2013 Sharad Poornima
Philosophy
छठी भूमिका में रास, गोविन्द राधे ।
मायाबद्ध जीव कैसे जाने बता दे॥ |
chaṭhī bhūmikā meṁ rāsa, govinda rādhe ।
māyābaddha jīva kaise jāne batā de॥ |
We are going to celebrate Sharad Poornima next month. On this auspicious day, over 5200 years ago, at the stroke of midnight, the divine couple Shri Radha Krishna started “Maharaas”, the highest pastime of divine love.
Now-a-days, the word “Raas” has become very popular. Dancers dressed up as Shri Radha, Krishna and the gopis, perform the dance of Maharaas in front of the common public who enjoys their performance. In addition to the dance performances, there are several story tellers (Katha Vachak), who narrate the story of the Maharaas from the Bhagwat Mahapuran and we householders, listen to it, nodding our heads as if confirming our understanding of the most obscure pastime of Maharaas.
To be able to take over a responsibility and handle it competently, one must be ordained for the position. Take for example that of a lawyer. A lawyer may be more qualified than the judge and may even have taught law to the judge at the law school, but that does not make the lawyer eligible to take the seat of the judge. The lawyer has to still address the judge as ‘My Lord’. So qualification or ability is not enough. One has to be ordained to become eligible to take up that position. There are several government positions which a person with lower security clearance cannot hold. Only a person with an equivalent or higher security clearance can be a substitute.
Similarly, secrets of Maharaas could only be comprehended at the 6th stage of bhakti. Upon reaching the pinnacle of 5th stage a devotee becomes so ecstatic that he becomes oblivious of his physical presence. There are many intricate conditions to become eligible to participate in the Maharaas. Only completely selfless devotees, practicing the kama rupa bhakti can attain Maharaas. The Bhagavat Mahapuran says -
Now-a-days, the word “Raas” has become very popular. Dancers dressed up as Shri Radha, Krishna and the gopis, perform the dance of Maharaas in front of the common public who enjoys their performance. In addition to the dance performances, there are several story tellers (Katha Vachak), who narrate the story of the Maharaas from the Bhagwat Mahapuran and we householders, listen to it, nodding our heads as if confirming our understanding of the most obscure pastime of Maharaas.
To be able to take over a responsibility and handle it competently, one must be ordained for the position. Take for example that of a lawyer. A lawyer may be more qualified than the judge and may even have taught law to the judge at the law school, but that does not make the lawyer eligible to take the seat of the judge. The lawyer has to still address the judge as ‘My Lord’. So qualification or ability is not enough. One has to be ordained to become eligible to take up that position. There are several government positions which a person with lower security clearance cannot hold. Only a person with an equivalent or higher security clearance can be a substitute.
Similarly, secrets of Maharaas could only be comprehended at the 6th stage of bhakti. Upon reaching the pinnacle of 5th stage a devotee becomes so ecstatic that he becomes oblivious of his physical presence. There are many intricate conditions to become eligible to participate in the Maharaas. Only completely selfless devotees, practicing the kama rupa bhakti can attain Maharaas. The Bhagavat Mahapuran says -
यद्वाञ्छया श्रीर्ललनाचरत्तपो विहाय कामान् सुचिरं धृतव्रता ॥
भा. 10.16.36 |
yadvāñchayā śrīrlalanācarattapo vihāya kāmān suciraṁ dhr̥tavratā ॥
bhā. 10.16.36 |
God’s divine consort Mahalaxmi performed significant penances to attain Mahaaraas and still could not attain it. There are a lot of conditions that need to be fulfilled to become eligible to know and understand Maharas. Do not attempt to imitate the behavior of the highest level Rasik saints. Study the lessons imparted by your Guru as per your devotional standing and master those topics. When you reach that stage, you will automatically understand everything. Just like Arjun killed millions of Kaurav soldiers, while exclusively focusing his mind on Shri Krishna. It is not possible for an ordinary person to comprehend this fact. Only when one reaches that state of devotion, can one understand that.
