Wise old monkey - Bhurijan dasa
Collecting water......
Blessing or Curse
The potency of good saintly association
The brahmachari and the chaste wife
The Snake and the Frog
Pebbles
The Family Profession
The Mayonnaise Jar

With links to:
Cracked Pot
Atheistic Scientist
Wisdom From The Road - list of nectar:
Words To Love By - list:
Words of Inspiration and Wisdom - list:
Need an Attitude Adjustment - soothe a damaged view of the world - list:
You cookie theif You:
Gilded Cage:
The story of concrete:

Fairy Tales and Fables:
http://www.belinus.co.uk/fairytales/Homeextra.htm
http://www.belinus.co.uk/fairytales/JJIStoryNotes.htm

This story below is from one of Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji's discourse.
 
 

Once Sripada Sankaracarya was touring India. As they walked through one village an outcaste woman approached him and gave him some sweets. He accepted and ate them. His disciples seeing the behaviour of their guru also accepted sweets from her and ate them. Seeing that his disciples were imitating him, Sankaracarya then walked to a blacksmith's shop and asked the the man if he had any molten lead. He did. Sankaracarya took the molten lead, tilted his head back and drank some like one would drink water. After taking a good gulp he offered the ladle of hot lead to his amazed disciples asking "who is next?" No one stepped forward. He said, "I can see the atma in the heart of that woman therefore I took her offering to remove her sins. You can not do that. Rather by eating her offering you took on her sins and became contaminated."

  author unknown

       A woman named Frances once knew a young person at church named  Debbie.  Debbie always seemed effervescent and happy, although  Frances knew she had faced struggles in her life. Her long-awaited  marriage had quickly ended in divorce. She had struggled to get a  grip on her single life.  She hadn't chosen it, but she decided she  would live it with utmost enjoyment and satisfaction.
       Debbie was active in Sunday school, in the choir, as a leader of  the junior high girls' group, and in the church renewal movement.   Frances enjoyed knowing Debbie.  Debbie's whole face seemed to smile  and she always greeted Frances with a hug.
       One day Frances asked Debbie, "How is it that you are always so  happy; you have so much energy, and you never seem to get down?"
       With her eyes smiling, Debbie said, "I know the secret!"  "What  secret is that?  What are you talking about?" Frances asked.  Debbie  replied, "I'll  tell you all about it, but you have to promise to share  the 'secret' with  others."
       Frances agreed, "Okay, now what is it?"  The secret is this: I  have learned there is little I can do in my life that will make me truly  happy.  I must depend on God to make me happy and meet my needs.  When  a need arises in my life, I have to trust God to supply according to  HIS riches.  I have learned most of the time I don't need half of what  I think I do.  HE has never let me down. Since I learned that secret I  am happy.
       Frances' first thought was, that's too simple!  But upon  reflecting over her own life she recalled how she thought a bigger house  would make her happy-but it didn't!  She thought a better-paying job  would make her happy, but it hadn't.  When did she realize her greatest  happiness?  Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren, eating pizza  and watching a movie -- a simple gift from God.
       Debbie knew the secret, Frances learned the secret, and now you  know it too!  We can't depend on people to make us happy-only GOD in his  wisdom can do that.  Trust him.

 As I sit on the beach today I am reminded of a poem a friend of mine wrote.  It is titled Storms Never Last.  And as I sit her today, I just hope and pray she is right.  Storms come but they also go. I try to remember that if we never have the storms we surely wouldn't appreciate the sun as much.

 Personally, I have always been someone who basks in the sun.  I think that is because there have been many storms in my life.  So whenever just a little ray of sun shines through, I grab it and hold it close.  Sometimes I really believe that if I hold it and I care for it and I give it just what it needs it will grow into a huge sunbeam that will light my path and warm me for many days to come.  And then sometimes after holding it and caring for it, I find it was just a little glimmer that soon fades.

 But I know that if I had never grabbed hold of it in the first place there wouldn't have been that bright warm glow in my heart and in my life.  Though I would have liked for it to stay longer and not fade away, I realize its time has gone.  So I need to be happy for the time it was here and thankful for it kept me warm and made me happy even if only for a little while.

 As I look into the sky today, there are clouds on the horizon and the sunbeam has faded and left me for now.  But I will carry it around in my heart to take out on those days when I need a reminder, like today that Storms Never Last.

Prahlad Maharaj said,
"Those who have taken the vow to enjoy temporary material things in this world are always full of anxieties. They try in so many ways to enjoy, and they make a vow: "eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we may die. So now we should enjoy to the maximum." Still, they only experience anxiety. "Such enjoyment is likened to one who falls into a blind well."

Once there was a man walking in the forest, and he saw a tiger, and this very ferocious tiger started to chase him. As the man was running he saw a well, a ditch covered over by grass. He saw two branches growing out from the walls of the well and, holding on to the branches, he lowered himself down to get away from the tiger, who by this time was just looming over him. However, he saw that below him there were some very venomous cobras that were raising their hoods and extending their tongues. His legs were dangling just over the snakes. At the same time there were two rats-one on each branch. One rat was black, another white, and they were nibbling away at the branches. His situation was now very, very precarious.

So our situation also is like that. At any  moment we may die. Death is imminent.

     What do the tigers represent? They are roaring like death at the top of the well. The many snakes are our many problems-daily problems, problems, and problems.  Death who looming over his head and at the same time there were problems coming from all directions. In the meantime the rats were nibbling away. The two rats, one black and one white, signify nighttime and daytime. In due course the karma of that life will run out. The rats are nibbling away at his duration of life. At any time the branch will break.

Above him there was a branch with a beehive, and there were some very beautiful, golden translucent drops of honey beginning to fall. As they began to fall, the man stuck his tongue out to catch them. He than began to enjoy, and he forgot the reality of his situation.

"O, most tasteful." He forgot all the dangers.

   We know that our fathers and forefathers have died. And we know that all who were put to death were never happy. Still, we want that old age should not come to us, and that we will not die. We are always making efforts to make ourselves more  beautiful, more powerful, and more intelligent. We want to be expert in sense gratification. But moment by moment the two rats are nibbling. One second, two seconds, three seconds; then one hour, then twenty-four hours, then a day, then seven days, then one month; and after twelve months, then one year, and then one yuga. In this way our life is diminishing, and still never think that we will die. We are satisfied like mad persons. And what is the honey? It is the very beautiful, very sweet love and affection of wives, husbands and children. If not of husbands and wives, then of new, new, new girlfriends and boyfriends.

Animals in Heaven (from Ishy):

An old man and his dog were walking along a country road, enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to the man that he was actually dead.

He remembered dying, and that his dog too had been dead for many years.  He wondered where the road would lead them, and continued onward.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill a tall white arch that gleamed in the sunlight broke it. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He was pleased that he had finally arrived at heaven, and the man and his dog walked toward the gate. As he got closer, he saw someone sitting at a beautifully carved desk off to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, but is this heaven?"

"Yes, it is, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."

The gatekeeper gestured to his rear, and the huge gate began to open.

"I assume my friend can come in?" the man asked, gesturing toward his dog.

But the reply was "I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought about it then thanked the gatekeeper, turned back toward the road, and continued in the direction he had been going.

After another long walk, he reached the top of another long hill, and he came to a dirt road that led through a farm gate. There was no fence, and it looked as if the gate had never been closed, as grass had grown up around it. As he approached the gate, he saw a man just inside, sitting in the shade of a tree in a rickety old chair, reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"

"Certainly, There's a pump over there," the man said, pointing to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. Come on in and make yourself at home."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog. "He's welcome too, and there's a bowl by the pump," he said. They walked through the gate and, sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a dipper hanging on it and a bowl next to it on the ground. The man filled the bowl for his dog; he then took a long drink himself.

When both were satisfied, he and the dog walked back toward the man, who was sitting under the tree waiting for them, and asked, "What do you call this place?"

"This is heaven," was the answer.

"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "It certainly doesn't look like heaven, and there's another man down the road who said that place was heaven."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?"

"Yes, it was beautiful."

"Nope. That's hell."

"Doesn't it offend you for them to use the name of heaven like that?"

"No. I can see how you might think so, but it actually saves us a lot of time. They screen out the selfish people who are willing to leave their friends behind who have served them so loyally."

http://www.greatlifelessons.com/lesson/default.asp?gll=65&rb=1199283

 'I Never Met a Man I Didn't Like' (Will Rogers) 1.030

Will Rogers, American humorist and folk hero of the early 1900's, enjoyed wide popularity for his cracker-barrel wit and homespun philosophy. Perhaps best known for his statement, "All I really know is what I read in the papers," by 1926, he was amusing millions of Americans with a nationally syndicated newspaper column of his own.

Three years after his 1935 death in a tragic Alaskan plane crash, the state legislature donated $200,000 to finance the Will Rogers Museum in his hometown of Claremore, Oklahoma.

Why was he such a likeable guy? A 1930 speech gives us a clue. "When I die," Rogers said, "(My epitaph) is going to read: 'I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn't like.'"1 Today this epitaph stands over his grave in his hometown.

If you truly like people, chances are they'll like you as well.

Malcom Forbes, They Went That-a-way (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988), p. 270. (Will Rogers) 1.030

Grandfather and The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son.  "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather sat & ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner together. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the child glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless.  Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.  For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family.  And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth got soiled.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives.

The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future.

Let's be wise builders and role models.

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees "Congratulations," the boss said. "Go on that way!"

Very motivated for the boss' words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

"I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. "When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" the boss asked.

"Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees.

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don't take time to "sharpen the axe." In today's world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp? There's nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But at the same time we need to learn more and sharpen our skills.

We all need time to take care of who we really are as spiritual beings, find time to chant Hare Krishna, to read, designate time for family, relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow.

If we don't take time to sharpen the axe, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness. So start Today, Think about the ways by which you could do your job more effectively and add a lot of value to it and those around you.

