The frog in the well

The frog in the well - Short thought provoking story..

There was once a frog living in a well. It felt like a king in the well jumping from this end to that all through the day. It felt great about its well. For that frog the well was all that was in the world. The small patch of sky was all that constituted of Universe to it. 

One day there came a toad that lived in the ocean most part of its life. It was happy to get into the well and meet the frog there. The frog asked “Where are you from?” and the toad replied “From the ocean”. “Oh! Is it as big as this” saying so the frog jumped from one spot to the other. The toad laughed and said “Much much bigger”. “Then is it this big” asked frog taking a bigger leap. The toad replied amused “You can’t measure ocean in the well. It is so much bigger than this tiny well”. 

The frog got hurt and said “No place can be bigger than this well in this world. I don’t like you. You are lying. Leave!” The toad pitied the frog but left nonetheless. He couldn’t explain and convince frog of the vastness of the ocean.

What or who does that frog represent to you?

What does that well represent?

Have you met such frog and toad in your lives? If yes, give couple of examples (you can do away with telling their names or relationship and state the situation naming the person as x/y etc...

What does ocean represent?

What are we to learn from this and where are we to apply in our life?

A deaf frog - A short story!

A deaf frog - A short story!

Once a young frog wanted to climb out of the well. It told it's grand idea to all and being young and enthusiastic started working on its desire.  But being old and wise all other frogs started giving advice and kept saying 'You can't, you can't as no one has'.  The young frog was born deaf and looking at all of them talking at a time presumed them to be cheering for it and with more vigour and belief started the climb and reached the top. This no frog who was normal could achieve till date and yet the deaf frog could. It was joyous and all the old wise frogs couldn't understand how it did it!

What did you learn from this story?

Who are these old wise frogs in your life?

If you want to achieve something does that mean you should have been born deaf?

Why could no other frog climb the well before 'the young deaf frog'?

Where do you think we can apply it in our lives?

also read : http://kantipadam.blogspot.in/search?q=donkey

Me, My Guru – A stinking frog!

Me, My Guru – A stinking frog!

“There once was a frog that was rotting in a dirty pond though it didn’t see it that way. It got its feed and was content with its life in that small dirty pond. There was a stink that it carried with it all through the day and it didn’t like it. Yet, it couldn’t relate that with the pond which was dirty. It complained about it. It changed places, did various others things and yet felt miserable when its stink didn’t go away.

Then one day its friend frog that had left the pond for good sometime back came to talk of the mighty clean river that flowed outside the village. This frog didn’t stink any more. It was joyous and spent hours talking of the beauty of clean water in that river.  Our stinking frog couldn’t accept it but its friend kept insisting and so finally one fine morning they both went to the river side. The stinking frog was amazed to see the river. It dipped in its waters and stayed there for some time. It didn’t stink. Yet it wasn’t enough for it to see the connection. It felt closer to the pond that it had stayed in for all these years. Its emotions were disturbed but it didn’t understand them. They came out as anger on the river.

“How come this river never came over to me and clean me all these years? Is it not its duty to clean all who are dirty? What is the purpose of it being mighty rushing river if it doesn’t have such huge open heart?” and so on and so forth….

contd....

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=dhara

Knowledge and Half-knowledge

Four frogs sat upon a log that lay floating on the edge of a river. Suddenly the log was caught by the current and swept slowly down the stream. The frogs were delighted and absorbed, for never before had they sailed.

At length the first frog spoke and said “This is indeed a most marvelous log. It moves as if alive. No such log was every known before.”

Then the second frog spoke and said, “Nay, my friend, the log is like other logs, and does not move. It is the river that is walking to the sea and carries us and the log with it.”

And the third frog spoke and said, “It is neither the log nor the river that moves. The moving is in our thinking. For without thought nothing moves.”

And the three frogs began to wrangle about what was really moving. The quarrel grew hotter and louder but they could not agree.

Then they turned to the fourth frog who up to this time had been listening attentively but holding his peace and they asked his opinion.

