FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 30: WHEN DEATH COMES CALLING !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 30

 

WHEN DEATH COMES CALLING !!!

 

Lord Vishnu was telling his consort Lakshmi, "Even if the humans are not able to conceive the idea of a Lord or a God, they must be able to know what Love is by experience, is it not? They have experienced the love of parents, of a friend, or of a brother or sister, or towards their own children. That love is itself a spark of God. God could respond if one cries longingly even for a physical mother or father if not God's name."

 

One dark night when Vishnu and Lakshmi were journeying through the sky, they saw a man perched on the branch of a tree, about to fall on the ground through sheer exhaustion of limbs. Lakshmi pleaded on his behalf and wanted that Vishnu should save him; and Vishnu preferred that she should save him, instead since she has equal or even more powers than him!!!

 

Meanwhile, the fall became imminent and so Vishnu & Lakshmi decided that if the man shouted "Amma (mother)," while falling down, Lakshmi should hasten to arrest his fall and if he shouted, "Appa (father)," Vishnu should help and see that no bones are broken & that he doesn't get injured!

 

The man fell, but he shouted neither 'Amma nor Appa', but screamed 'Ayyo' (a sigh of misery)! And so he had to be left severely alone in agony with some broken bones!!! After some time he passed away!"

 

In the sixth skanda of Srimad Bhagavatam, Parikshit asks Shukacharya how to avoid hell and its' horrid experiences. Shuka says the practice of spiritual discipline is the remedy. He said, "If a man, with a feeling of passionate attachment, unites his mind with Krishna's feet even once, he will not see Yama or his emissaries with noose in hand, even in a dream!"

 

Shukacharya then narrated the story of Ajamila. Ajamila was once a very noble brahmin, performing his duties and prescribed rituals most sincerely and was also a good husband, good son and good father. Once when he was in the forest to gather the fuel-wood for his rituals, he fell for a woman, heart and soul. Actually the woman was one of very low morals.

 

From that time onwards he lived with her, abandoned his family and his own parents. He got ten children by her, made a living and supported this large family by blackmailing rich people, by cheating, fraud and gambling. He was particularly fond of the youngest child, Narayana, by name. The attachment to the child was so pronounced that whether he was eating, drinking, relaxing or working, he would always want Narayana to be by his side and partake of his food or participate in his enjoyment.

 

 

When finally the call from Yama, the God of Death, came, it came suddenly and in his agony he cried: O Narayana. Narayana!!! He called aloud with great fear.

 

The messengers of Yama who almost got him in their noose suddenly found from within his heart four well-clad beautiful angel-like figures, each with four hands, preventing the messengers of Yama from discharging their duty. They said, "The one name of God absolves and purifies sins of all kinds, small or large. Even when he has uttered the name without really intending to call the Supreme Lord, it purifies him!!!" Thus they prevented Yama from taking away his soul!

 

That's why we have the habit of giving our children names of Gods & Goddesses! It is a question of practice. When we are thirsty, we don't want all the water from the well. One glass will suffice. Here is a match box with some 60 matches; if we want to light a fire we need to strike one match, not the entire box of matches.

Some more responses…

1. Dear Sir,

Many thanks for your kind message. You have given a new meaning for patience which always tests one's ability to achieve supremacy in life! Hope after reading this mail (SQ – 29) people's perception will be changed and you have given new approach to achieve our objectives in life. Clear thoughts with clear examples. 

Regards

KALYANARAMAN R S

2. Dear Sir,

 I never cease to be awed by the way SQ manages to drive home the point with the help of your spiritual quotes, examples and short stories.

 

We youngsters always have these misconceived notions that spirituality is something which is to be pursued only in old age after we have enjoyed our life in our youth, but SQ has been an eye opener for us.

 

I happened to receive a mail with statistics a couple of months back. But I never imagined that these statistics could be reproduced in the form of a spiritual story,

(SQ- 29) giving us a wonderful message that we need to be thankful for mental peace and material comfort bestowed by God on us, than to hanker after things which can just give us momentary feeling of happiness.

 

This write up of SQ is much more intense and thought provoking than the mail which only had statistics in it.  I think the effort taken for compiling these articles for SQ is really commendable and hope that you continue to nourish us daily with your spiritual anecdotes.

Regards

REVATHI

3. Dear Mr.Murali

 'Green with envy' (SQ – 28) was a wonderful response to my query...Thank you.