A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trip to school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school, and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.

Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword would cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly got in her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile.

Another and another were to follow quickly, each with the little girl stopping, looking up and smiling. Finally, the mother called over to her child and asked, "what are you doing?"

The child answered, "smiling, God just keeps taking pictures of me."

An old lady had always wanted to travel abroad. Now that she was getting on in years, she thought she would really like to do so before she died.

But until now, she'd never even been out of the country. So she began by going in person to the Passport Office and asking how long it would take to have one issued.

"You must take the loyalty oath first," responded the passport clerk. "Raise your right hand, please."

The old gal raised her right hand.

"Do you swear to defend the Constitution of the United States against all its enemies, domestic or foreign?" was the first question.

The little old lady's face paled and her voice trembled as she asked in a small voice, "Uhhh... all by myself?"

In Caitanya Caritamrta (Madhya 20.127-136), Caitanya Mahaprabhu relates an allegorical story to explain the different stages of our relationship to God.

The story of a poor man
***********************
There was once a man who suffered a lot because of his poverty. In reality he was the son of a famous and rich father. Unfortunately, since the father had died in a distant place, the son did not know that he had left him a huge treasure. Consequently he was spending his life in abject poverty and misery.

One day a learned astrologer visited the poor man and seeing his distressed condition questioned him. 'Why are you unhappy? Your father was very wealthy, but he did not disclose his wealth to you because he died elsewhere.' The astrologer then informed him of the means to acquire the wealth. He said, 'the treasure is in this place, but you have to approach it very carefully. If you dig from the southern side the wasps and drones will rise and sting you. On the western there is a ghost that will create much disturbance for you. On the northern side there is big black snake that will devour you. However if you approach from the eastern side, then by removing only a little amount of dirt, the treasure will be revealed to you.'

Following the instructions of the astrologer, the poor man was then able to locate and retrieve the treasure. After having access to the fabulous treasure of his father, he then lived a life full of happiness.

The poor man and us
*******************
The poor man in this allegorical story is us, the living entities in the material world, who have forgotten our real relationship to God, our eternal father. Just as the words of the astrologer gave the son knowledge about his father, the Vedic scriptures reveal to us the fact that we all have a loving father Krishna. By the words of the astrologer the poor man’ s connection with the treasure was established. This stage is called ‘sambandha’.

However that in itself was not enough. Therefore the astrologer had to inform him of the means to locate and retrieve the treasure. Similarly, a sincere person hears from a qualified spiritual master the process of re-establishing his relationship with God and then faithfully acts on it, by executing devotional service. This stage is called ‘abhidheya’. Finally, carefully avoiding the three chief distractions (furtive activity, speculative knowledge and yogic mysticism) and concentrating on the path of pure devotional service, one eventually gets the treasure of pure love of Godhead. This is called ‘prayojana’.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu has instructed any one sincere about making spiritual advancements to understand these three basic truths of life. First, that each and every one of us has an eternal relationship with God (sambandha).

Second, that we must all endeavor to re-establish this relationship (abhidheya). Finally that the goal of our life is to live in our constitutional relationship with the Lord (prayojana).

Ten supporting principles
*************************
These three truths are supported on ten basic principles that guide an aspiring devotee from the initial stage of forgetfulness to the final stage of pure love of Godhead. Of these ten principles, the first forms the basis or the foundation of the remaining nine principles.

The first principle states that in order to ascertain the truth one must accept the authority of the Vedic scriptures. Everything in existence falls into the category of being conceivable (by our material senses) or inconceivable (beyond our senses). Information regarding the spiritual realm is inconceivable and therefore must be accepted on the basis of ‘sabda’ or the words of the Vedic scriptures. These scriptures revealed by a bona-fide spiritual master is called ‘amnaya’ and forms the basis of any and all spiritual advancement.

Of the remaining nine principles, the first seven deal with sambandha (our relationship with Krishna). The next deals with abhidheya (how to re-establish) and the final one deals with prayojana (the ultimate goal of life). All these principles can only be realized by the media of ‘amnaya’ or the first principle.

Principles of sambandha
***********************
The seven principles that explain sambandha are divided into three categories. The first category which contains the first three principles explain the position of Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The second category which contains the next two principles talk about the conditioned living entity. The third category which contains the remaining two principles talk about the relationship of Krishna with the living entity. Let us now briefly examine them.

1.The Supreme Brahman, Sri Hari, is the only worshippable Lord, Who is also known as Krishna.
2.Krishna is full of innumerable, inconceivable potencies. By these potencies He maintains the spiritual world, the material world and all the living entities.
3.Krishna is full of mellows or rasas. These mellows are the force driving everyone to seek pleasure, either in the Lord or in one’s own self.
4.The jiva-atma (living entity) is qualitatively the same as the Lord, but quantitatively infinitesimal, while the Lord is infinite. Thus they have the same independence as the Lord has, but in a negligible amount. Those jivas that use their independence to serve the Lord are called nitya-siddhas (eternally liberated) and those that use it to serve their own sense are called nitya-baddhas (eternally conditioned).
5.The nitya-baddha accept the shelter of Maya (the illusory energy of the Lord) and are bound to the material time by the blind wheel of fruitive activity (karma). Thus they constantly migrate through one of the millions species of life based on their desires and activities.
6.The Lord is related to all the jivas by an inconceivable simultaneous oneness and difference. This acintya-bheda-abheda tattva manifests in the scriptures, which is why the scriptures speak about many apparently contradictory things.
7.When the living entities spiritual intelligence is awakened by keeping firm faith in the above principles and by the mercy of Krishna, then he can clearly see the truth of the inconceivable oneness and difference. When one achieves knowledge of these seven truths, viewed by the firm faith in the scriptures as per the first principle, then he is said to have knowledge of the position of Krishna, sambandha.

Principle of abhidheya
**********************
The relationship with Krishna is re-established by performing devotional service. This is first performed as per the instructions in the scriptures and the guru. At this stage it is called sadhna-vaidhi bhakti. As one gets purified by this process, the bhakti also becomes spontaneous. It is now performed by following the footsteps of the liberated devotees of the Lord. This is called sadhna-ragunaga bhakti. Vaidhi bhakti starts from sraddha (some faith) and goes to ruci (taste) when it becomes ragunaga. Ragunaga bhakti is always forceful, this is the ninth principle.

Principle of prayojana
**********************
As per this tenth principle, the supreme goal of life is prema, or pure love of Krishna.

So, in conclusion, it is very important for each one of us to inquire into the cause of our suffering and thus begun to understand these three absolute truths which will take us all the way from a little faith in the Lord to the goal where we associate and enjoy our eternal relationships with Him.

  World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific.  One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission.  After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.  He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.

  As he was returning to the mothership, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese Zeroes were speeding their way toward the American fleet.  The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless.  He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor, could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.

  There was only one thing to do.  He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.  Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent.

  Undaunted, he continued the assault.  He dove at the Zeroes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships.

  Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.  Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He was recognized as a hero and given one of the nation's highest military honors.

   And today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

   STORY NUMBER TWO

   Some years earlier there was a man in Chicago called Easy Eddie.  At that time, Al Capon virtually owned the city. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic.  His exploits were anything but praise worthy. He was however, notorious for enmeshing the city of Chicago in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.  Easy Eddie was Capone's lawyer and for a good reason.  He was very good!  In fact, his skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

  To show his appreciation, Capon paid him very well.  Not only was the money big; Eddie got special dividends.  For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day.  The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago city block. Yes, Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.

  Eddie did have one soft spot, however.  He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything; clothes, cars, and a good education.  Nothing was withheld.  Price was no object.

  And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.  Yes, Eddie tried to teach his son to rise above his own sordid life. He wanted him to be a better man than he was.

  Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things that Eddie couldn't give his son.  Two things that Eddie sacrificed to the Capone mob that he could not pass on to his beloved son... a good name and a good example.

  One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision.  Offering his son a good name was far more important than all the riches he could lavish on him.

 He had to rectify all the wrong that he had done.  He would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Scar-face Al Capon.  He would try to clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity.
  To do this he must testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.  But more than anything, he wanted to be an example to his son.

  He wanted to do his best to make restoration and hopefully have a good name to leave his son. So, he testified.  Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street.  He had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer at the greatest price he would ever pay.

  I know what you're thinking.  What do these two stories have to do with one another? .

  Well you see, Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son?

There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.

Several eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak.

"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me, swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, 'What do you have there, son?"
'Just some old birds,' came the reply.
'What are you gonna do with them?' I asked.
'Take 'em home and have fun with 'em. I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers, and I'm gonna make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time.'
'But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later.
What will you do then?'
'Oh, I got some cats. They like birds. I'll take 'em to them.'

I was silent for a moment.
'How much do you want for those birds, son?'
'Huh??!!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister.
They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing, and they ain't even pretty!'
'How much?'
The boy sized me up as if I was crazy and said, '$10.00?'

I reached in my pocket and took out a ten-dollar bill. I placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. I picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot.

Setting the cage down, I opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars, persuaded the birds out, setting them free."

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

"One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting.

'Yes sir, I just caught that world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!'

'What are you going to do with them?' Jesus asked.

'Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!'

'And what will you do when you get done with them?' Jesus asked.

'Oh, I'll kill 'em.' Satan said.

'How much do you want for them?' asked Jesus.

'Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you!! You don't want those people!!' said Satan.

'HOW MUCH?' Jesus replied.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, 'All your tears, and all your blood.'

Author Unknown

The wintry winds had already begun to whistle and the waves to rise when the Drake and his mate gathered their half- grown brood together on the shore of their far northern lake.

"Wife," said he, "it is now time to take the children southward, to the Warm Countries which they have never yet seen!"

Very early the next morning they set out on their long journey, forming a great "V" against the sky in their flight. The mother led her flock and the father brought up the rear, keeping a sharp lookout for stragglers. All day they flew high in the keen air, over wide prairies and great forests of northern pine, until toward evening they saw below them a chain of lakes, glittering like a string of dark-blue stones.