How can one comprehend the fact that Hanuman Ji, who sees Sita Ram everywhere burnt down the whole Lanka and in the process killed hundreds of thousands of Brahmins? Well we can’t understand that. Just like a little 4 year old asks his mother, “tell me mother, how can I be both your and daddy’s child?” Even if one possesses the intellect of Brihaspati, it is impossible to make the 4 year old comprehend how? The mother says, “when you grow up you will know. For now just remember that you are both mine and your father’s son”. When the child grows up and gets those emotions, he will naturally comprehend the answer to his question.
Just like that when you go beyond the 3 modes of Maya, then you will understand how God and Saints remain unattached while seemingly performing material actions. Till then you have to stay and study in your devotional class and practice the concepts.
How can one comprehend the fact that Hanuman Ji, who sees Sita Ram everywhere burnt down the whole Lanka and in the process killed hundreds of thousands of Brahmins? Well we can’t understand that. Just like a little 4 year old asks his mother, “tell me mother, how can I be both your and daddy’s child?” Even if one possesses the intellect of Brihaspati, it is impossible to make the 4 year old comprehend how? The mother says, “when you grow up you will know. For now just remember that you are both mine and your father’s son”. When the child grows up and gets those emotions, he will naturally comprehend the answer to his question.
Just like that when you go beyond the 3 modes of Maya, then you will understand how God and Saints remain unattached while seemingly performing material actions. Till then you have to stay and study in your devotional class and practice the concepts.
यान्यस्मा सुचरितानि तान्येवत्वयोपास्यानि नो इतराणि ॥
तैत्तरीय |
yānyasmā sucaritāni tānyevatvayopāsyāni no itarāṇi ॥
taittarīya |
ईश्वराणां वच: सत्यं तथैवाचरितं क्वचित् ।
तेषां यत् स्ववचोयुक्तं बुद्धिमांस्तत् समाचरेत् ॥ भा. 10.33.31 |
īśvarāṇāṁ vaca: satyaṁ tathaivācaritaṁ kvacit ।
teṣāṁ yat svavacoyuktaṁ buddhimāṁstat samācaret ॥ bhā 10.33.31 |
Follow the advice of Saints. Do not follow their actions. Follow their teachings and the path that they took to reach their current state.
Just like a student has to graduate elementary first, then middle, then high school, then bachelors and then masters. In this manner he can become a scholar. If you decide NOT to follow this rule, you will never attain mastery.
If one were to hand over a text book used in a masters course to a 1st grader, he can't comprehend it. In a million years he cannot read that book and pass a master's exam. To pass that master's exam you will have to learn things in a sequential order. Similarly, those who are in elementary stage of devotion cannot understand the real meaning of Maharaas. An acrobat can walk on the tight rope in between two tall buildings, but a comman man cannot. If he attempts it the result will be disastrous. They will have to cross all five stages of bhakti. Similarly, mimicking actions of God-realized saints will prove to be disastrous for a mayabaddh jiva. One would have to reach the 6th level of devotion to become eligible to attain the Maharaas.
How to cross the five stages of bhakti?
Do the following 2 things to become eligible to attain Maharaas
1. accept a rasik saint as your Guru and develop unwavering faith in Him.
2. do the sadhana you have been told by your Guru.
As your spiritual level grows all these esoteric things will become known to you without putting any additional effort into it.
Just like a student has to graduate elementary first, then middle, then high school, then bachelors and then masters. In this manner he can become a scholar. If you decide NOT to follow this rule, you will never attain mastery.
If one were to hand over a text book used in a masters course to a 1st grader, he can't comprehend it. In a million years he cannot read that book and pass a master's exam. To pass that master's exam you will have to learn things in a sequential order. Similarly, those who are in elementary stage of devotion cannot understand the real meaning of Maharaas. An acrobat can walk on the tight rope in between two tall buildings, but a comman man cannot. If he attempts it the result will be disastrous. They will have to cross all five stages of bhakti. Similarly, mimicking actions of God-realized saints will prove to be disastrous for a mayabaddh jiva. One would have to reach the 6th level of devotion to become eligible to attain the Maharaas.
How to cross the five stages of bhakti?
Do the following 2 things to become eligible to attain Maharaas
1. accept a rasik saint as your Guru and develop unwavering faith in Him.
2. do the sadhana you have been told by your Guru.
As your spiritual level grows all these esoteric things will become known to you without putting any additional effort into it.