 

In fact, your SQ has become quite a repository of spiritual knowledge that besides your quotients, the debates and the exchange of ideas and thoughts have also become equally popular. I have become quite an avid reader of all these and where possible, I have also started partaking in these discussions.

 

Thank you once again for this wonderful opportunity to 'learn' and to 'debate'.

 

May your column grow from strength to strength?

Regards

JAWAHAR.N.R

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 29: JOURNEY TO THE HEAVENS !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 29

 

JOURNEY TO THE HEAVENS!!!

 

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.

 

My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the 'Receiving Section'. Here, all petitions and letters to God said in prayer are received."

 

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps of paper from people all over the world!

 

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to me, "This is the 'Packaging and Delivery Section". Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them."

 

I noticed again how busy the angels were there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested for and were being packaged for delivery to Earth!

 

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there practically idle. "This is the 'Acknowledgment Section'," my angel friend quietly admitted to me.

 

"How is it that there's no work going on here?" I asked.

 

"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments."

 

"How does one acknowledge God's blessings and what blessings should we acknowledge?" I asked.

 

The angel gave an emphatic reply. "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your body, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... You are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy. And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity." 

 

"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ...... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... You are ahead of more than 700 million people in the world."

 

"If you can attend a place of worship without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death ... You are envied by, and more blessed than 3 billion!"
 
"If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all. So count your blessings every day & simply thank God for everything! This is the least expected from a spiritual person." said the angel.

 

"But why everyone is not doing that knowing fully well that God is all powerful & present everywhere?" I asked.

 

The angel gave a beautiful example: "When a tree bears fruit, not all the fruits in a bunch ripen at the same time. Similarly, when a plant bears flowers, not all the flowers blossom at the same time. Some are in the process of blossoming, others are fully blossomed, yet a few remain as buds. Only the fully blossomed flower spreads its fragrance. Similarly, people too are in different stages of evolution ---some are at a blossoming stage and some others are like the fully blossomed flower, spreading their fragrance. We have to wait patiently they reach the 'fragrance stage'!!!"

 

PS: The message is more important than the statistics given here!!!

 

A few responses received…

1. Sir,

Spirituality, as conveyed by you, always inspires.  (SQ – 27)   Thank you.

PARAMESH KRISHNAIER

 

2. Dear Sir,

Whenever and wherever we excel in any activity, we must pray our sincere tributes to almighty as with out his wish, nothing can be achieved.  One who see god in every thing, ultimately he can also realize god lives in his or her soul.  Material benefits, ego, arrogance, power, positions are the purity killers.  One has to seek a right balance in all these to realize who is god.  Your messages are in a class of its' own & the examples are very appropriate.

 

Sai Baba has given us the definition of life and we who actually determine whether we reach divine or come back in human form to this filthy earth depending upon our present karma.

SURESH S

 

3. Sir

Relevant question in modern times and wonderfully answered with the help of a story. (SQ – 28)

The best thing is we can relate to the story and make an attempt to change our perception about people around and situations happening around us, rather than complaining and blaming our fate.

Thank you for this article.

 

Regards

REVATHI VENKATARAMAN

 

SAIRAM

Moderator,

http://groups.google.co.in/group/premasai_gurukulam

(Extracted, compiled & edited from RADIO SAI JOURNALS)

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 28: GREEN WITH ENVY!!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 28

GREEN WITH ENVY!!!

Dear Sir,

 

Good morning.

Can the feeling of envy or jealousy ever vanish? As long as the human race is in existence, do you feel it would be possible to avoid this? Obviously one should possess a high degree of maturity or a philosophical outlook towards life which could probably negate or do away with such feelings. But this is one nature that has been prevalent in all our Puranas, folklores and mythology which has been the cause of and resulted in so much misery.

 

More than the people who harbor such feelings, it is the victims who are the targets of such envy who are normally worst affected, is it not?

 

How can spirituality help both the 'tormentor' and the 'tormented' as it were?

Regards

JAWAHAR.N.R

There was once a millionaire who was bothered by two aches, one in his stomach and the other in his head! He was diagnosed and treated.

He was examined and treated by a galaxy of medical experts. He consumed heavy loads of drugs, and underwent centuries of injections. But the aches persisted with greater vigor than ever before!

At last, a monk arrived at the scene & witnessed his agony. He spoke very kindly to him, and pronounced the fault to be in his eyes!!! "Set your eyes correct and the head on top and the stomach below would both behave very sweetly! To improve the eye, concentrate on only one color. Concentrate on green. Do not let your eyes fall on red or yellow, or any other color", he advised the rich man.