Swinging round in a half circle, they dropped lower and lower, ready to alight and rest upon the smooth surface of the nearest lake. Suddenly their leader heard a whizzing sound like that of abullet as it cuts the air, and she quickly gave the warning: "Honk! honk! Danger, danger!" All descended in dizzy spirals, but as the great Falcon swooped toward them with upraised wing, the ducklings scattered wildly hither and thither. The old Drake came last, and it was he who was struck!

"Honk, honk!" cried all the Ducks in terror, and for a minute the air was full of soft downy feathers like flakes of snow. But the  force of the blow was lost upon the well-cushioned body of the Drake, he soon got over his fright and went on his way southward with his family, while the Falcon dropped heavily to the water's edge with a broken wing.

There he stayed and hunted mice as best he could from day to day sleeping at night in a hollow log to be out of the way of  the Fox and the Weasel. All the wit he had was not too much whereby to keep himself alive through the long, hard winter.

Toward spring, however, the Falcon's wing had healed and he could fly a little, though feebly. The sun rose higher and higher in the blue heavens, and the Ducks began to return to their cool northern home. Every day a flock or two flew over the lake; but the Falcon dared not charge upon the flocks, much as he wished to do so. He was weak with hunger, and afraid to trust to the strength of the broken wing.

One fine day a chattering flock of Mallards alighted quite near him, cooling their glossy breasts upon the gently rippling wave.

"Here, children," boasted an old Drake, "is the very spot where your father was charged upon last autumn by a cruel Falcon! I can tell you that it took all my skill and quickness in dodging to save my life. Best of all, our fierce enemy dropped to the ground with a broken wing! Doubtless he is long since dead of starvation, or else a Fox or a Mink has made a meal of the wicked creature!"

By these words the Falcon knew his old enemy, and his courage returned. "Nevertheless, I am still here!" he exclaimed, and darted like a flash upon the unsuspecting old Drake, who was resting and telling of his exploit and narrow escape with the greatest pride and satisfaction.

"Honk! honk!" screamed all the Ducks, and they scattered and whirled upward like the dead leaves in autumn; but the Falcon with sure aim selected the old Drake and gave swift chase.

Round and round in dizzy spirals they swung together, till with a quick spurt the Falcon struck the shining, outstretched neck of the other, and snapped it with one powerful blow of his reunited wing.

Moral:
Do not exult too soon; nor is it wise to tell of your brave deeds within the hearing of your enemy.

Pride come before a fall.

"'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'  With a timid voice and idolizing eyes, the little boy greeted his father as he returned from work.

"Giving his boy a glaring look, the father said:  'Look, Son, don't bother me now, I'm tired.'

"'But, Daddy, just tell me please!  How much do you make an hour?'  the boy insisted.

"The father, finally giving up, replied: 'Ten dollars an hour.'

"'Okay, Daddy.  Could you loan me five dollars?' the boy asked.

"Showing his restlessness and positively disturbed, the father yelled:  'So that was the reason you asked how much I earn, right?  Go to sleep and don't bother me anymore!'

"It was already dark and the father was meditating on what he said and was feeling guilty.  Maybe, he thought, his son wanted to buy something. Finally, trying to ease his mind, the father went to his son's room.  'Are you asleep, son?' asked the father.

"'No, Daddy. Why?' replied the boy, partially asleep.

"'Here's the money asked for earlier,' the father said.

"'Thanks, Daddy!' rejoiced the son, while putting his hand under his pillow and removing some money. 'Now I have enough!  Now I have ten dollars!
Daddy, could you sell me one hour of your time?'"

In his remarkable work entitled, "The Book of Jewish Values" (http://www.randomhouse.com), Rabbi Joseph Telushkin relates a 19th century Jewish folktale about a man who went about town slandering his rabbi.  One day, realizing that many of the things he had said were unfair, he went to the rabbi's home and begged for forgiveness. The rabbi told the man that he would forgive him on one condition: that he go home, take a feather pillow from his house, cut it up and scatter the feathers to the wind. After he had done so, he should then return to the rabbi's house.

Though puzzled by the rabbi's strange request, the man was happy to be let off with so easy a penance. He quickly cut up the pillow, scattered the feathers, and returned to the rabbi.

"Am I now forgiven?" he asked.

"Just one more thing," the rabbi said. "Go now and gather up all the feathers."

"But that's impossible. The wind has already scattered them."

"Precisely," the rabbi answered. "And though you truly wish to correct the evil you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words, as it is to recover the feathers."

Rabbi Telushkin's story really made me think. How interesting it is that we, as human beings, so quick to believe the bad that others say about someone - so accepting of the "news" contained in print and television, and so ready to assume the worst regarding another's actions, actually allow ourselves to believe that the evil "we" spread  about someone via gossip won't really matter. The fact is that gossip can do - and often does - significant damage to that person, destroying their reputation as well as our credibility with others.

Paraphrasing my friend, Paul Myers, "Gossip is like a fired bullet. Once you hear the sound, you can't take it back." That is what the man in the above story found out in a very disappointing, shameful moment of self-discovery.

On the other hand, kind, encouraging words to and about someone can build their self-esteem, help him or her to grow and provide the impetus they need to do great, significant things with their lives.

Let's do our best to make certain we are building and edifying; not spreading feathers to the wind, feathers we will never be able to retrieve.

* Note from Bob: Although written by an Orthodox rabbi, "The Book of Jewish Values" is a book from which anyone of any religious stream can enjoy and learn. In fact, it was given to me as a gift by a dear Christian friend of mine, for which I'll always be grateful.

Credits to "Bob Burg is author of "Winning Without Intimidation: How to Master the Art of Positive Persuasion"
(http://www.burg.com/f-winning.html)

She said, "I cross the river by uttering the name of the lord as you told me to do, and don't stand now in need of a boatman." The priest could not believe this. He said, "Can you show me how you cross the river?" The woman took him with her and began to walk over the water. Looking behind the woman saw the priest in a sad plight and said, "How is it, Sir, that you are uttering the name of the God with your mouth, but at the same time with your hands you are trying to keep your cloth untouched by water? Your do not fully rely on Him." Entire resignation and absolute faith in God are at the root or all miraculous deeds.

From Yisroel Goodman..
Hi,
Your story about the farmer and the diamond reminded me of an old Jewish tale. There was a poor Jew named Yaakov Kramer in a little Polish town of Djikuv who dreamed that he was destined to be wealthy. He tried many schemes, but none worked. So his family lived in poverty. But he kept chasing his dreams and became known as Yankel Dremel (Yankel the Dreamer).
He was also a kind man, always ready to do favors for others.
One day, after having done a tremendous deed, the town Rebbe said to him,"Yankel, you deserve a blessing for what you have done. What do you need?"
Yankel replied, "I have a wonderful wife and family. I personally need nothing. But I would love to help out the many needy in the community. I wish I was wealthy so that I could solve all their problems. I have tried everything to accomplish this but so far I have not been successful."
The Rebbe said, "You may be trying too hard. What is destined to be, will be. Some good folks changed after receiving wealth, and not for the better."
"It won't happen to me," Yankel insisted. "You promised me a blessing. Bless me so that I become wealthy."
The Rebbe said, "May you be blessed to receive what is best for you."
That night, Yankel had a dream that he was approaching the city of Warsaw.
As he crossed the bridge, he glanced down and saw the edge of a chest just peeking out from the mud. When he awoke in the morning, he knew what he had to do. He had to travel to Warsaw and search the mud alongside the bridge for the treasure chest buried there.
His friends and family told him that he was being a fool, but Yankel could not be dissuaded. He packed some food, clothing and a shovel and set out on his trip. When he reached Warsaw, he saw that it was just like he had dreamed. There was the bridge leading toward the city, crossing over a stream that left the ground muddy. But in his dream he had not seen the guards who stood on the bridge and challenged travellers to explain the reason for their visit.
Yankel waited until nightfall. Then he crept silently to the muddy ground at the side of the bridge and began poking around with the shovel.
Whenever he heard footsteps moving his way, he hid beneath the bridge. By morning he had gained nothing except a terrible chill. As he set out to find a place to rest for the day, he was spotted. In a moment, the guards had him.
"What is the meaning of this?" they asked him, pointing at the ground where the evidence of his digging could be clearly seen in the light of day.
Yankel was first imprisoned and later dragged before a judge.
"Your name?" the judge demanded.
"Yaakov Kramer," Yankel stammered.
"And the reason why you were digging under the bridge?"
Yankel explained about his dream. The judge burst into laughter.
"Based on a dream, you travelled here to dig around the bridge? Don't you think that when the bridge was built, any treasure buried there would have been found? Reasonable men don't act on silly dreams. I myself had a dream that if I journeyed to some little decrepit hamlet called Djikuv and dug around the house of someone named Yankel Dremel, I would find a treasure. Do you see me running to Djikuv?"
The judge decided that Yankel was not quite competent and sent him home with a warning never to return. But Yankel needed no warning. He hurried home and began to dig around his house. Sure enough, he found his treasure.
He began to think of all the wonderful things he could buy with the wealth, a fancy home, clothes, silverware. But then he thought about how the treasure had come into his possession. Why had he first been sent to Warsaw, only to return home? Then he remembered the Rebbe's words.
His journey and imprisonment had served to show him that the wealth was not his. It had been destined that he find it only so that he could keep his word and improve the lot of the needy. The Rebbe had warned him about folks who changed the moment they received wealth. Now he took that warning to heart and used the treasure in the manner in which it was intended. Despite the wealth, he didn't change. He continued to be known as Yankel Dremel.

