True Understanding

The ways of the guru are often a mystery. Once a guru gave his disciple a bird and told him, Kill the bird, but make sure that no one sees you killing it.

Ordinarily, one may wonder why a guru would want an innocent bird to be killed. Even if one follows the order, one might not be comfortable with taking a life. However, sometimes the guru gives assignments to the disciples to test how much of the teaching they were able to understand. No doubt a student who does not question the integrity of the teacher succeeds in following the orders of the teacher.

This particular disciple decided to follow the orders of the guru and left with the bird in his hands. After some time had passed, he came back holding the little bird, which was still alive. The guru asked him what happened.

My master, you asked me to kill the bird when no one else was looking, the dutiful disciple replied. But just as I was about to kill, I saw the little bird was looking at me. So I quickly covered his eyes. Next I realized that I was looking at the bird. So I covered my eyes also. Then I remembered that I still could not do it, because the all pervading Lord, whose eyes were everywhere, was watching me. Therefore I could not carry out your orders and I am humbly returning the bird to you.

The guru was quite pleased with how well the disciple understood the teaching and said, Your education is complete. Now you can go.

REFLECTION

The knowledge of Gods omnipresence allows us to pass through life’s trials and tests with ease. In every moment, feel that God  and masters are looking at you. If one is firm in this knowledge, one will be free from all negatives. For example, a child will not do anything wrong when he knows that his mother is watching him. Similarly, how can we do wrong when God is constantly looking at us?

Source: "Pebbles from the pond - Timeless Wisdom Tales" by Paramahamsa Prajnanananda

"Pebbles from the pond" is a very good book for kids. It is written in a very simple language with conclusion or reflection from spiritual standpoint.

 

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What is Death?

Question:  What is Death?

Swami Ramsukhdasji:  Me and mine is death. Otherwise there is no death. I die if God dies. Till you are in the body there is death. By assumption of anything as mine, there is only loss. Nothing was yours, nothing is yours, nothing can be yours. Acceptance of mine is the mistake, the consequence of which is life and death. If you feel that the above is correct, accept it. No one is mine.

Question:  Just like one's time of death is inevitable, similarly the pain that one experiences at time of death is that also inevitable ?

Swamiji:  No! Each and everyone are experiencing the fruits of their good and evil actions. If someone has to undergo the consequences of past actions, then they will experience more difficulty at time of death. But sorrow only comes to he who within has desire for any particular thing.

Question:  Those who are holy and doing good only, they are deeply engaged in spiritual practices and worship of God, if they undergo suffering at time of death, then what is the reason?

Swamiji:  God desires to wipe out the sins of all their past birth's and make them entirely pure, so that they are benefited and attain salvation.

Question:  It has been said that at time of death the pain and difficulties experienced are as intense, almost as if thousands of scorpions are biting, but saints have spoken that death is not what is painful, it is the desire to live that results in the pain. In reality, what is correct?

Swamiji:  Just like from child to youth and from youth to old age, one experiences no difficulty.  Similarly at time of death in reality there is no difficulty. Only the one who desires to continue to live experiences difficulty. The point is that he who is attached to the body, only he has the sensation and difficulty like that of thousands of scorpions biting. The greater the attachment, proprietary feeling (mine-ness), desire, liking that one has for the body, that much more pain and difficulty one will experience at time of death.

Source: pg 92 "Prashnouttermanimala"  by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Sri Ramakrishna on Theosophy

Surendra’s Brother: "Sir, what do you think of Theosophy?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "I have heard that man can acquire superhuman powers through it and perform miracles. I saw a man who had brought a ghost under control. The ghost used to procure various things for his master. What shall I do with superhuman powers? Can one realize God through them? If God is not realized then everything becomes false."

Source: Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

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