The rich man got together a group of painters and purchased barrels of green color and directed that every object on which his eye was likely to fall be painted thick green. The millionaire's malady resulted in a rich harvest for paint craftsmen!!!

When the monk came back to him after about 10 days, the craftsmen ran toward him with a bucket of green paint for he wore a red gown! They started throwing the green paint on the monk's dress! He wondered why, and got the answer from the painters that their master dare not cast his eye on any color other than green as per strict instructions!!!

The holy man got shocked & then reprimanded the rich man and said that he had wasted lakhs of rupees as a result of his monumental stupidity.

"If only you had purchased a pair of green spectacles, worth perhaps Rs300/- , you could have saved these walls and trees and pots and pans, and chairs and sofas and also a pretty large share of your fortune! You cannot paint the world green. All you have to do first is to change the lens that covers your eyes!!!" the monk said.

The holy man continued, "Transform yourself first to get rid of all your aches & only after that can you even attempt to transform the World!"

PS: This story is our response to your question. It's never, "WHO'S RIGHT & WHO'S WRONG". It's always, "WHAT'S RIGHT & WHAT'S WRONG"! That's the PARADIGM SHIFT we need to bring in our thinking. First we need to change our lens! Consequently when we know that envy, jealousy, anger, desire, lust, outburst etc…sap our energy & are detrimental to our spiritual progress or otherwise, we should take conscious steps to throw them out of our system. They're like that unwanted guest & have to be kept away. (Read SQ – 3: THE GUEST!)

We don't have to take refuge in the Puranas or mythology & take consolation by saying that even some of the great saints also succumbed to them! They're mentioned in these epics only for the human beings to realize the danger in harboring these 'Vasanas'.

As far as the 'tormented' is concerned, you would get your answer from SQ –19. (THE IMMUNITY) We need to build that wall, that armor around us in the form of 'good thoughts, words & deeds'. There is no other choice!!! When we realize that God Himself is residing within us, how can anything affect us at all?

We need to remember that, "NOONE CAN MAKE US UNHAPPY WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION! NOONE CAN MAKE US DISAPPOINTED WITHOUT OUR CONSENT! NOONE CAN MAKE US ANGRY WITHOUR OUR WILL! IT IS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE ALL THE TIME!!!

Both MAHAVIRA & BUDDHA said, "FIRST SEEK REFUGE WITHIN YOU."

Another reader's response…

Sir,
 
I really enjoy reading SQ...Thanks a lot. I wish more and more people read and understand.
Regards
Kamalakar Pandit

SAIRAM

Moderator,

http://groups.google.co.in/group/premasai_gurukulam

(Extracted, compiled & edited from RADIO SAI JOURNALS)

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 27: WHEN WE DIE !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 27

 

WHEN WE DIE!!!

 

Lord Vishnu was telling his consort Lakshmi, "Even if the humans are not able to conceive the idea of a Lord or a God, they must be able to know what Love is by experience, is it not? They have experienced the love of parents, of a friend, or of a brother or sister, or towards their own children. That love is itself a spark of God. God could respond if one cries longingly even for a physical mother or father if not God's name."

 

One dark night when Vishnu and Lakshmi were journeying through the sky, they saw a man perched on the branch of a tree, about to fall on the ground through sheer exhaustion of limbs. Lakshmi pleaded on his behalf and wanted that Vishnu should save him; and Vishnu preferred that she should save him, instead since she has equal or even more powers than him!!!

 

Meanwhile, the fall became imminent and so Vishnu & Lakshmi decided that if the man shouted "Amma (mother)," while falling down, Lakshmi should hasten to arrest his fall and if he shouted, "Appa (father)," Vishnu should help and see that no bones are broken & that he doesn't get injured!

 

The man fell, but he shouted neither 'Amma nor Appa', but screamed 'Ayyo' (a sigh of misery)! And so he had to be left severely alone in agony with some broken bones!!! After some time he passed away!"

 

In the sixth skanda of Srimad Bhagavatam, Parikshit asks Shukacharya how to avoid hell and its' horrid experiences. Shuka says the practice of spiritual discipline is the remedy. He said, "If a man, with a feeling of passionate attachment, unites his mind with Krishna's feet even once, he will not see Yama or his emissaries with noose in hand, even in a dream!"

