure the depth of the ocean.It wanted to tell others how deep the water was. But this it could never do, for no sooner did it get into the water than it melted. Now who was there to report the ocean's depth?"

Sri Ramakrishna:Parable of salt doll


Sri Ramakrishna: "In samadhi one attains the Knowledge of Brahman – one realizes Brahman. In that state reasoning stops altogether, and man becomes mute. He has no power to describe the nature of Brahman.

"Once a salt doll went to measure the depth of the ocean.It wanted to tell others how deep the water was. But this it could never do, for no sooner did it get into the water than it melted. Now who was there to report the ocean's depth?"

Story: Are you worse than a clown?

There was a young monk who was a very serious practitioner of the Dharma. Once, this monk came across something he did not understand, so he went to ask the master. When the master heard the question, he started laughing loudly. The master then stood up and walked away, still laughing. The young monk was very disturbed by the master's reaction. For the following some days, he could not eat, sleep nor think properly. Later he went back to the master and told the master how disturbed he had felt. When the master heard this, he said, "Do you know what your problem is? Your problem is that YOU ARE WORSE THAN A CLOWN!" The monk was shocked to hear that, "Master, how can you say such a thing?! How can I be worse than a clown?" The master explained, "A clown enjoys seeing people laugh at him. You feel disturbed because another person laughed at you. Now tell, are you not worse than a clown?"

Story: Are you worse than a clown?

There was a young monk who was a very serious practitioner of the Dharma. Once, this monk came across something he did not understand, so he went to ask the master. When the master heard the question, he started laughing loudly. The master then stood up and walked away, still laughing. The young monk was very disturbed by the master's reaction. For the following some days, he could not eat, sleep nor think properly. Later he went back to the master and told the master how disturbed he had felt. When the master heard this, he said, "Do you know what your problem is? Your problem is that YOU ARE WORSE THAN A CLOWN!" The monk was shocked to hear that, "Master, how can you say such a thing?! How can I be worse than a clown?" The master explained, "A clown enjoys seeing people laugh at him. You feel disturbed because another person laughed at you. Now tell, are you not worse than a clown?"

Story: Believe in Yourself!

There was once a general who was leading his army into battle against an enemy ten times the size of his own. Along the way to the battle field, the troops stopped by a small temple to pray for victory. The general held up a coin and told his troops, "I am going to implore the gods to help us crush our enemy. If this coin lands with the heads on top, we'll win. If it's tails, we'll lose. Our fate is in the hands of the gods. Let's pray wholeheartedly." After a short prayer, the general tossed the coin. It landed with the heads on top. The troops were overjoyed and went into the battle with high siprit. Just as predicted, the smaller army won the battle. The soldiers were excited, "It's good to have the gods on our side! No one can change what they have determined." "Really?" The general show them the coin;both sides of it were heads

Story: Believe in Yourself!

There was once a general who was leading his army into battle against an enemy ten times the size of his own. Along the way to the battle field, the troops stopped by a small temple to pray for victory. The general held up a coin and told his troops, "I am going to implore the gods to help us crush our enemy. If this coin lands with the heads on top, we'll win. If it's tails, we'll lose. Our fate is in the hands of the gods. Let's pray wholeheartedly." After a short prayer, the general tossed the coin. It landed with the heads on top. The troops were overjoyed and went into the battle with high siprit. Just as predicted, the smaller army won the battle. The soldiers were excited, "It's good to have the gods on our side! No one can change what they have determined." "Really?" The general show them the coin;both sides of it were heads

Story: Everything in Creation has its own importance

Once upon a time, eyes, nose, and mouth of a person had meeting. Eyes said, "Eyes, are of utmost importance to the body. Everything must be seen by us to know whether it is beautiful or not, big or small, tall or short. Without eyes, walking around will be very difficult. So we, are very important. But we have been improperly placed under the eyebrows, which are of no use. It's not fair!"
Then, the nose said, "I, am the most important. Only I can distinguish a good smell from a foul odor. The act of breathing is also dependent on me. If I do not let the breath pass through, everybody will die. So I am the most important. I too have been unfairly placed beneath the useless eyebrows and am very much dissatisfied." Then the mouth said, "I am the most important part of the human body. I can speak; if not for me, there would not be any communication among people. I take in the food; if I'm not there, everybody would die of hunger.The useless eyebrows, however, have been put on the highest part of the face. This is not at all acceptable!" Then the eyebrows spoke slowly, "Please don't fight . We, the eyebrows, are surely the most useless things; we admit defeat and are willing to be placed below all of you."
Having said this, the eyebrows settled down below the eyes. Unfortunately, the person no longer looked like a human being. Next, they eyebrows settled down below the nose. It was still horrible; it still did not look like a human being. Then the eyebrows settled down below the mouth. This looked even more ghastly! The eyes, nose, and mouth jumped onto discuss again. They concluded that it was best if the eyebrows returned to their original place on the face; it was the most appropriate spot for them. When the eyebrows returned to their original spot, the appearance was once again that of the human being.

