Angulimaan, the Saint

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Angulimaan, the Saint

Angulimaan was rebuked by all for his previous act and nature. He didn’t justify himself or his acts. He didn’t hold others responsible for his behaviour. He simply went on with his life.

People would abuse him when he went asking for alms (as that was one of the rules that had to be followed by the Buddhist bhikshu – monk). He did not get angry. He did not fight them. He bore those insults as a way to cleanse himself.

People whose family members were killed by him came in large numbers to kill him and Buddha gave his word to them on his behalf about his changed character. Angulimaan did not run away afraid of the harm that can befall him by those angry people. He was even ready to receive their punishment and went on with his daily routine.

His fellow students weren’t all that cordial on trusting him. Yet, he went on with his healing proceures.

He was facing insults, threats, dislike, hatred, distrust, loneliness and rebukes. He put on with them and kept up with his healing procedures, daily routine and meditation.

Contd….

previous posts worth going through again: https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=ill+treat

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

Few FAQs with Guru

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Few FAQs with Guru

(S – stands for student and G- stands for Guru in this post)

S – How come you don’t answer few questions?

G – I answer all questions? Even ‘not answering’ is an answer. You don’t take it as you don’t want to hear it. You expect me to give the answer that you seek and hence can’t hear my ‘not answering’ as an answer.

S – What does it mean?

G – It depends. Sometime it may mean, question is redundant and doesn’t deserve an answer. Like ‘is it not hot today?’ or ‘Should I not do this?’ Answer is already in the question for first type of question and yet you ask. There you don’t seek an answer as you already know it. You just want to make a sound as you are not comfortable with the silence around you and you wish to make noise.

Every time, while teaching, I would have given the answer as to when to do and how to do any healing. And each answer is given more than once for sure! And yet you ask, not because you don’t remember the answer or don’t know the answer – but because you want to go against what I already told you to do – say ‘don’t heal this way etc’. Why you do is something that you need to understand yourself. They are not questions in any way. They are just your ways of seeking attention. How do you expect me to answer that? Think!

Next some questions are no questions. They are just accusations in the form of questions like “but is not a Guru supposed to give or do? Isn’t it?” What do I answer for that? How do I answer that? It just reflects your demands, character flaw, nature, expectations and what not! So being silent I take your invalid, illogical and ill-based accusations that come in the form of seeking answers or clarifications.

And for very many questions - I don’t lie, and I can’t or shouldn’t tell the truth. So, I keep mum. Thus, the reasons are many for not answering.

S – Don’t you get angry the way students treat you at times? How do you deal with it?  

Contd.....

# Questions and reply, receiver and giver,

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=seeking+answers 

Questions addressed and points to be taken :

• Even 'not answering' is an answer. If you don't like it, the problem is in you, not in the giver.
• What makes the person 'not give an answer' in the first place when the question is posed? Have you thought about it?
• We jump to our emotion of being hurt or getting angry at the person who didn't answer us. But do we look within and check our intention, validity of our question, sense in our question to see where we were wrong in the first place?
• Demands are 'considered' or treated as 'questions'. Demands don't warranty as questions.
• "Should you not be giving it?" though looks like a question is actually a demand put forth. And that demand is considered as an entitlement. We can dream, wish, pray - but all that doesn't entitle us to our wishes. 
• Why sometimes a question is not answered or addressed?
• Beggars cannot be demanding! Isn't it? 
• Those who seek favours can't be in the demanding position. Can they? Think about it!
• If you hate or angry with above two sentences and law then outgrow that stage. Work towards becoming 'less and less dependent' on external things. Work towards freedom from 'desires'. Work towards freedom from suffering!

Me, My Guru

Doctor in the Village

“Once upon a time in a village called Maya Nagari came a Dr. called Premkumar.  He set his clinic and started treating patients.  Patients from far and near came to him for the treatment.  His fame grew and the clinic also expanded to accommodate in-house patients.

The villagers at first though very happy that all the people from the neighbouring villages were coming to get treated in their village, started to become restless after sometime.  Because of the crowd, the villagers income has increased and so had their means of livelihood, eateries, fruit stalls and such were opened outside the clinic.  In short, the villagers benefited economically.  But….

They had restless feeling since sometime.  They felt Dr.was being partial to the outsiders.  They thought maybe, it had to do with the fact that they were richer and could pay well.  The Dr. was money-minded and hence favoured the neighbouring villagers.  They called him names and started being indifferent with him.  They carried their anger and complaints with themselves.  And their anger increased when they saw that the Doctor was not aware of their plight.  They hated him more.

The schoolteacher was a little sensible person in that village.  He felt this unnecessary ill-feeling was going too far and had to be put in check and so went to the Doctor and asked him ‘Dr. Saheb, how come you take other village people as in-patients and treat our villagers as out-patients.  Do you think it is right?’

Doctor Saheb smiled and said......

...contd.......