And the fourth frog said “Each of you is right and none of you is wrong. The moving is in the log and the water and our thinking also.”

And the three frogs became very angry for none of them was willing to admit that his was not the whole truth and that the other two were not wholly wrong.

Then the strange thing happened. The three frogs got together and pushed the fourth frog off the log into the river.

And I for sure know how the fourth frog felt. In the country of blind, one eyed man is always assumed to be a mad man.

No person who is defensive even before listening to the answer, no person who is not open to newer and fresh perspectives, no person who is not open to listening anything which is contradictory to his/her belief system or expectations can ever learn. A really growing person is only one who is open to “doubting his doubts" and one who is ready to outgrow his limitations.

Till the mind is open to breaking its own shackles it’ll mislead us through anger towards the Truth disclosed and the person who talks about knowing the Truth. It also comes out as a statement “this is fine for sages and such people but for Ordinary people like us, this is not applicable” so on and so forth.

Be aware of this mind game. Just learn to look at your own thoughts, feelings (without stopping them or judging them). Just be aware!

I’ll go through my journey of self-enquiry from today with an open mind. Only those of you who are interested in experiencing the Truth need follow it. Each is given a choice to make. You have right to make yours.

revathi

Me, My Guru – A stinking frog!

Me, My Guru – A stinking frog!

Its friend tried to convince it “but why would it come to us. It is our need and want and so we need to come down here” and the other frog argued “I came as a kid to this very place, but then it was dry and so I went to that dirty pond. Now that it is full don’t you think it is its duty to call me or come to me?”

Its friend was at loss of words. It didn’t try. The stinking frog went back to its pond full of anger. It started stinking again but yet…..

The river flowed as ever!”

Having completed this story she left us for the day…

We didn’t know why she said that story. We tried to figure it out! 

Each came out with his understanding.

“The river meant Reiki, Guru or God – maybe! The complaining frog refers to us who are ever complaining that they do things for us unasked too many times! We put the blame on them. We judge them for our flaws, pains, sufferings and character”.

“We are more concerned and clear on how they should be and behave rather than work on ourselves..”

“and in the process are in our dirty pools of thoughts since we are angry at their actions and inactions..”

“Isn’t it funny that we KNOW and decide how they should be and yet say they are our guides, protectors and givers?!”

We all laughed at our own idiosyncrasies.

contd.....

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The man and the frogs

Contd.....

Stories and all - Man and the frogs

We think we need to address ‘so many issues’ for one thing or person to go right but all it takes is sending only ‘one frog’, fear, out of our mind pond!

The problem is not the situation. The problem is the way we see it; the place we see it.

We ‘think’ we need to address this. We ‘think’ we need to handle and correct it. We ‘think’ we are responsible for all the ‘bad’ imaginary happenings! But the fact is ‘we’ are not! And the cause is the other frog called ‘ignorance’. Our ignorance makes us believe that we are the makers of fate and destiny of our near and dear ones! That is wrong! All we have to do is ‘catch’ this frog and ‘throw’ it out of the ‘mind pond’, and lo! Our life is peaceful!

How to catch this frog? Simple! Build your ‘trust’ in Reiki/God, as the case may be, and they will do the job!

Ramana Maharshi says “once you sit in the train, it’ll carry both you and the luggage to the destination. Similarly, let Reiki/God carry you and your desires to the destination!”

Why are you carrying your luggage after taking ticket and sitting in the train? The answer is, again, ignorance.

Trust – trust Him to do the needful. But our own fear says “what if this doesn’t happen?’ or “what if what shouldn’t happen, happens?”.

Fear of change

In both cases, when you do Reiki, things go your way. You have your experiences to fall back on for this! When this happens, it is good! 

Contd....... 

# trust, surrender, karma, expectations, conditions, advice, help and love, pain and suffering, you are what you read 

related posts on this topic : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=surrender 

Questions addressed : 

• Why do we have so many problems in life?
• Why does one problem goes when the other comes?
• How to solve my problems in one go?
• What is the cause of all my problems?