Bibliography - Learn more
(1) Daihik Taap
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Philosophy
Lord Shri Krishna had to say, Uddhav is not even slightly inferior to Me. He is embodied with all knowledge, love and renunciation etc. that I possess.
The same Uddhav says all the big scholars (gyani), dhyani (those who perform meditation) and saints embodied with all the means prescribed by the Vedas, cannot overcome Maya in millions of years. Tulsidas Ji says, the great personalities like Narad, Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar also could not win over Maya. God has challenged in the Gita saying, “Arjun, the one who surrenders to Me, I will free him from Maya”. No-one can be free of Maya based on their own efforts.
That Uddhav Ji challenged Shri Krishna by saying, I will use all the fine items that You have personally used. Personal used items such as a necklace, perfume, clothes like the yellow garment peetambar, ornaments etc. that You give as prasad to your devotees and the greatest thing of all is the food eaten by You. By consuming anything personally used by You, I have won over Maya. Those who have been observing serious penances, suffered a downfall, however, I can challenge Maya, merely by consuming your Prasad.
Who else can explain the relevance of Prasad, who can understand the relevance of Prasad better than this?
The same Uddhav says all the big scholars (gyani), dhyani (those who perform meditation) and saints embodied with all the means prescribed by the Vedas, cannot overcome Maya in millions of years. Tulsidas Ji says, the great personalities like Narad, Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar also could not win over Maya. God has challenged in the Gita saying, “Arjun, the one who surrenders to Me, I will free him from Maya”. No-one can be free of Maya based on their own efforts.
That Uddhav Ji challenged Shri Krishna by saying, I will use all the fine items that You have personally used. Personal used items such as a necklace, perfume, clothes like the yellow garment peetambar, ornaments etc. that You give as prasad to your devotees and the greatest thing of all is the food eaten by You. By consuming anything personally used by You, I have won over Maya. Those who have been observing serious penances, suffered a downfall, however, I can challenge Maya, merely by consuming your Prasad.
Who else can explain the relevance of Prasad, who can understand the relevance of Prasad better than this?
Philosophy
God and God-realized saints are omnipotent.
कर्तुमकर्तुमन्यथा कर्तुं समर्थः।
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kartumakartumanyathā kartuṁ samarthaḥ।
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"They are capable of doing whatever they like, not doing whatever they don’t want to and even perform contradicting actions."
Even then they too follow God's divine eternal laws.
God and saints do not change their own destiny, nor do they change the destiny of others. Saints are causelessly merciful by nature. It is due to this nature that they minimize the negative impact of prarabdh karma for their disciples depending on the extent of their surrender.
In our scriptures there are references of a few saints who decided to leave for their divine abode sooner than their destined time. One such saint had 50 more years to live. In one year he bore the prarabdh karma of all 50 years. He did so by assuming 50 physical forms. In each of those bodies he bore the prarabdh karma for one year. Thus he went through all the fruits of his action that were meant to be distributed over a period of 50 years in one year before leaving for his divine abode.
God realized saints are ever blissful. The negative impact of their destiny does not impact them. They do not experience physical pain or mental distress [1] for e.g. if their son were to die, they would be as un-attached to the happening as they would be when the son was born. They would not grieve over the departed soul and would suggest the regular course of action that is to prepare the body for cremation. Saints do not grieve over anything; loss of loved ones, fame, wealth etc. And so they happily endure their destiny.
God and His saints never violate the laws set out by God. For if they would, people would ask questions such as: Lord Ram saved his own father, but not mine; Lord Krishna saved His own nephew - Abhimanyu, but not my son. God does not give anybody an opportunity to blame Him of partiality towards anyone. The Pandavas were great devotees of Lord Krishna. Yet, they had to roam the forests for 12 years. Lord Ram himself had to live in exile for 14 years, roaming in dense forests with the most delicate Mother Sita. During His descension period, God does not alter His destiny, even though He can, if so desires.
Even then they too follow God's divine eternal laws.
God and saints do not change their own destiny, nor do they change the destiny of others. Saints are causelessly merciful by nature. It is due to this nature that they minimize the negative impact of prarabdh karma for their disciples depending on the extent of their surrender.