There was once a spider who lived in a cornfield. He was a big spider and he had spun a beautiful web between the corn stalks. He got fat eating all the bugs that would get caught in his web. He liked his home and planned to stay there for the rest of his life.
One day the spider caught a little bug in his web, and just as the spider was about to eat him, the bug said, "If you let me go I will tell you something important that will save your life."
The spider paused for a moment and listened because he was amused. "You better get out of this cornfield," the little bug said, "The harvest is coming!"
The spider smiled and said, "What is this harvest you are talking about? I think you are just telling me a story." But the little bug said, "Oh no, it is true. The owner of this field is coming to harvest it soon. All the stalks will be knocked down and the corn will be gathered up. You will be killed by the giant machines if you stay here."
The spider said, "I don't believe in harvests and giant machines that knock down corn stalks. How can you prove this?"
The little bug continued, "Just look at the corn. See how it is planted in rows? It proves this field was created by an intelligent designer."
The spider laughed and mockingly said, "This field has evolved and has nothing to do with a creator. Corn always grows that way."
The bug went on to explain, "Oh no. This field belongs to the owner who planted it, and the harvest is coming soon."
The spider grinned and said to the little bug, "I don't believe you," and then the spider ate the little bug for lunch.
A few days later, the spider was laughing about the story the little bug had told him. He thought to himself, "A harvest! What a silly idea. I have lived here all of my life and nothing has ever disturbed me. I have been here since these stalks were just a foot off the ground, and I'll be here for the rest of my life, because nothing is ever going to change in this field. Life is good, and I have it made."
The next day was a beautiful sunny day in the cornfield. The sky above was clear and there was no wind at all. That afternoon as the spider was about to take a nap, he noticed some thick dusty clouds moving toward him.
He could hear the roar of a great engine and he said to himself, "I wonder what that could be?"
 

http://www.clubs.psu.edu/up/vedicsociety/Quintessence/Quintessence_VS_MarApr06.pdf

Once there was a man who liked to eat mangoes. One day he decided to get the sweetest mango available, from the very top of the tree. Mangoes which are exposed to the sun the most are the sweetest.

So he climbed up to the top, where the branches were thin. He managed to pick up a few sweet reddish fruits, but, in an attempt to climb down, he slipped and started falling towards the ground. Fortunately, he caught the branch as he was falling and remained helplessly hanging on the tree. Then he started to call nearby villagers for help. They immediately came with a ladder and sticks, but could do little to help him.

Then after some time one calm and thoughtful person arrived - a well-known sage who lived in a simple hut nearby. People were very curious to see what he would do, as he was famous in solving many people's problems in the area and sometimes very complicated ones.

He was silent for a minute and then picked up a stone and threw it at the hanging man. Everybody was surprised. The hanging mango lover started to shout: “What are you doing?! Are you crazy? Do you want me to break my neck?” The sage was silent. Then he took another stone and threw it at the man. The man was furious: “If I could just come down, I would show you… !”

That's what everybody wanted. That he came down. But how? Now everybody was tense, as to what would happen next! Some wanted to chastise the sage, but they didn't. The sage picked another stone and threw it again at the man, even more forcefully. Now the man on the tree was enraged and developed a great determination to come down and take revenge.

He then used all his skill and strength and somehow reached the branches which were safe to start going down. And he made it! Everybody was amazed. “Where is the sage?!” - exclaimed the rescued man. “Oh, he is a wise man. So he didn't wait for you to beat him,”- said the villagers. “I will really smash him completely!” “Hey, wait a minute. He is the only one who helped you. He is the one who provoked you, who induced you to help yourself.”

The mango freak stopped for a second, thought for a moment and admitted: “Yes, all your good intentions and compassion didn't help me. But he expertly induced me to give my best and save myself. I should be thankful and not angry.” So this is an instructive leadership story. A real leader makes us, although sometimes in strange ways, take initiative in our life and give our best. We have to give our best shot, if we want extraordinary results. The best leader makes you a leader by making you responsible for your life.

Source - Leadership Excellence magazine
 

On the walk on Magic Island he watched as surfers fell off their boards and struggled to swim back out against the waves for another ride. He quoted the Indian sage Tulasi Dasa who pointed out that even though a fish may be very tiny he can go against the waves, but a huge elephant is useless in water. The powerful elephant, being in a foreign situation, becomes helpless, but the little fish, because it has taken shelter of the ocean, can swim against the biggest wave. Prabhupada concluded that if we take shelter of Krsna, everything will be easy.

- From the "A Transcendental Diary Vol 2" by HG Hari Sauri dasa

The Spider and the Fly
An Apologue.
A New Version Of An Old Story.

Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly, 'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there." Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain, For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly. "There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin, And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!" Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said, They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do, To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you? I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice; I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?" "Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be, I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise, How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf, If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself." "I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say, And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den, For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again: So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly, And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly. Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing, "Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing; Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head; Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly, Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by; With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew, Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue -- Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last, Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast. He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den, Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!

And now dear little children, who may this story read, To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed: Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye, And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

by Mary Howitt 1821. From Sketches of Natural History (1834), Effingham Wilson : London

Adapted from the Nrsimha Purana

The following story from the Nrsimha Purana appeared in issue number 11 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications. It illustrates the negative effects of pride, as well as the power of a chaste lady.

SPECIAL POWER

There was once a righteous brahmana named Kasyapa. He had mastered all of the scriptures and was expert in explaining them. Disinclined to performing another’s duty, he was daily absorbed in the worship of Lord Narasimha and was always engaged in performing yajna. Every morning and evening he would offer oblations into the sacred fire and he would always show proper hospitality to the brahmanas and guests at his residence.

His wife was named Savitri. She was a high-minded lady, was honored for her virtue, and she led a spotless life in service to her husband. Due to her chastity and devotion she was endowed with the power of knowing things beyond the range of the senses.

GREAT BRAHMACARI

There was also a wise brahmana named Yajnasharman living in the land of Koshala. He had a devoted and religious wife named Rohini who was endowed with all auspicious features and an unblemished character.

After some time Rohini gave birth to a son. Yajnasharman performed all of the recommended purificatory ceremonies for his son as described in the Vedas. The boy was named Devasharman. When he was eight years old his father performed his sacred thread ceremony and engaged him in study of the Vedas.

After Devasharman had mastered the Vedas his father died.

At the death of Yajnasharman, both the son and the mother were grief-stricken. Devasharman performed the funeral ceremonies for his father according to the instructions of saintly persons, and then he decided to travel to different places of pilgrimage. Devasharman’s fame as a great brahmacari gradually spread far and wide. He had no residence and was always wandering from one place to another. Maintaining himself by begging alms, he was always chanting Vedic mantras and performing sacrifices. Meanwhile, with her husband dead and her only son living as an ascetic, Devasharman’s mother Rohini had no means of support and was suffering terribly.

BURNT TO ASHES

In the course of his wanderings, one day Devasharman came to the bank of a river, where he took bath. Spreading his cloth on the ground to dry, he sat in meditation. Just then, a crow and a crane came and suddenly flew away with his cloth. Seeing this, Devasharman became angry and shouted abuses at them. The birds then dropped the cloth on the ground, passed stool on it, and flew away. Devasharman looked at them with wrath, and immediately the birds burned to ashes. Surprised to see this, Devasharman concluded that there was no one in the world equal to him in penance.

Proud of the strength of his austerity, Devasharman left the river to seek alms at a nearby village. He came to the house where the devoted wife Savitri and her husband Kasyapa lived. Devasharman came to their door and requested Savitri to give him alms. However, Savitri was just then serving her husband his mid-day meal. Although she saw Devasharman at the door, she remained silent and attentive to her husband. After her husband had eaten, she washed his feet with warm water. Only then did she come forward to offer alms to the brahmacari.

Having been made to wait for so long, Devasharman was very angry. He glared at the devoted housewife again and again with red-hot eyes. Seeing his conduct, Savitri laughed and said, “O furious sage! I am not the crow or the crane that fell down dead on the bank of the river by the strength of your anger. If you want to accept alms from me you will have to behave properly.”

Collecting the alms given by Savitri, Devasharman quietly left that place.

Walking back to the river, he again and again thought in his mind, “How it was that she had come to know of the death of the crow and the crane?” Leaving his begging bowl by the river, Devasharman returned to the village.

After the devoted Savitri had finished her meal and her husband had gone out, the brahmacari came to her residence and said, “O blessed woman, please tell me how you acquired this mystic power of knowing things beyond the senses?”

SAGACIOUS ADVICE

That virtuous and devoted woman Savitri replied, “O brahmana, please listen attentively to the answer to this question. The mystic power that I possess is the result of careful and consistent observance of the prescribed duties of a chaste wife. Service to one’s husband is the established duty of women.

O high-minded one, I have always followed that duty. Indeed, I know nothing else. I have acquired this power because day and night, without questioning, I have given complete satisfaction to my husband, waiting upon him with love and devotion.

“If you are interested to listen, I will tell you something else. Your father was a brahmana who lived on alms. You took lessons from him on the Vedas. When he died you performed his funeral ceremonies. Then, ignoring your aged and widowed mother, you came here. That poor wretched woman is now without any support while your sole interest is only to feed yourself! Your mother bore you in her womb. After you were born she nurtured you and brought you up with all love and affection. She did everything for you including cleaning your stool. You have deserted her and have been practicing austerities in the forest. O brahmana, aren’t you ashamed? What do you hope to gain by wandering about in the forest?

“Because of the suffering of your mother a bad odor is coming from your mouth. Whatever strength and power you have is only due to your father, who performed various samskaras in your life.

“O evil-minded sinner! Just recently, for no reason, you have burnt to death two innocent birds. As a result of this all of your sacred baths, your visits to different holy places, and all your meditation and sacrifices have been in vain. O brahmana, that person who sees their mother in a poor and wretched condition lives in vain, whereas he who is full of regard for his mother and who always protects her with devotion gets all rewards in this world and hereafter.

“You should immediately go to your mother and save her life. Her protection is your highest penance. Give up your anger, for it destroys all merits accumulated in this world and in the next. You should atone for the sin of killing the birds. O brahmacari, what I have spoken to you is correct. If you are interested in ultimate happiness you should follow my advice.”