Points to be understood :

• When repeatedly it is projected, told, explained so many times that ignorance and fear are the root of all the problems why then do we not solve them? Why don't we just sit to solve it say for atleat 6 months at a stretch?
• Why do we just READ this blog and move on in life as if by just reading we have done some 'favour' on Guru,Reiki, God or Universe? And over and above that we even expect results for that?!?
• Why are we talking about our 'tensions and worries' instead of spending time on healing them?
• The afternoon 1-2pm time /slot is cancelled in our healing session. That is for you to do healing on your own. Be it chanting or self healing etc. Then how come few are behaving as if they got 'holiday' from school? They don't think they need to spend that time for healing? Look at your attitude before commenting on others!
• Healing takes years of sadhan - not because it is so hard or long process. But because our heart doesn't want to leave the comfort of suffering for long. We have our reasons and justifications to come back to our original (present) state of being in pain. 
• Want strongly to overcome your any 'attitude' then dropping it is just a matter of one 'thought!"
• As long as we think the "other" is responsible for our problems and suffering, we end up victims of our situations and circumstances......Instead know we attract our situations and people in life........there must be a reason we had attracted them in the first place.....accept it, know it, own it and heal it. When you heal it, first you get strength to face it, then clarity and awareness that it is a blessing which you were taking for a curse, then you heal it to transform it and finally you transcend it.........
• I agree it is a long process and a boring and difficult one - but that is the only one I know..........if you know of other method please feel free to stop being here, stop doing reiki and follow it - that gives you happiness your way.......

On pain and suffering – Frog in the well Story

Explanation Further to https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=frog+in+the+well

On pain and suffering – Frog in the well Story

One of the causes of pain and suffering is ‘difference’ between people. The difference usually is in the following areas:

1.Religion and caste

2.Language

3.Food habits

4.Daily habits

5.Manners and etiquettes

6.Dress code

7.Life style choices

8.Belief systems and

9.Opinions

(you can add on the rest that come to your mind..)

All the above difference can be again broadly classified as

1.Life style Choices

2.Belief systems and opinions

One effects at physical level and the other at mental level eg. Opinions etc. Once you see them as just these differences it is surprising as to how this difference can create disharmony in our lives and affect our state of mind and peace of mind and happiness.

In actuality ‘variety’ is the spice of life. Then how come this ‘variety’ becomes the basis of our fights and resentment. This becomes the cause of difference between people.

The frog in the well story just explains this aspect clearly.

Similarly we live in the tininess of our ‘wells’ be it of life-style, opinions, principles, religion – just about anything. And then from the tininess of our ‘wells’ we judge the other who also lives in the similar ‘small well’ of his own. And each considers his well to be superior to the other. Each presumes his ‘well’ to be ‘the all’ of the Universe which gives them the belief “Only I am Right” and anyone who is outside of my ‘well’ which is way of living, opinion, tastes, likes and dislikes is a ‘bad person’ by default.

If, if only each one of us could come out of this limitedness of well and see the expanse of ocean of life, then there would be less or no pain, suffering, dislike and more or only respect, love and happiness in the world. How? Simple! All I need to understand is my life-style is comfortable to me and hence right for me but to the other his life-style is more akin to him. In short each is right in our way of living unfortunately we carry a wrong belief system that if I am right the other is automatically wrong and hence with our survival instinct put down the other to be right. It need not be so. We both can disagree on any issue and yet both can be right. That is the actual Truth. The one who is exposed to larger world or group of people from various backgrounds will be more open to variety and choice of others in contrast to people who live among a small limited and similar group of people.

contd....

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=belief+system

Frogs

Contd.....

Stories and all - Man and the frogs

Sometimes it doesn’t happen as we plan! Then? Then it is very good as His will is there in it. This also you’ve experienced (refer to the comments section for when you did Reiki and they didn’t get fulfilled). They turned out even better! So why worry in such cases!