In our scriptures there are references of a few saints who decided to leave for their divine abode sooner than their destined time. One such saint had 50 more years to live. In one year he bore the prarabdh karma of all 50 years. He did so by assuming 50 physical forms. In each of those bodies he bore the prarabdh karma for one year. Thus he went through all the fruits of his action that were meant to be distributed over a period of 50 years in one year before leaving for his divine abode.
God realized saints are ever blissful. The negative impact of their destiny does not impact them. They do not experience physical pain or mental distress [1] for e.g. if their son were to die, they would be as un-attached to the happening as they would be when the son was born. They would not grieve over the departed soul and would suggest the regular course of action that is to prepare the body for cremation. Saints do not grieve over anything; loss of loved ones, fame, wealth etc. And so they happily endure their destiny.
God and His saints never violate the laws set out by God. For if they would, people would ask questions such as: Lord Ram saved his own father, but not mine; Lord Krishna saved His own nephew - Abhimanyu, but not my son. God does not give anybody an opportunity to blame Him of partiality towards anyone. The Pandavas were great devotees of Lord Krishna. Yet, they had to roam the forests for 12 years. Lord Ram himself had to live in exile for 14 years, roaming in dense forests with the most delicate Mother Sita. During His descension period, God does not alter His destiny, even though He can, if so desires.
राम भगत का करि न सकाहिं । भाविहुँ मेटि सकहिं त्रिपुरारी ॥
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rāma bhagata kā kari na sakāhiṁ । bhāvihum̐ meṭi sakahiṁ tripurārī ॥
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Thus the saints also undergo their fate. The only difference being that the saints accept it gladly while the ignorant beings undergo their destiny with pain.
ज्ञानि भुगते ज्ञान सों, मूरख भुगते रोय ॥
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jñāni bhugate jñāna soṁ, mūrakha bhugate roya ॥
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Prior to committing a murder, the murderer knows that if caught, he will receive a capital punishment. Yet he arrogantly says, I don’t mind dying, but I have to kill that person. Similarly, in our numerous past lives we have been committing uncountable sins, completely disregarding the advice of Godrealized saints and our scriptures. Now, when the fruits of those sinful actions come in front of us in the form of destiny, we question and blame God for putting us through so much misery and pain. This is sheer ignorance. We must always remember “As we sow, so shall we reap”.
While going through our destiny, where we have to suffer the results of our past sinful or negative actions, we must take heart-first by accepting the fact that we are being punished for our own actions; so there is no-one else to blame but for us for our state. Second, we must look at those who are not as privileged or fortunate as us. If we grieve over the death of our father, we must look at those who have no father or mother and must take solace in the fact that at least my mother is still alive. If we look at those above us, we will never be happy. Even the king of celestial abodes, Indra, desires the luxuries of Brahmlok.
Be thankful to God for all that you have; health, wealth, family etc. Be positive and realize the immense grace of God and Guru. Realizing God’s grace everywhere, all the time, will reduce the impact of misery and pain and will bring you peace of mind. On the contrary if you look at others and curse your misfortune, you will always be sad and will waste this precious human life in envy, greed and jealousy.
While going through our destiny, where we have to suffer the results of our past sinful or negative actions, we must take heart-first by accepting the fact that we are being punished for our own actions; so there is no-one else to blame but for us for our state. Second, we must look at those who are not as privileged or fortunate as us. If we grieve over the death of our father, we must look at those who have no father or mother and must take solace in the fact that at least my mother is still alive. If we look at those above us, we will never be happy. Even the king of celestial abodes, Indra, desires the luxuries of Brahmlok.
Be thankful to God for all that you have; health, wealth, family etc. Be positive and realize the immense grace of God and Guru. Realizing God’s grace everywhere, all the time, will reduce the impact of misery and pain and will bring you peace of mind. On the contrary if you look at others and curse your misfortune, you will always be sad and will waste this precious human life in envy, greed and jealousy.
Bibliography - Learn more
Philosophy
जग भोग विष जान गोविंद राधे। हरि नाम मोहनभोग बता दे ॥
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jaga bhoga viṣa jāna goviṁda rādhe। hari nāma mohanabhoga batā de ॥
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Please know that enjoying the material pleasures of this world, is like consuming poison Chanting and enjoying the sweet name of Shri Radha is like partaking the most delicious Indian sweet called Mohanbhog.