Having thus advised the son of the brahmana, the devoted wife fell silent.

Devasharman then said to Savitri, “O blessed lady, please forgive me for the harm I have done to you by looking at you in anger. You have told me what is good for me. O righteous lady, after returning to take care of my mother, what duties shall I perform to attain the supreme goal?”

TRIDANDI SANNYASA

The devoted wife Savitri replied, “Listen carefully. I shall now tell you the duties that you have to perform. You should maintain your mother by begging, and you should also perform the prescribed atonement for the sin of killing the two birds.

“In the land of Kosala there is a girl born in a brahmana family who is destined to be your wife. When you return home her father will offer her to you. You should accept her at that time. She will give birth to a baby boy who will perpetuate your family.

punar-mrtayam bharyayam bhavita tvam tridandakah sa yaty asrama dharmena yathoktyanusthitena ca narasimha-prasadena vaisnavam padapapsyasi

“With the passing away of your wife you should take up the order of tridandi-sannyasa. Provided you sincerely follow the disciplines of the sannyasa asrama, then by the grace of Lord Narasimhadev you will certainly attain the abode of Lord Vishnu.

“Because you have inquired from me I have prophesized all of these things.

If you do not have faith in my words then you may do as you like.”

The brahmana Devasharman said, “O devoted wife, I will immediately return to take care of my mother. O auspicious one, when I reach there I will do everything according to your advice.”

Having said this, Devasharman at once started for his home. There, free from anger and delusion, he maintained his mother with all care. He got married and was blessed with a son. When his wife passed away he took up the life of a wandering mendicant. He treated pebbles, stones, and gold on an equal level and by the grace of Lord Narasimhadev he attained the spiritual abode of the Lord.

* * *

One may ask how it was that the brahmacari was obliged to maintain his aged mother? Since he had devoted himself to religious pursuits and was strictly following the vows of brahmacarya, would he not be free from this obligation as per the following injunction of Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.41?

devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitnam na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya kartam

“Anyone who has completely given up all worldly relationships and has taken absolute shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, who gives us salvation and who alone is fit to be taken shelter of, is no longer a debtor or servant of anyone, including the demigods, forefathers, sages, other living entities, relatives, and members of human society.”

It should be noted, however, that this injunction of the Bhagavatam applies only to those persons who have taken full shelter of the Lord. Although the brahmacari Devasharman appeared to be living a highly pious life, his activities were still on the material platform. His objective was material piety through performing religious activities and visiting places of pilgrimage. He had not left home in pursuit of the Supreme Lord, nor had he sought out the association of transcendentalists, nor had he taken shelter of a bonafide spiritual master. Although he considered himself to be free from obligations to this world, because his pursuits were only external it was improper for him to abandon his religious mother.

Since his activities were still on the material platform, the only fruit he received from them was an increase in his false prestige. This pride developed into anger, which then impelled him to kill the two birds.

Devasharman had some faith in pious religious activities, thus he had karma-adhikara, or qualification for acting according to the Vedic system of religiosity. But he did not have faith in surrendering to the Lord, thus he was devoid of bhakti-adhikara, or qualification for performing krsna-bhakti.

If those possessing karma-adhikara do not follow the principles of varnasrama-dharma then they become implicated in sin. For this reason the chaste and omniscient housewife advised him to return home.

Krishna has instructed Uddhava (Bhag. 11.20.9):

tavat karmani kurvita na nirvidyeta yavata mat-katha-sravanadau va sraddha yavan na jayate

“As long as one is not detached from fruitive activity and material enjoyment, and as long as one has no faith in devotion to Krishna, beginning with the process of hearing and chanting His glories, one has to act according to the religious principles of karma or varnasrama.”

In the next chapter of the eleventh canto Krishna again says (11.21.2):

sve sve ‘dhikare ya nistha sa gunah parikirtitah viparyayas tu dosah syad ubhayor esa niscayah

“Being fixed in the position for which one is qualified is virtuous. The opposite, accepting a position for which one is unqualified, is irresponsible and is considered impious. This is the definite conclusion.”

By acting according to his position in the Vedic system of varnasrama dharma, Devasharman gradually developed genuine detachment. He then took to the order of sannyasa and in the end achieved the spiritual abode of the Lord.

Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu is published every ekadasi in PDF format, and is designed for those who want to go deep into the pastimes, philosophy, literature and history of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Bindu regularly features articles from previous acaryas such as Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode, Viswanath Chakravarti, Rupa Goswami etc., as well as new translations, research findings and contemporary articles. Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu is being produced in pursuance of the instructions of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami, whose articles are also a common feature.

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In a pond lived a number of frogs that were friendly with one and all in the forest. As they had no enemies, they jumped and frolicked in the pond the whole day. Even the King Frog and Queen Frog had a whale of a time, doing nothing but playing and prancing about.

One day an old and decrepit snake happened to pass by the pond and stopped on seeing the frogs jumping and dancing in the pond. The snake said to himself, “Gosh, what a feast I can have here! Just see the number of frogs that are present which I can swallow in one go. But, what to do, I am so old and weak. I would have to devise some way of trapping them on the sly.”

Having decided on the plan, the snake quietly slithered towards the pond and lay dead still under the tree.

Two young Prince Frogs, who were very naughty and playful, on seeing the snake lying absolutely still, decided to draw near the snake and find out what was wrong with the snake. Prince Frogs drew near and touched the body of the snake; it moved under the touch as if in reflex action. The Prince Frogs immediately withdrew. The snake, however, continued to lie absolutely still.

One of the Prince Frogs said to the other, “How come we did not see the snake ever before?”

Replied the other Prince Frog, “I think it is dead and therefore it is lying absolutely still.”

At this, the snake opened his eyes and whispered softly, “Do not be alarmed. I am too old to do anything. As I am under a curse, you can jump on to me and I shall be your royal mount. From today onwards I will carry you everywhere you want.”

Initially the Prince Frogs looked suspiciously at the snake but soon they hopped on to the snake’s back and the latter took them for a ride.

Meanwhile King Frog called out to them. “Children, where are you? Come back to the palace soon.”

The Prince Frogs ran away quickly to the palace while the snake, after taking the frogs for a ride, began to pant as he was tired after carrying the frogs on his back.

Meanwhile, the young Prince Frogs rushed excitedly to their Queen Mother to relate their experience with the snake. Queen Frog was horrified to hear their story and told them not to do so again. She then told King Frog about their children’s experience at which King Frog and Queen Frog told their children to show them the snake.

Prince Frogs went to the snake and pleaded with him to give them another ride on his back. Soon the snake took even the King Frog for a ride on his back. On seeing this, all the other frogs warned King Frog, “Please desist from doing this. The snake can never be our friend. It will kill us all some day.”

But Queen Frog replied haughtily, “Since the snake is not taking you all for a ride, you are feeling jealous.”

Now it became a daily routine for the royal frogs to ride on the snake and roam around the lake.

One day, the snake felt very weak to carry the royal frogs on its back so King Frog asked, “What is the matter with you? You are very sluggish today.”

The snake replied, “I have been serving you as the royal mount for the last so many days. But I have not had anything to eat. I feel very weak now.”

King Frog asked the snake, “What is it that you want to eat?”

The snake replied, “There are so many frogs in your kingdom. I would like to eat one a day to feed my hunger.”

For a moment, King Frog was taken aback at his strange request but realising that there were so many of his subjects jumping daily in the pond, he decided to relent. This way the snake got one frog to eat daily. Soon it became very strong and the strength of the frogs began to deplete in the pond.

By now, the snake had become so used to eating a frog per day that when it found no more frogs in the pond, it devoured first the Prince Frogs and then King Frog and Queen Frog too.

The pond was left with no living creature in it now. No longer could one hear the croaking of the frogs.

Moral:
The senses are a network leading to death if we allow the senses to be unbridled then they will devour everything. As stated in Bhagavad Gita 2:62 - 67

Have you had the desire to isolate yourself recently? As conflicts arise in the workplace and remain unresolved, we may become convinced that we could work better alone. At times, we may also become convinced that we do not need others in our lives. The following story demonstrates why the exact opposite is true.

A boy was extended an invitation to visit his uncle who was a lumberjack up in the Northwest... His uncle met him at the depot. As the two pursued their way to the lumber camp, the boy was impressed by the enormous size of the trees on every hand. There was a gigantic tree, which he observed standing all alone on top of a small hill. The boy, full of awe, called out excitedly, "Uncle George, look at that big tree! It will make a lot of good lumber, won't it?"

Uncle George slowly shook his head, then replied, "No, son, that tree will not make a lot of good lumber. It might make a lot of lumber, but not a lot of good lumber. When a tree grows off by itself, too many branches grow on it. Those branches produce knots when the tree is cut into lumber. The best lumber comes when they grow together in groves. The trees also grow taller and straighter when they grow together." It is so with people. We become better individuals, more useful timber, when we grow together.
      Author unknown

It takes more than one tree to make a forest. When there is a storm, the surrounding trees share the punishing winds, rains, and snow, sometimes affording protection to the trees in the middle. Such is the case with the people with whom we work and live. Their presence can help us grow tall and strong as we grow personally and spiritually.

While there is beauty in the many branches that a solitary tree may spawn, the knotholes may weaken the fiber of the tree just as isolating ourselves from others may weaken us.

Affirmation for the Week:

"I stand tall and strong, secure in the knowledge that the presence of other trees around me makes me even stronger."

Have a week of seeing the forest AND the trees!
Mary Rau-Foster

Undoubtedly cute, but....
http://www.iskcon.net.au/2007/05/27#a5338
From Bhurijana Prabhu...