 

Shukacharya then narrated the story of Ajamila. Ajamila was once a very noble brahmin, performing his duties and prescribed rituals most sincerely and was also a good husband, good son and good father. Once when he was in the forest to gather the fuel-wood for his rituals, he fell for a woman, heart and soul. Actually the woman was one of very low morals.

 

From that time onwards he lived with her, abandoned his family and his own parents. He got ten children by her, made a living and supported this large family by blackmailing rich people, by cheating, fraud and gambling. He was particularly fond of the youngest child, Narayana, by name. The attachment to the child was so pronounced that whether he was eating, drinking, relaxing or working, he would always want Narayana to be by his side and partake of his food or participate in his enjoyment.

 

 

When finally the call from Yama, the God of Death, came, it came suddenly and in his agony he cried: O Narayana. Narayana!!! He called aloud with great fear.

 

The messengers of Yama who almost got him in their noose suddenly found from within his heart four well-clad beautiful angel-like figures, each with four hands, preventing the messengers of Yama from discharging their duty. They said, "The one name of God absolves and purifies sins of all kinds, small or large. Even when he has uttered the name without really intending to call the Supreme Lord, it purifies him!!!" Thus they prevented Yama from taking away his soul!

 

That's why we have the habit of giving our children names of Gods & Goddesses! It is a question of practice. When we are thirsty, we don't want all the water from the well. One glass will suffice. Here is a match box with some 60 matches; if we want to light a fire we need to strike one match, not the entire box of matches.

That one name it is that will guard us and guide us throughout life. It is such a small thing! The Name of God is the smallest of the small, and the largest of the large. Like a small lantern, the Name must go wherever we go, and then we can travel easily through the whole forest of life.

 

PS: The Bhagavad Gita and Sahasranama are to be chanted; always the form of the Lord of Lakshmi is to be meditated upon; the mind is to be led towards the company of the good; wealth is to be shared with the needy. – ADI SHANKARA

 

1. Dear Sir,

This gives knowledge of reality in life also.  No doubt one who studies your messages will acquire a balance of mind and rest peacefully.

 

Regards

VASU V

2. Dear Sir

Thanks for sending the same. If possible kindly include the series in the SFTC intranet under the head 'learning' so that we can view it.

 

Regards

SWAMINATHAN R

3. Morning sir,

Today I enjoyed reading quote from an article, which if every one of us put into practice then spirituality is no more a challenge to us.  

"Each day is a little life and you've to end your day in such a way so as not to repent in the evening".  If we live like this and feel the pain of others as we feel and show compassion and love, this is spirituality.

Regards,

SARALA GOPINATH

4. Sir,

Thanks for the wonderful messages that are being shared each and every day

The daily mails are indeed very true, religious and thought provoking.

Time is like a river. You cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again.
Enjoy every moment of life....

Regards,

SUDHA T V

SAIRAM

Moderator,

http://groups.google.co.in/group/premasai_gurukulam

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 26: PART TIME DEVOTEES !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 26

PART TIME DEVOTEES!!!

Lord Krishna once enacted a small drama to demonstrate how the devotion of the illiterate Gopikas of Brindavan was deeper and fuller than that of His consorts, Rukmini or Sathyabhama, or even the sage Narada!

He pretended that he was suffering from a severe headache, and that only the application of the dust from the feet of a devotee would cure Him. Neither Rukmini, nor Sathyabhama nor Narada were willing to offer the dust from their feet, as they felt that they would be condemned to live in hell if they allowed the dust of their feet to pollute the Divine head of Krishna.

But when Narada approached the Gopikas, they had no hesitation in collecting the dust of their feet, because their only concern was to relieve their beloved Krishna's pain instantly, without caring about what happened to them as an outcome.

Even though they were warned by Narada about the dire consequences of their action, they told him that they were not concerned about the worst that might happen to them, if only their Krishna would be relieved of pain. They said that they don't mind going to hell at all if Krishna's pain goes away!!!

Krishna's pain was gone the moment the Gopikas offered the dust of their feet. Narada realized that the totally unselfish devotion exhibited by the Gopikas was Parama Bhakti, the highest form of devotion!!!

And he was so taken aback – so to say stunned into silence – by their phenomenal devotion for Lord Krishna. Krishna was the taste of their tongues; the sight of their eyes; the sound of their ears; the touch of their skin – that he went back and composed what is known to be one of the most authoritative texts on the doctrine of Devotion – The Narada Bhakti Sutras!