हरिहिं नाम में है हरि गोविंद राधे। यह वेद मत निज उर में बिठा दे ॥
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harihiṁ nāma meṁ hai hari goviṁda rādhe। yaha veda mata nija ura meṁ biṭhā de ॥
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Please know that God resides in His own name. So say the Vedas, the ultimate scriptural authority. Please make this fact take a firm root in your mind.
हरि सब उर में है गोविंद राधे। यह मत वेद सम्मत है बता दे॥
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hari saba ura meṁ hai goviṁda rādhe। yaha mata veda sammata hai batā de॥
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Please know that the Supreme lord dwells in your heart. This is not a mere myth but an established fact endorsed by the Vedas, the ultimate scriptural authority
राधे नाम रस ऐसा गोविंद राधे। ब्रह्म को भी निज भगवत्ता भुला दे॥
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rādhe nāma rasa aisā goviṁda rādhe। brahma ko bhī nija bhagavattā bhulā de॥
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Please know that the sweetness of the nectar of Shri Radha Rani’s name is such that it makes the Supreme lord forget His Godliness.
राधे नाम रस ऐसा गोविंद राधे । जितना पियो प्यास उतनी बढ़ा दे॥
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rādhe nāma rasa aisā goviṁda rādhe । jitanā piyo pyāsa utanī baḍha़ā de॥
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Please know that the sweetness of the nectar of Shri Radha Rani’s name is such that the more you partake in the drink, the more it enhances your thirst for more.
राधे नाम रस ऐसा गोविंद राधे । भगवान शिव को भी शिवानी बना दे॥
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rādhe nāma rasa aisā goviṁda rādhe । bhagavāna śiva ko bhī śivānī banā de॥
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Please know that the sweetness of the nectar of Shri Radha Rani’s name is such that it forces Lord Shiva to assume a female form to taste the nectar of Maharaas
राधे नाम रस ऐसा गोविंद राधे । ब्रह्म को भी प्रेम भिखारी बना दे॥
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rādhe nāma rasa aisā goviṁda rādhe । brahma ko bhī prema bhikhārī banā de॥
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Please know that the sweetness of the nectar of Shri Radha Rani’s name is such that it makes the Supreme lord beg Shri Radha Rani for Her Supreme Love bliss.
राधे नाम रस ऐसा गोविंद राधे । सर्वज्ञ ब्रह्म को भी आज्ञ बना दे ।
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rādhe nāma rasa aisā goviṁda rādhe । sarvajña brahma ko bhī ājña banā de ।
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Please know that the sweetness of the nectar of Shri Radha Rani’s name is such that it makes the all-knowing Supreme Lord forget all his knowledge and become like an ignorant being.
राधे नाम रस ऐसा गोविंद राधे । आनंद ब्रह्म को भी रोना सिखा दे॥
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rādhe nāma rasa aisā goviṁda rādhe । ānaṁda brahma ko bhī ronā sikhā de॥
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Please know that the sweetness of the nectar of Shri Radha Rani’s name is such that it teaches the ever blissful Supreme lord to cry fo Her love
राधे नाम रस ऐसा गोविंद राधे । वानी भवानी को भी नौकरानी बना दे ॥
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rādhe nāma rasa aisā goviṁda rādhe । vānī bhavānī ko bhī naukarānī banā de ॥
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Please know that the sweetness of the nectar of Shri Radha Rani’s name is such that it makes Parvati and Saraswati Her maids to achieve Her love.
Kids Story
Once upon a time, there lived a potter in a small village. He earned an honest living by making clay pots. He had two pets at home - a dog and a donkey. Every morning, the dog used to bark to wake up his master. The barking of the dog was like an alarm for the potter who would then wake up, and get ready to go to the field with his two assistants-the dog and the donkey to make clay pots.
During the day, the potter would work hard on his wheel to make pots and keep them in the sun for drying. While the pots were drying, the dog used to keep the animals away. Once the pots had dried, the potter used to bake them in the kiln. In the evening, the potter would load all the pots on the donkey’s back and bring them home. The potter would unload the pots and put them inside.