Hare Krsna. The monkeys of Raman Reti can undoubtedly be cute. But are they wise? Mostly they use their amazing climbing skills to wander from tree to roof to balcony for the purpose of foraging for soft leaves, berries, or other eatables. When they're not eating they fight, mate, or sleep. But, however, I've noted that they can also be clever and quite brave. Many strongly built males will always fiercely fight to protect from attack the young within their family. That can be said to be a type of wisdom, for it is required for the family's survival, but are monkeys truly wise?

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura told a story about a wise old monkey and those of his followers who listened to him. And, of course, the lesson to be learned by noting the fate of those who didn't.

A Wise Old Monkey

A king used to maintain a group of monkeys for providing entertainment for his sons. The monkeys were very nicely fed with sumptuous delicacies everyday. The leader of the monkeys was well-versed in the scriptures of such wise personalities as Sukracarya, Brhaspati and Canakya, and he used to teach the other monkeys these scriptures.There was also a pack of sheep in the king's palace and the little princes used to ride them for fun. One of those sheep was very fond of eating anything from the palace kitchen. The cooks in the kitchen had to beat the sheep quite often to prevent it from causing mischief.

The monkey leader thought that this kind of behaviour every now and then may result in something disastrous for the monkeys in the long run. "The sheep are extremely gluttonous and the cooks, on the other hand, are very adept in beating the sheep with whatever they find at hand. In case the cooks at any time start hitting the sheep with a burning stick from the fire, then the furry body of the sheep would surely start burning.When such a burning sheep starts running around in frenzy and by chance enters into the nearby horse stable, then the hay inside will catch on fire and the entire stable along with its horses will be ablaze in no time. One ancient expert Salihotra, who is well versed in animal husbandry prescribes that burns on horse flesh can be healed by animal skin obtained from monkeys. Accordingly, the king will have the monkeys killed."

Apprehending thus, the wise old monkey leader called on all the monkeys confidentially and told them, "In a place like this where the sheep and the cooks are in constant confrontation, we, the monkeys, are sure to meet with our destruction. So, let us take refuge in a forest somewhere before we are destroyed en masse." But the arrogant young monkeys did not have anyrespect for the wise old monkey's advice. They simply ridiculed the old monkey, saying, "You must be under some sort of delusion due to your advancing age, and so you are talking like a lunatic. We are not interested in leaving the palace for forest life only to live on distasteful fruits; here we are being fed with nectarean varieties of foodstuffs by the princes themselves."

Upon hearing the puffed-up monkeys retorting like this, the old monkey told them with tearful eyes, "O fools, you do not know the results of such pleasure. Don't you know this will be ultimately destructive for you! So let me leave for the forest alone - I don't want to see your deaths."

Saying thus, the monkey-leader started for the forest, leaving behind all the other monkeys.Following this, one day that greedy sheep entered into the kitchen.The cook struck the beast with burning firewood. Immediately the sheep started crying and ran straight into the nearby horse stable. As the sheep, with the fire all over its body, started rolling desperately over the hay-stack kept in the stable, the entire pavilion caught fire and many of the horses were burnt to death while the others just ran amok, resulting in a great consternation all over.

The king immediately summoned his veterinary surgeon for the treatment of the horses. The surgeon quoted Salihotra's prescription that monkey's tallow was essential for the quick healing of the burns suffered by the horses. So the king ordered that treatment should immediately be undertaken to save the horses, and accordingly he also issued his instructions to kill the monkeys to collect their tallow. The monkey leader got the news and was very much depressed.

PURPORT

This moral story as narrated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, transpires that anyone who faithfully follows the instructions of his real spiritual master and engages himself in the devotional service to theSupreme Lord unflinchingly, will certainly attain ultimate welfare. Those who contemplate that the ageing advisor (spiritual master) might be under delusion and may not know more than a common person knows, and instead of following him follow evil companions, will certainly meet with a disastrous end.

A devotee of Krishna and his companion lost their way in a forest. The companion despaired, but the devotee said maybe some good will come of this. They came upon a stranger who needed the devotee's help. The stranger turned out to be a prince who gave the devotee a beautiful horse.

His neighbors praised his good luck and said, "How blessed you are to have such a magnificent animal." The devotee said, "Who’s to say whether this is a blessing or a curse?" The next day the horse ran away, and the neighbors said, "How horrible that you were cursed with the loss of your horse." The devotee replied, "Who’s to say whether this is a curse or a blessing? Perhaps some good will come of it."

The next day the horse returned, leading five wild horses. "You were right!" his neighbors exclaimed. "The curse was a blessing in disguise. Now you’re blessed with six horses." The devotee replied, "Perhaps, but who’s to say whether this is a blessing or a curse?" The next day his only son tried to ride one of the wild horses. He was thrown to the ground and broke his leg. The neighbors said, "How wise you were. Your blessing was really a curse."

The devotee replied, "There may be good yet. Who’s to say whether this  is a curse or a blessing?" The next day soldiers came through the village and took every able-bodied boy to fight in a war where it was almost certain all would be killed. Because the devotee’s son was injured, he was the only one not taken. "How blessed are you to have your son!" the neighbors said. The devotee replied, "Who’s to say?"

The moral of the story from Bhagavad-gita 2.56:

duhkheshv anudvigna-manah
sukheshu vigata-sprhah
vita-raga-bhaya-krodhah
sthita-dhir munir ucyate

One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.

PURPORT

The word muni means one who can agitate his mind in various ways for mental speculation without coming to a factual conclusion. It is said that every muni has a different angle of vision, and unless a muni differs from other munis, he cannot be called a muni in the strict sense of the term. Nasav rshir yasya matam na bhinnam (Mahabharata, Vana-parva 313.117). But a sthita-dhir muni, as mentioned herein by the Lord, is different from an ordinary muni. The sthita-dhir muni is always in Krsna consciousness, for he has exhausted all his business of creative speculation. He is called prasanta-nihsesha-mano-rathantara (Stotra-ratna 43), or one who has surpassed the stage of mental speculations and has come to the conclusion that Lord Sri Krsna, or Vasudeva, is everything (vasudevam sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah). He is called a muni fixed in mind.

Such a fully Krsna conscious person is not at all disturbed by the onslaughts of the threefold miseries, for he accepts all miseries as the mercy of the Lord, thinking himself only worthy of more trouble due to his past misdeeds; and he sees that his miseries, by the grace of the Lord, are minimized to the lowest. Similarly, when he is happy he gives credit to the Lord, thinking himself unworthy of the happiness; he realizes that it is due only to the Lord's grace that he is in such a comfortable condition and able to render better service to the Lord. And, for the service of the Lord, he is always daring and active and is not influenced by attachment or aversion.

Attachment means accepting things for one's own sense gratification, and detachment is the absence of such sensual attachment. But one fixed in Krsna consciousness has neither attachment nor detachment because his life is dedicated in the service of the Lord. Consequently he is not at all angry even when his attempts are unsuccessful. Success or no success, a Krsna conscious person is always steady in his determination.
 

The potency of Good Saintly Association:

The hearts of saintly people are non-different from holy-dhams as both are special abodes where the Supreme Lord loves to stay. Saintly people are equi-poised, friendly to all living entities, merciful, tolerant. They are aware of the truth that all the riches in this world are temporary and they don't hanker for wealth. They lead a simple, straight forward life, engaging their body, mind and soul completely in service of Supreme Lord.   Akrura, the paternal uncle of Lord Krishna was one such saintly person. When Krishna went to his house, Akrura humbly received him and prayed to the Lord, thanking him for visiting his house. The Lord glorified his saintly uncle, through the following verse in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.48.31)

 na hy am-mayaani tirthaani / na devaa mrc-chilaa-mayaah
 te punanty uru-kaalena     / darshanaad eva saadhavah

"No one can deny that there are holy places with sacred rivers, or that the demigods appear in deity forms made of earth and stone. But these purify the soul only after a long time, whereas saintly persons purify just by being seen."

We all know how Narada Muni was able to change the barbaric Mrgari to sincere devotee just by associating with him for few moments.The following story very nicely illustrates how sadhu's association purifies the heart immediately.

There was one thief, one robber. He was robbing businessmen and murdering people, and then one day he heard that the king of the country had invited all the sannyasis, sadhus and ascetics for a big meeting.  The thief was thinking, "Maybe the king will be giving help to them, so I will see if I can rob someone and get some money."  So he went to the meeting and hid himself away.  The king then came out onto his balcony, and he began to speak.  "O great sadhus, I have a daughter and she is very inclined to marry a saintly person.  So I am offering half of my kingdom with this girl, so someone please marry my daughter."  As soon as he said this, fifteen people in the front row got up and left.  They were sannyasis, they were not interested.  They came because they thought, "The king has called for a saintly meeting, so maybe there will be an opportunity to preach."  But when they heard the king 's proposal, they left.

  And then the other row came forward next.  The king said, "Look, I will give 75% of my kingdom.  I will only keep a little part for myself.  Please accept my daughter." The first person said, "My dear sir, the thing is that we are saintly persons.  And we are not sannyasis, we are married persons.  I have my wife and I have my ashram.  I do not want to marry your daughter.  Since you are the king, in order to respect you I have attended your meeting.  So please give me permission and I am going."  And he left.  Hoping to make best use of this opportunity, the thief disguised himself like a saint and went and sat with the others.  He was sitting in a very uncomfortable position with his eyes half-closed.   All the 5 sadhus present there refused the king's riches saying that their purpose of life is fulfilled only by constantly engaging their minds on the lotus feet pf Supreme Lord and they neither need the kingdom nor the princess for the same.

 Then the king came to the sixth person, who was the robber, and said to him, "O great saintly person..."  "You are wrong, " the thief interrupted.  The king was surprised.  "What?  To address you as a saintly person is wrong?"  "Yes, because I am a robber, not a saintly person.  But I ask you, who wants your country?  Who wants your kingdom?  If it has got any value, why is it that these people got up and left?  So I would rather pursue on this path.  I will neither rob any more, nor will I marry your daughter.  I am sorry but I am going."