Both ways, only what is ‘right and good’ for you, happens. Learn from your past experiences. Build your trust on them, work on that frog called ‘fear’ and remove it. Also remove the ‘frog’ of ‘ignorance’. Your ‘mind pond’ is silent. You experience happiness, peace and satisfaction!

Ignorance

The seed of every fear of yours is ‘ignorance’. So, remove ignorance. Develop clarity of thought. Shift the way you ask questions and apply those answers. To remove them is very easy. Just remove. But when you see them for ‘only two’, you think it is ok. You let them stay. After all, they are just two cute frogs. And then, suddenly, their sounds become deafening!

What's in for us in holding on to ignorance?

Who helps the man in removing those two frogs? 

ONLY ONE LAD! - The man goes to all and sundry seeking guidance and redemption from his pain and suffering. He goes from one master to another seeking happiness, peace and contentment. And all it takes is ONLY ONE MASTER who removes both his frogs from his self. And it is symbolically told or shown as ONE LAD here in this story. 

Master is one who is telling you that all the problem is caused by only these two frogs within - fear and ignorance. He KNOWS  it and is showing you various ways to free yourself of it and yet.......

So beware and be alert of these ‘two frogs’ – fear and ignorance!

The same explanation should be applied for health issues, financial, social and global issues too! Our hell and heaven are created by these two frogs only! Remove them. 

Our choices are made because of and by these two frogs only! Remove them and your perception changes! Your clarity of thought develops! 

These two frogs are also the basis of our ‘dharma’ and principles. Do away with them! 

The activity of these two frogs results in the generation of our desires. Throw them away! Then the desires lose their power to hurt you. Then like Krishna, Gandhi, Ratan Tata, your desire will set you free, not bind you! Remove these two frogs and like Rama you can have your intention manifest with a single thought! 

Think about it!

Concluded.........

(For all your future reference :I am encapsulating the same again in one go.........also read the other stories this way. You'll see the depth of the same story differently. Every character, scene can be deciphered. It's like you are pealing layer after layer to get the meaning out of it.......and I haven't completely explained this story.......there is more to it......keep peeling it and savouring the taste of understanding layer by layer......)

# trust, ego, pain and suffering, attachments, we are what we read, ignorance, fear, divisiveness, upanishads, oneness, whole, abundance, happiness, divinity, selfishness, cause of pain and suffering,  

also reads suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=greatness

Homework : Now take one story from the previous posts and understand it this way! And come back with your understanding. Let's pool our understanding to get a larger understanding. Lets move from lower understanding to higher understanding together......

Questions addressed : 

• Why after doing reiki for so long also I am not happy?
• How long should I heal myself?
• "I didn't understand this story. Please explain" 

Points stressed :

• "I am fed up of healing. I want to stop healing" - good know the reason and do so!
• Heal now or later. Choice is yours. No questions asked. No punishment given. Never judged by anyone. 
• The punishment given is by self to self by our acts and choices. You take decisions and you alone bear the consequences of your decisions.
• Good or bad - we are reapers of our choices and destiny. Our karma is ours to bear!
• God, Master, Universe, Life can only give you opportunities and techniques to better your perceptions and ability to deal with life. They can't do it for you!

On pain and suffering – Frog in the well Story

On pain and suffering – Frog in the well Story

Contd....

But people who live only among their select group of people end up demeaning, belittling, insulting and judging anyone and everyone who  doesn’t fit into their limited circle of ‘likes and dislikes’. Such people are more in number and hence come under the delusion that ‘they are right’. Unfortunately, they don’t know the maxims “The mass always goes by ‘mob thinking’ but the leader thinks his own”.

“The mass takes up all that is pleasant and convenient for them and then blow their own trumpets declaring self as the custodians of tradition”.