Then he would tie the donkey to a post and give him some green grass or hay. The potter would then wash his hands and his wife would serve him food. The dog used to sit right next to his master and occasionally used to get some food from the potter’s plate. Later at night the potter’s wife used to give the dog some food. Occasionally when the potter went out anywhere the dog used to go with him while the donkey stayed home tied to the post. If the dog did not go with the potter then upon his return, the dog would lick his master, lie in his lap and show affection. The dog used to run around the house all night and occasionally used to bark.
This way the potter and his two pets spent their life. For six days of the week, the above sequence would go on. On the seventh day, the potter would load all the pots on the donkey and carry them to the market for selling them. While the donkey was carrying the heavy load, the dog would keep circling around the potter and the donkey. He would bark at every passerby. In the market the potter would sell those pots and that is how he earned his livelihood. With the money he earned he would buy some groceries and other utility items from the market, load them on the donkey and return back home in the evening.
The donkey kept watching the dog. It deduced that the dog was his master’s favorite pet. He thought that was so because the dog was very friendly and full of energy. The donkey decided that if he changes his ways and attitude to be like that of the dog, the potter would also love him, pet him and take care of him.
During the day, the potter would work hard on his wheel to make pots and keep them in the sun for drying. While the pots were drying, the dog used to keep the animals away. Once the pots had dried, the potter used to bake them in the kiln. In the evening, the potter would load all the pots on the donkey’s back and bring them home. The potter would unload the pots and put them inside.
Then he would tie the donkey to a post and give him some green grass or hay. The potter would then wash his hands and his wife would serve him food. The dog used to sit right next to his master and occasionally used to get some food from the potter’s plate. Later at night the potter’s wife used to give the dog some food. Occasionally when the potter went out anywhere the dog used to go with him while the donkey stayed home tied to the post. If the dog did not go with the potter then upon his return, the dog would lick his master, lie in his lap and show affection. The dog used to run around the house all night and occasionally used to bark.
This way the potter and his two pets spent their life. For six days of the week, the above sequence would go on. On the seventh day, the potter would load all the pots on the donkey and carry them to the market for selling them. While the donkey was carrying the heavy load, the dog would keep circling around the potter and the donkey. He would bark at every passerby. In the market the potter would sell those pots and that is how he earned his livelihood. With the money he earned he would buy some groceries and other utility items from the market, load them on the donkey and return back home in the evening.
The donkey kept watching the dog. It deduced that the dog was his master’s favorite pet. He thought that was so because the dog was very friendly and full of energy. The donkey decided that if he changes his ways and attitude to be like that of the dog, the potter would also love him, pet him and take care of him.
So the next day, the donkey woke up early and started braying to wake up his master. The potter was annoyed upon hearing the donkey bray early in the morning but since it was time to get up he got up and got ready. When he untied the donkey, the donkey started running here and there and braying. This further annoyed the potter. All day the donkey kept trying to break the rope with which he was tied. On the way back, he started running and broke some of the pots. The potter got really upset and took a stick and beat him up. Somehow with half the pots broken they reached home. At dinner time the donkey kept braying.
In the evening, when the potter sat down for dinner, the donkey broke his rope and started licking the potter and tried to lie down in the potter’s lap. The potter took him away and tied him with a stronger rope this time. At night the donkey started braying just like the dog used to bark at night. Now the potter decided that he needed to teach the donkey a lesson. So he picked up a stick and beat him up hard. Finally the donkey realized that behaving like the dog is not working out for him.
MORAL
Do what your Guru instructs you to do. Don’t look at what others are doing or are being told to do. Also, don’t look at the behavior of God and Guru towards you and compare that with His behavior towards others. God and Guru will ask you to do what is right for you and will punish you when you don’t do your job.
In the evening, when the potter sat down for dinner, the donkey broke his rope and started licking the potter and tried to lie down in the potter’s lap. The potter took him away and tied him with a stronger rope this time. At night the donkey started braying just like the dog used to bark at night. Now the potter decided that he needed to teach the donkey a lesson. So he picked up a stick and beat him up hard. Finally the donkey realized that behaving like the dog is not working out for him.
MORAL
Do what your Guru instructs you to do. Don’t look at what others are doing or are being told to do. Also, don’t look at the behavior of God and Guru towards you and compare that with His behavior towards others. God and Guru will ask you to do what is right for you and will punish you when you don’t do your job.
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Divya Sandesh
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Divya Ras Bindu
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Spiritual Terms
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