In the above story, we can see that he had accrued the nature of a thief by his previous activities, but by association he developed the nature of a sadhu, in just a very short time.  "lava matra sadhu sanga sarva siddhi haya."  Just a moment's association brings all perfection. When he was physically present in this planet, Srila Prabhupada by his merciful glance, and oceanic smile had purified so many souls and gave them the gift of Krishna-bhakti. After leaving this planet, he still continues to give his merciful association through his books and lectures and so it is upto us to take advantage of the same and purify our existence.

written by Sudarshana devi dasi
 

The Brahmachari And The Chaste Wife
http://www.prabhupada.org/rama/?p=2767
BY MADHAVANANDA DAS

Adapted from the Nrsimha Purana

The following story from the Nrsimha Purana appeared in issue number 11 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications. It illustrates the negative effects of pride, as well as the power of a chaste lady.

SPECIAL POWER

There was once a righteous brahmana named Kasyapa. He had mastered all of the scriptures and was expert in explaining them. Disinclined to performing another’s duty, he was daily absorbed in the worship of Lord Narasimha and was always engaged in performing yajna. Every morning and evening he would offer oblations into the sacred fire and he would always show proper hospitality to the brahmanas and guests at his residence.

His wife was named Savitri. She was a high-minded lady, was honored for her virtue, and she led a spotless life in service to her husband. Due to her chastity and devotion she was endowed with the power of knowing things beyond the range of the senses.

GREAT BRAHMACARI

There was also a wise brahmana named Yajnasharman living in the land of Koshala. He had a devoted and religious wife named Rohini who was endowed with all auspicious features and an unblemished character.

After some time Rohini gave birth to a son. Yajnasharman performed all of the recommended purificatory ceremonies for his son as described in the Vedas. The boy was named Devasharman. When he was eight years old his father performed his sacred thread ceremony and engaged him in study of the Vedas.

After Devasharman had mastered the Vedas his father died.

At the death of Yajnasharman, both the son and the mother were grief-stricken. Devasharman performed the funeral ceremonies for his father according to the instructions of saintly persons, and then he decided to travel to different places of pilgrimage. Devasharman’s fame as a great brahmacari gradually spread far and wide. He had no residence and was always wandering from one place to another. Maintaining himself by begging alms, he was always chanting Vedic mantras and performing sacrifices. Meanwhile, with her husband dead and her only son living as an ascetic, Devasharman’s mother Rohini had no means of support and was suffering terribly.

BURNT TO ASHES

In the course of his wanderings, one day Devasharman came to the bank of a river, where he took bath. Spreading his cloth on the ground to dry, he sat in meditation. Just then, a crow and a crane came and suddenly flew away with his cloth. Seeing this, Devasharman became angry and shouted abuses at them. The birds then dropped the cloth on the ground, passed stool on it, and flew away. Devasharman looked at them with wrath, and immediately the birds burned to ashes. Surprised to see this, Devasharman concluded that there was no one in the world equal to him in penance.

Proud of the strength of his austerity, Devasharman left the river to seek alms at a nearby village. He came to the house where the devoted wife Savitri and her husband Kasyapa lived. Devasharman came to their door and requested Savitri to give him alms. However, Savitri was just then serving her husband his mid-day meal. Although she saw Devasharman at the door, she remained silent and attentive to her husband. After her husband had eaten, she washed his feet with warm water. Only then did she come forward to offer alms to the brahmacari.

Having been made to wait for so long, Devasharman was very angry. He glared at the devoted housewife again and again with red-hot eyes. Seeing his conduct, Savitri laughed and said, “O furious sage! I am not the crow or the crane that fell down dead on the bank of the river by the strength of your anger. If you want to accept alms from me you will have to behave properly.”

Collecting the alms given by Savitri, Devasharman quietly left that place.

Walking back to the river, he again and again thought in his mind, “How it was that she had come to know of the death of the crow and the crane?” Leaving his begging bowl by the river, Devasharman returned to the village.

After the devoted Savitri had finished her meal and her husband had gone out, the brahmacari came to her residence and said, “O blessed woman, please tell me how you acquired this mystic power of knowing things beyond the senses?”

SAGACIOUS ADVICE

That virtuous and devoted woman Savitri replied, “O brahmana, please listen attentively to the answer to this question. The mystic power that I possess is the result of careful and consistent observance of the prescribed duties of a chaste wife. Service to one’s husband is the established duty of women.

O high-minded one, I have always followed that duty. Indeed, I know nothing else. I have acquired this power because day and night, without questioning, I have given complete satisfaction to my husband, waiting upon him with love and devotion.

“If you are interested to listen, I will tell you something else. Your father was a brahmana who lived on alms. You took lessons from him on the Vedas. When he died you performed his funeral ceremonies. Then, ignoring your aged and widowed mother, you came here. That poor wretched woman is now without any support while your sole interest is only to feed yourself! Your mother bore you in her womb. After you were born she nurtured you and brought you up with all love and affection. She did everything for you including cleaning your stool. You have deserted her and have been practicing austerities in the forest. O brahmana, aren’t you ashamed? What do you hope to gain by wandering about in the forest?

“Because of the suffering of your mother a bad odor is coming from your mouth. Whatever strength and power you have is only due to your father, who performed various samskaras in your life.

“O evil-minded sinner! Just recently, for no reason, you have burnt to death two innocent birds. As a result of this all of your sacred baths, your visits to different holy places, and all your meditation and sacrifices have been in vain. O brahmana, that person who sees their mother in a poor and wretched condition lives in vain, whereas he who is full of regard for his mother and who always protects her with devotion gets all rewards in this world and hereafter.

“You should immediately go to your mother and save her life. Her protection is your highest penance. Give up your anger, for it destroys all merits accumulated in this world and in the next. You should atone for the sin of killing the birds. O brahmacari, what I have spoken to you is correct. If you are interested in ultimate happiness you should follow my advice.”

Having thus advised the son of the brahmana, the devoted wife fell silent.

Devasharman then said to Savitri, “O blessed lady, please forgive me for the harm I have done to you by looking at you in anger. You have told me what is good for me. O righteous lady, after returning to take care of my mother, what duties shall I perform to attain the supreme goal?”

TRIDANDI SANNYASA

The devoted wife Savitri replied, “Listen carefully. I shall now tell you the duties that you have to perform. You should maintain your mother by begging, and you should also perform the prescribed atonement for the sin of killing the two birds.

“In the land of Kosala there is a girl born in a brahmana family who is destined to be your wife. When you return home her father will offer her to you. You should accept her at that time. She will give birth to a baby boy who will perpetuate your family.

punar-mrtayam bharyayam bhavita tvam tridandakah sa yaty asrama dharmena yathoktyanusthitena ca narasimha-prasadena vaisnavam padapapsyasi

“With the passing away of your wife you should take up the order of tridandi-sannyasa. Provided you sincerely follow the disciplines of the sannyasa asrama, then by the grace of Lord Narasimhadev you will certainly attain the abode of Lord Vishnu.

“Because you have inquired from me I have prophesized all of these things.

If you do not have faith in my words then you may do as you like.”

The brahmana Devasharman said, “O devoted wife, I will immediately return to take care of my mother. O auspicious one, when I reach there I will do everything according to your advice.”

Having said this, Devasharman at once started for his home. There, free from anger and delusion, he maintained his mother with all care. He got married and was blessed with a son. When his wife passed away he took up the life of a wandering mendicant. He treated pebbles, stones, and gold on an equal level and by the grace of Lord Narasimhadev he attained the spiritual abode of the Lord.

* * *

One may ask how it was that the brahmacari was obliged to maintain his aged mother? Since he had devoted himself to religious pursuits and was strictly following the vows of brahmacarya, would he not be free from this obligation as per the following injunction of Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.41?

devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitnam na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya kartam

“Anyone who has completely given up all worldly relationships and has taken absolute shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, who gives us salvation and who alone is fit to be taken shelter of, is no longer a debtor or servant of anyone, including the demigods, forefathers, sages, other living entities, relatives, and members of human society.”

It should be noted, however, that this injunction of the Bhagavatam applies only to those persons who have taken full shelter of the Lord. Although the brahmacari Devasharman appeared to be living a highly pious life, his activities were still on the material platform. His objective was material piety through performing religious activities and visiting places of pilgrimage. He had not left home in pursuit of the Supreme Lord, nor had he sought out the association of transcendentalists, nor had he taken shelter of a bonafide spiritual master. Although he considered himself to be free from obligations to this world, because his pursuits were only external it was improper for him to abandon his religious mother.

Since his activities were still on the material platform, the only fruit he received from them was an increase in his false prestige. This pride developed into anger, which then impelled him to kill the two birds.

Devasharman had some faith in pious religious activities, thus he had karma-adhikara, or qualification for acting according to the Vedic system of religiosity. But he did not have faith in surrendering to the Lord, thus he was devoid of bhakti-adhikara, or qualification for performing krsna-bhakti.

If those possessing karma-adhikara do not follow the principles of varnasrama-dharma then they become implicated in sin. For this reason the chaste and omniscient housewife advised him to return home.

Krishna has instructed Uddhava (Bhag. 11.20.9):

tavat karmani kurvita na nirvidyeta yavata mat-katha-sravanadau va sraddha yavan na jayate

“As long as one is not detached from fruitive activity and material enjoyment, and as long as one has no faith in devotion to Krishna, beginning with the process of hearing and chanting His glories, one has to act according to the religious principles of karma or varnasrama.”

In the next chapter of the eleventh canto Krishna again says (11.21.2):

sve sve ‘dhikare ya nistha sa gunah parikirtitah viparyayas tu dosah syad ubhayor esa niscayah

“Being fixed in the position for which one is qualified is virtuous. The opposite, accepting a position for which one is unqualified, is irresponsible and is considered impious. This is the definite conclusion.”

By acting according to his position in the Vedic system of varnasrama dharma, Devasharman gradually developed genuine detachment. He then took to the order of sannyasa and in the end achieved the spiritual abode of the Lord.