“The mass changes its values and principles based on their convenience and being stupid enough to presume that no one remembers their previously said words or acts go on declaring their present code of conduct as the yardstick of measurement of others character.  (cat drinking milk)

The wise/leader reflects on his words and acts and understands the scope of widening the perspective and hence changes his values and principles. Because he is aware of the fact that opinions, beliefs and traditions/rituals are subject to change based on circumstances, doesn’t judge others for the same. He doesn’t sit to gossip on others’ way of life and code of conduct. He lives and lets others live their life. But the mass or the lower cadre in the ladder of spirituality only exist to malign others, mad mouth, judge, gossip and condemn others. “But thousand dogs barking don’t make an elephant evil”. Alas! If only they understand. But then how can they? They are maggots living in the stagnant pool of their minds breading only filth of emotions, ideas, beliefs, opinions reflecting their or rather their lack of character.

contd.....

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=cat+drinking+milk

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=i+am+what+i+read

On pain and suffering – Frog in the well Story

On pain and suffering – Frog in the well Story

If I am living with a physical ailment, it is good as the karma has ripened and I know through my suffering that I am inflicted and at least to relieve myself from the cause of suffering, I would search for cure and heal it (as a reiki channel) or live with it (in incurable) with grace and the aid of reiki knowing it to be the result of my karma. I am finally emptied of my karma. 

Same is the case when I am facing financial problem, relationship issues or any other issues. They show me the fact that “I am diseased” and hence I would work to cure it but ONLY and only with regards to attitudes, the person is ignorant of his disease and in fact works towards worsening it and causing and creating acts to help this ignorance perpetuate. And we thought “Why are this people not receiving their karma inspite of being so mean?”

God has his ways of punishing people.

Once, a pastor of church was swept by temptation to play golf instead of giving the sermon at church. Flesh being stronger than spirit at that moment, he lied that he was running temperature and asked to be relieved of his duties that Sunday and later went ahead to play golf. There, the entire day he hit perfect shots and he had great day Angels were confused and asked God “How come instead of punishing him for his lied and forgiving his duty you are gifting him perfect day with perfect shots?”

The God smiled and replied “True! But with  whom can he share about this perfect day and shots?”

Dear fun spoilers don’t sit to JUDGE God’s character here! Don’t look at Him. Look at justice as that is our prime concern. Not everytime the justice is meted with punishment dipped in pain, sometimes a blessing too can come as our punishment or in other words “Our karma/ punishment reaches us through our blessing to!”. Look at people with such attitudes! How they create their own hell with their attitudes! They don’t need us to curse them for what they do to us. They are curse unto themselves!

Now you decide which suffering you want to live with?

How and where would you apply this in your life? Which side of suffering are you in?

Which is better – to be the receiver or giver of pain and why?

Were there instances where you shifted from being the giver to receiver of pain and vice-versa?

Has pain in your life stubbed or accelerated or aided your growth and how and in what circumstances?

concluded.....

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=doer

Me, My Guru – A stinking frog!

Me, My Guru – A stinking frog!

And then someone added “I think it also applied to life’s opportunities. River is the opportunity and we are not using them and stinking in our limited spaces and situations. And we are angry at others that they are lucky, successful and angry!”

“It could also mean we are happy in our mundane life and its pains and sufferings when the sea of joy viz. God or self awareness is just there at our reach and we put the blame of suffering on to fate etc.”

“Dirty pool could also mean our minds and river clarity and purity of thought…”

Whether we associated dirty pond with people, our mind or life situations it didn’t matter. What we compared river with also didn’t matter. Only thing that mattered was we were sure to miss the chance to let go off all that caused ‘stink’ in our life inspite of opportunities called ‘river’ in our life by putting the blame on to ‘river’ – that which was other than us, that which was helping us to clean ourselves, that which was our life saver and project our anger on to it and use it to miss out on a opportunity to ‘smell’ good.

I laughed at my own understanding. It sounded stupid yet true! That was our mode of operation which also reflected how and why we made choices that we made which in turn put us where we were – the right place to ‘stink’  and suffer.

contd.....

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=me%2C+my+guru+-+on+giving+and+receiving+-+giver+and+receiver

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