PS: "Most of you, though devoted to Deities are enslaved by the senses and ego. Hence, you feel that if you visit temples and perform rituals you are following the tradition and are really devoted to the Deities. There are hardly any "Real Devotees"!

"You are all part time devotees seeking always benefits and blessings from God for your own welfare and the welfare of your immediate families. Most of you ignore the needs of other living beings that starve and struggle. Hence your Devotion is "Selfish". Start serving others from this very minute & I shall reserve a seat for you in the Heavens!!!" – SATHYA SAI BABA

(Devotees all over the World have now become more & more organized & meticulous about service & included GRAMA SEVA, HOSPITAL SEVA, NARAYANA SEVA etc…just to name a few!!!)

Some responses…

1.      Dear Sir,

I am regularly reading SQ with all sincerity.  Simply put, they are all very good messages to be absorbed, assimilated and put into practice.  Just reading and appreciating will not at all suffice.  Unless one is determined to imbibe these qualities and make it a living even attempting to spirituality becomes a challenge.  I am reproducing below a portion of the article I came across recently, which I liked:

 

"Each day is a little life and you've to end your day in such a way so as not to repent in the evening".  If we live like this and feel the pain of others as we feel and show compassion and love, this is spirituality.

 

The people who demonstrate spirituality are those who seek always to be in touch with the "highest good" in them, in others and in the universe.  To practice spirituality means listening to and acting on the "highest good" within me."

Regards,

BALASUBRAMANIAN C

 

2.      Dear Sir,

Very nice of you. I strongly believe and practice to the extent possible the 18th Chapter of Gita, the complete surrender of our soul and deeds that would make us totally happy in life. Your spiritual quotient helps us recycle our spiritual thoughts and refresh ourselves. 

Thanks & regards

SURESH S

 

3.      Sir, 

SQ "Service to Humanity will lead way to Reaching Kailash" ( SQ – 23) is nice... Please keep enlightening us with wonderful stories like this. This will certainly open many ignorant people's eyes.  In fact, I am sharing SQs with my wife and of course to my kid (wherever possible).

Thanks & Regards,

GANESAN R

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 25: A DEADLY ENEMY !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 25

A DEADLY ENEMY!!!

Once a disciple went to a preceptor and requested him to impart to him the Supreme Knowledge of the Self. The Guru told him that he has to recite a sacred mantra for a year & then he could come and receive the Brahma-Jnaana (knowledge of the Self). The disciple came back after a year duly carrying out with devotion the instructions of the preceptor.

Filled with the hope that the preceptor would impart the Supreme Knowledge, the disciple had a sacred bath and was on his way to the preceptor. Unaware of the presence of the disciple, a maid was sweeping the ashram premises and the dust from the ground fell on the young man.

Immediately, he lost his temper, as he felt that his purity after a sacred bath had been sullied by the dust that fell on him. He was angry with the maid for allowing the dust to fall on him. He glared at her angrily and she became frightened.

The disciple went in and offered his salutations to the Guru. The preceptor said, "You are not yet competent to receive that knowledge. You have the qualities of a snake. You got angry with a girl who unwittingly caused some dust to fall on you. How can the supreme knowledge of the self be imparted to one who has not even this amount of forbearance? Go back and practice for one more year!!!

At the end of the 2nd year, when the disciple was coming to the ashram, the preceptor instructed the maid to see that as she swept all the dust should fall on the disciple, this time deliberately!!!

In accordance with the directive of the Guru, she swept the dust on the disciple in full measure. Enraged at her conduct, the disciple went to beat her this time but somehow stopped at the last minute. He then went into the ashram and paid his respects to Guru.

The Guru told him, "You have not yet acquired the competence to receive the knowledge. You are exhibiting the qualities of a dog. Come back after ridding yourself of these animal qualities. Anger is detrimental to spiritual growth."

At the end of the 3rd year, the disciple was coming to the ashram after a sacred bath. This time the maid of the ashram poured some dirty water on the disciple!

The latter calmly offered his pranams to the maid and said, "My salutations to you. You have helped to strengthen my forbearance so that I can be worthy of the preceptor's grace." When he went in, the Guru welcomed him and said: "Finally today you have become eligible to receive the Supreme Spiritual Knowledge."

PS: ANGER is an unwanted guest! Even great sages & noble men have succumbed to it. LAKSHMANA was furious & almost went to kill SUGRIVA when the latter forgot his commitment to help RAMA find SITA! That's why Sugriva's wife TARA went to receive Lakshmana!!!