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In a pond lived a number of frogs that were friendly with one and all in the forest. As they had no enemies, they jumped and frolicked in the pond the whole day. Even the King Frog and Queen Frog had a whale of a time, doing nothing but playing and prancing about.

One day an old and decrepit snake happened to pass by the pond and stopped on seeing the frogs jumping and dancing in the pond. The snake said to himself, “Gosh, what a feast I can have here! Just see the number of frogs that are present which I can swallow in one go. But, what to do, I am so old and weak. I would have to devise some way of trapping them on the sly.”

Having decided on the plan, the snake quietly slithered towards the pond and lay dead still under the tree.

Two young Prince Frogs, who were very naughty and playful, on seeing the snake lying absolutely still, decided to draw near the snake and find out what was wrong with the snake. Prince Frogs drew near and touched the body of the snake; it moved under the touch as if in reflex action. The Prince Frogs immediately withdrew. The snake, however, continued to lie absolutely still.

One of the Prince Frogs said to the other, “How come we did not see the snake ever before?”

Replied the other Prince Frog, “I think it is dead and therefore it is lying absolutely still.”

At this, the snake opened his eyes and whispered softly, “Do not be alarmed. I am too old to do anything. As I am under a curse, you can jump on to me and I shall be your royal mount. From today onwards I will carry you everywhere you want.”

Initially the Prince Frogs looked suspiciously at the snake but soon they hopped on to the snake’s back and the latter took them for a ride.

Meanwhile King Frog called out to them. “Children, where are you? Come back to the palace soon.”

The Prince Frogs ran away quickly to the palace while the snake, after taking the frogs for a ride, began to pant as he was tired after carrying the frogs on his back.

Meanwhile, the young Prince Frogs rushed excitedly to their Queen Mother to relate their experience with the snake. Queen Frog was horrified to hear their story and told them not to do so again. She then told King Frog about their children’s experience at which King Frog and Queen Frog told their children to show them the snake.

Prince Frogs went to the snake and pleaded with him to give them another ride on his back. Soon the snake took even the King Frog for a ride on his back. On seeing this, all the other frogs warned King Frog, “Please desist from doing this. The snake can never be our friend. It will kill us all some day.”

But Queen Frog replied haughtily, “Since the snake is not taking you all for a ride, you are feeling jealous.”

Now it became a daily routine for the royal frogs to ride on the snake and roam around the lake.

One day, the snake felt very weak to carry the royal frogs on its back so King Frog asked, “What is the matter with you? You are very sluggish today.”

The snake replied, “I have been serving you as the royal mount for the last so many days. But I have not had anything to eat. I feel very weak now.”

King Frog asked the snake, “What is it that you want to eat?”

The snake replied, “There are so many frogs in your kingdom. I would like to eat one a day to feed my hunger.”

For a moment, King Frog was taken aback at his strange request but realising that there were so many of his subjects jumping daily in the pond, he decided to relent. This way the snake got one frog to eat daily. Soon it became very strong and the strength of the frogs began to deplete in the pond.

By now, the snake had become so used to eating a frog per day that when it found no more frogs in the pond, it devoured first the Prince Frogs and then King Frog and Queen Frog too.

The pond was left with no living creature in it now. No longer could one hear the croaking of the frogs.

Moral:
The senses are a network leading to death if we allow the senses to be unbridled then they will devour everything. As stated in Bhagavad Gita 2:62 - 67

  Story:
  An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his
  Bhagavath Geetha. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

  One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavath Geetha just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget
  as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavath Geetha do?"

  The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

  The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a
  little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty
  before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
  The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to
  watch the boy try again.

  At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak
  out before he got back to the house.

  The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said,
  "See Grandpa, it's useless!"
 

  "So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the
  basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

  "Son, that's what happens when you read the Bhagavath Geetha. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be
  changed, inside and out. That is the work of Lord Krishna in our lives."

Many years ago in a small Indian village, A farmer had the misfortune Of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.

The Moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful Daughter. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his Daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal.

So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black Pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would Have to pick one pebble from the bag.

1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.

2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.

3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into Jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As They talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles.

As he Picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two Black pebbles and put them into the bag.

He then asked the girl to pick A pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have Done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you Have told her?

Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.

2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.

3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with The hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral And logical thinking.

The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with Traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses The above logical answers.

     What would you recommend to the Girl to do?

     Well, here is what she did ....
     '
     '
     '
     '
     '
     '
     '
     The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble.
Without Looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path Where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the Bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I Picked."

Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had Picked the white one.

And since the money-lender dared not admit his Dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into An extremely advantageous one.

     MORAL OF THE STORY:

Most complex problems do have a solution.
It is only that we don't Attempt to think them to a conclusion.

Nowadays many people believe that somehow it was an accident that one was born in a family of a certain profession and that the youth deserves a so-called better profession than that of the parents. But the traditional wisdom is that a person is born into a family to fulfill the profession of that family, and ideally to stay within that family business. Being raised in the family business, the person learns from a young age, even prenatally. Going into another profession, he leaves the family dharma and goes into worldly adharma. It then takes two or three generations to establish a new family dharma in that profession.

Now, of course, if the father and mother do not have a formal profession or business when their offspring are babies, from prenatal to six, whatever they are doing is absorbed and becomes the children's habit pattern of how they should live their lives on Earth. In such conditions, the chances for the son or daughter to follow the father's or mother's footsteps in a formal profession at a later age, such as at puberty, lessens because the children have already been programmed, from ages one to six, to live from day to day without a goal, without strong material security, without a profession, as their mother and father did, as casual, temporary employees or students, often unemployed or seeking employment.

Obviously, there is no greater boon to a youth than to enter the family business or profession, that is, provided this is his inclination as well. Occasionally, however, there comes into a family a child who is to become a leader in another field, not a follower of the family profession. Perhaps he shows special aptitude as a religious leader, a swami, a community leader, a politician, a social organizer, an activist, an investigative genius, a scientist or a scholar. Such a child will identify himself at an early age and must be especially carefully nurtured, for he was born with a mission.

Then there are others who will shy away from the family profession, whatever the rationale. There are many reasons that youth reject the family profession, but the point is that it is the duty of the family to make that profession available to them, knowing this can stabilize them throughout life. Therefore, we should encourage the traditional family ideal in any case, at any age. There is great mental, emotional and physical security for the son or the daughter to follow the family vocation. Such children have observed their parents, learned from them, slowly become partners with them in life. It is not always wise to allow your children to make the decision of what they want to do, allowing them to leave the home and make a stranger wealthy in another profession because of their service to him. Lovingly encourage them to do what you do and to become an extension of yourself. The ideas of "do your own thing," "satisfy your own desires," "wander into a career," "move from one career to another midway in life" are modern adharmic concepts. It may work out, but there is a fifty percent chance of failure and crippling debt. Then, too, the family has lost a great asset. The children have lost half their family connection, as they no longer have a shared interest in what mom and dad are doing, and vice versa. And the stranger, way out there, benefits. A family should not end at the puberty of its children, who then go off into other spheres of interest. It should continue and mature into father-and-son corporations, father-and-daughter corporations, with mother and father, sons and daughters all sharing the same interests, all working to increase the family assets.

The dharma of the householder is to build up wealth and knowledge, and to pass these on to the children, generation after generation. If they are in the jewelry profession, the wealth should go to the jewelers of the next generation, not to the musicians or computer programmers. Family wealth equals community wealth. Community wealth equals national wealth. National wealth equals global abundance. Hindu elders say that by following the occupation of the father and mother one will never go hungry, even if the occupation is a meager one. This is what I learned in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, at an early age. One might not become rich, but security is virtually assured.

So, don't be afraid to bring your sons and daughters into the family business deliberately. Get them interested. Get them working with you. Your business or occupation is what feeds them. Naturally they should be interested in it. The simple answer for modern Hindu families following the traditional grihastha dharma is to form a family corporation and bring sons and daughters at an early age into what mom and dad are doing. Educate them in the family occupation from age six to thirteen and then engage them as partners all through life. What better partners could one have? Who would be more honest and loyal than your own children? Need we say more? You have caught the idea.
 

Radhe Krishna
Ravishankar.G

Once a king had to complete a project and hence selected 4 persons from his own place to complete the project. They in turn fulfilled the King wishes and completed the project to his satisfaction.

King on a gesture of Love and appreciation wanted to reward these persons and enquired what they would like to ask for.....

The first person wished to have nice roads in his village and immediately the King informed his minister to setright the same

The second person wished that the King give him a bungalow, and the King in turn ordered his minister to sanction one

The third person came and informed king that he wants to marry a rich girl of his choice and the King took responsibility in getting him married to his wishes

And now for the last person, King asked him to inform his wishes; the person simply replied that he did want nothing. On hearing this, the king got angry and informed him that, I am the ruler of this kingdom and you have to get what you want and hence ordered him to ask for something of his choice,due to the compulsion of the King the person said,"O lord:, since you are compelling me, I have one request to you that you need to stay in my house for a month,The king on hearing this agreed to his request and instructed his minister to find out his place and also to fix up the dates.

The minister after collecting his contact details wanted  to make all preliminary arrangements for the kings stay in his house , when the minister visited he realized that this person is staying in a small hut & no proper road to approach  to his residence .

The minister immediately understood that our king cannot travel in this junk road and ordered to lay good Road till his residence, more over he thought that our King cannot stay in this small hut and also constructed a bungalow for that person and also provided enough money, gold, diamond to that person so that he can meet all of the kings requirement during his stay.

Now since this person has become a millionaire a rich man in that village requested him to marry his beautiful daughter

The fact is though the last person did not ask for anything from the king, he got everything (New road to his village, bungalow, and a beautiful rich wife)

This is to confirm that if we can chant the Maha Mantra regularly there is no need to ask the Lord to full fill our desire, the Mahamantra alone will fulfill all our needs/desires

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Chant
      "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare"
 

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