Story: Everything in Creation has its own importance

Once upon a time, eyes, nose, and mouth of a person had meeting. Eyes said, "Eyes, are of utmost importance to the body. Everything must be seen by us to know whether it is beautiful or not, big or small, tall or short. Without eyes, walking around will be very difficult. So we, are very important. But we have been improperly placed under the eyebrows, which are of no use. It's not fair!"
Then, the nose said, "I, am the most important. Only I can distinguish a good smell from a foul odor. The act of breathing is also dependent on me. If I do not let the breath pass through, everybody will die. So I am the most important. I too have been unfairly placed beneath the useless eyebrows and am very much dissatisfied." Then the mouth said, "I am the most important part of the human body. I can speak; if not for me, there would not be any communication among people. I take in the food; if I'm not there, everybody would die of hunger.The useless eyebrows, however, have been put on the highest part of the face. This is not at all acceptable!" Then the eyebrows spoke slowly, "Please don't fight . We, the eyebrows, are surely the most useless things; we admit defeat and are willing to be placed below all of you."
Having said this, the eyebrows settled down below the eyes. Unfortunately, the person no longer looked like a human being. Next, they eyebrows settled down below the nose. It was still horrible; it still did not look like a human being. Then the eyebrows settled down below the mouth. This looked even more ghastly! The eyes, nose, and mouth jumped onto discuss again. They concluded that it was best if the eyebrows returned to their original place on the face; it was the most appropriate spot for them. When the eyebrows returned to their original spot, the appearance was once again that of the human being.

Monday, April 22, 2013

3 branches of ego

i)I am the body,
ii)The body is mine;
iii)the body is for me

3 branches of ego

i)I am the body,
ii)The body is mine;
iii)the body is for me

What is the greatest disease?

In Narayaneeya the Bhattatiri prays to remove his disease "Rokanme nashaya Pavanapurapate"
But towards the end he gets the true Jnana.What is the greatest disease? Desire over the body,
The thought itself that I am the body;the body is for me.So he prays "Dehamoham Tyaja Pavanapuratheesha "
RamanaMaharshi says this body itself is a disease.So when body get's disease its like the disease get's disease.

What is the greatest disease?

In Narayaneeya the Bhattatiri prays to remove his disease "Rokanme nashaya Pavanapurapate"
But towards the end he gets the true Jnana.What is the greatest disease? Desire over the body,
The thought itself that I am the body;the body is for me.So he prays "Dehamoham Tyaja Pavanapuratheesha "
RamanaMaharshi says this body itself is a disease.So when body get's disease its like the disease get's disease.

What is the greatest Gift?

The greatest gift Bhagavan can give is removal of desire.Complete removal of desire is in other words winning over the Maya.Desire itself is Avidya.The Sangha of Asat we have is due to Desire.

What is the greatest Gift?

The greatest gift Bhagavan can give is removal of desire.Complete removal of desire is in other words winning over the Maya.Desire itself is Avidya.The Sangha of Asat we have is due to Desire.

What is DehaBodha?

Dehabodha is actually a wrong term.There is no bodha to the body and there is no body to the bodha (consciousness).Bodha is independent of the body.It is the feeling of existence of self.And the body never says I.Even if the head is cut off from the body it doesnt say that 'I' have been cut off.

Satsang

Where u can hear or experience the feeling that you are not this body that is Satsang

Satsang

Where u can hear or experience the feeling that you are not this body that is Satsang

What is DehaBodha?

Dehabodha is actually a wrong term.There is no bodha to the body and there is no body to the bodha (consciousness).Bodha is independent of the body.It is the feeling of existence of self.And the body never says I.Even if the head is cut off from the body it doesnt say that 'I' have been cut off.

Are you afraid of losing your dear and near relatives or friends?

Once a devotee went to a Mahatma and tells him that he is very much attached to his mother.His mother is more than 70 years of age now.
He prays to him to make her leave for 10 more years.He tells the Mahatma that the very idea of the death of his mother strikes worry and fear in him.
Mahatma replies,"Sure I will bless you so that your mother leaves for 10 more years as you want.But then what about you? Are you sure that you will be alive for all these years?
This idea never even struck him once!! Many of us are in such a situation. THe Mahatma's Question made him think deeply.He thought,"Why the fear that made him think his mother will die didnt make him think that he too will die!"

Are you afraid of losing your dear and near relatives or friends?

Once a devotee went to a Mahatma and tells him that he is very much attached to his mother.His mother is more than 70 years of age now.
He prays to him to make her leave for 10 more years.He tells the Mahatma that the very idea of the death of his mother strikes worry and fear in him.
Mahatma replies,"Sure I will bless you so that your mother leaves for 10 more years as you want.But then what about you? Are you sure that you will be alive for all these years?
This idea never even struck him once!! Many of us are in such a situation. THe Mahatma's Question made him think deeply.He thought,"Why the fear that made him think his mother will die didnt make him think that he too will die!"

Nature of Asat

Suppose if a person has desire to be in some position.Once he is in that position.The desire goes away but still the person is unable to leave it;gets himself stuck up there.This is the nature of Asat
It will give us worries sooner or later and will never give us eternal happiness that we look for.And one day it will leave us even if we havent left it.This is the nature of all things in this world;Money,position and even our body are examples of this!!
Because we know that these will leave us ignorant people are afraid of losing it.

Nature of Asat

Suppose if a person has desire to be in some position.Once he is in that position.The desire goes away but still the person is unable to leave it;gets himself stuck up there.This is the nature of Asat
It will give us worries sooner or later and will never give us eternal happiness that we look for.And one day it will leave us even if we havent left it.This is the nature of all things in this world;Money,position and even our body are examples of this!!
Because we know that these will leave us ignorant people are afraid of losing it.