On another occasion, BALARAMA, the brother of KRISHNA, was very angry with ARJUNA and decides to kill him. After they have gone halfway, sensing that Balarama's fury has subsided noticeably, Krishna, slowly tells Balarama, 'Brother, you are right. Ajuna clearly deserves to be punished. But, since he has married our sister SUBHADRA, if we take away his life, she would become a widow!!!' Only then Balarama realized his folly!

"Life is like a train journey. Whichever stage you are in your life, you must learn to make your journey comfortable and happy. Do not carry heavy unwanted luggage with you; that will make your journey miserable. Do not indulge in fault-finding and in picking quarrels with others. Anger, hatred, envy, jealousy - these are the heavy luggage you should avoid taking with you on your journey. Be calm under provocation. This will make your journey a pleasure" - SATHYA SAI BABA

SAIRAM

Moderator,

http://groups.google.co.in/group/premasai_gurukulam

(Extracted, compiled & edited from RADIO SAI JOURNALS)

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 24: WHO IS GOD !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT –: 24

 

WHO IS GOD!!!

 

·        Situated on the banks of the Ganges near holy Rishikesh in the Himalayas, there was once an ashram that had attracted a fair number of seekers.

 

The HEAD MONK once noticed that the Ashramites were often quarrelling and he could hear rude words that left him pained. 'Why are they angry with one another?' the guru asked himself.

 

One day he saw 2 inmates fighting over food in the ashram canteen. The incident left him shocked and he returned to his hut in a despondent mood. 'What can be wrong with them?' he asked himself. He was racked with the problem of remedying the situation and elevating their souls.

 

So, he increased his discourses to them and gave more personal advice. The inmates' reverence for their guru increased, but unfortunately this did not translate in better behavior towards each other.

 

The GURU prayed to LORD SHIVA to help him find a solution. The LORD appeared in his dream & said, "I will come & stay in your ashram but not in this form. I shall be there in the guise of one of the inmates."

 

The guru's joy knew no bounds & he went & shared this information with all of the inmates. They were excited but at the same time confused.

 

"Is this inmate sitting near me SHIVA in disguise?" one disciple thought. "Who could be that person?" Nobody knew and everybody was left guessing and as a result careful too.

 

For, each one thought, "How can I fight against him if he is LORD SHIVA? And thus, a subtle change slowly came over in each one of them. They began to see God in everyone and took every opportunity to help the other and be kind and courteous. The whole atmosphere in the ashram was now totally transformed – only love and harmony prevailed.

 

·        There was a religious man who had invited all the members of his family, a few friends & relatives for food on 3 consecutive days on account of a function. That night LORD VISHNU came in his dream & said, "I shall come to your house tomorrow to take PRASADAM."

 

The man was elated & the next day, while all others were enjoying their meal, he waited for the LORD. An old beggar happened to come that time to his house & wanted to eat as well. But since everyone was busy, the beggar was overlooked & ignored!! The security then sent him away.

 

The host was very disappointed that GOD didn't keep up his word. That night the LORD came into his dream once again & said, "I came today to your house as the old beggar but you didn't even bother to serve me food."

 

The man was truly shocked, & exclaimed, "Oh! I had absolutely no idea." The LORD said in all compassion, "OK, I'll come again tomorrow."

 

The next day, the man ensured that all 'old men' including 'beggars' were served food while he looked at everyone 'minutely' wondering which one of them was the LORD.

 

Suddenly one DOG came into the dining hall barking & wagging its' tail. The man saw the DOG inside the hall & screamed at the security to get the dog out as it was a disturbance & a nuisance. The security drove the dog out!

 

For the 3^rd night in a row, LORD VISHNU appeared in the man's dream & said, "I came in the form of that dog & you shouted at me & drove me away! What is the use of all your religious practices if you can't even recognize that GOD is in everyone?"

PS: God cannot be identified with one Name and one Form. He is all Names and all Forms. Your Name too are His, you are His forms. You appear as separate individual bodies, because the eye that sees them seeks only bodies, the outer encasement.  When you clarify and sanctify your vision, and look at them through the spiritual eye, then you will see others as parts of the Absolute Lord. Strive to win that vision of the Lord and to saturate yourself with that bliss. - SATHYA SAI BABA

SAIRAM

Moderator,

http://groups.google.co.in/group/premasai_gurukulam

(Extracted, compiled & edited from RADIO SAI JOURNALS)

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