Me, My Guru – Indra and I

 Contd.....

Me, My Guru – Indra and I 

Weather had become strange of late! It was raining heavily and the wind blew away almost everything. One night Manda’s fields were totally destroyed in the storm that blew the night before. His mansion collapsed. His children and wife died. His cattle either died or ran away hither-thither. Everything he had worked for was lost. Falling on the ground Manda cursed Lord Indra for being cause of his misery. He went around the village stating that the Indra caused havoc in his life and so doesn’t deserve ‘fire offering’ (homam). Villagers found his argument right. Lord Indra was the Lord of rains and caused thunder and storm too! So, he was responsible for all this havoc* logically speaking. This seemed right!

*(havoc – using right data to arrive at wrong conclusion is the work of mind that is disturbed by desires, ego and emotions)

Few days passed. No ‘fire offering’ for Lord Indra in that village.

Now Lord Indra found this disturbing. So, he took a guise of an old Brahmin and met our dear Manda. He asked “What happened here? Why are you crying?”

Manda replied “I had a huge mansion with wife and children. I was a rich man. I had lots of cattle. And yet now both my riches and my life is in ruins”.

Brahmin asked “Pray tell me, who gave you cattle”

“Why me of course!” replied Manda with pride “I worked hard to earn it”.

“Oh I see!” replied Brahmin. “Then who gave you land and riches”

“Well I worked hard to get them” replied Manda proudly.

“And wife and children – who sent them into your life?” asked Brahmin with a grin in his eyes. 

“I sought them out myself!” replied Manda pompously.

“Then what caused this misery in your life? Who took away everything?” asked Brahmin.

“Lord Indra of course!” replied Manda angrily.

“How can Lord Indra who was not there to give you anything take away any of these?” asked Brahmin laughing.

Now our Manda was a student – a good one too (in studies) who had learned and studied Upanishads and other great texts under his Guru. So, he didn’t argue senselessly. He didn’t need lengthy explanations. One question was enough to make him realize where and how his line of thought was going wrong. He immediately fell on Brahmin’s feet and said “Dear sir, you have opened my eyes. You shook my ignorance that came because of my ego and arrogance in me! You can’t be a normal mortal! Please show me your real self!” 

Contd.....

# right and wrong, dharma, freedom, purpose of life, challenges of life, body spirit balance, ignorance, illusion, maya, Guru, role of Guru, boon, curse, desires, karma, ego, blessing, material benefits vs real wealth, abundance, 

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=burning+hut 

Read the above link to understand the following points/questions : (and share others which you have understood) 

Why does it seem like it is the end of the world or life moment?

What comes after the worst period of life?

Even after doing sadhan/reiki/believing God, how come things went for a toss in my life?

Why does a break down situation happen?

To bring more abundance in life, it is needed by life to burn down all that we have now for good.

(All this applies only if the person is in regular sadhan....and has worked on changing his attitude for better..)

Me, My Guru – Indra and I

 

Contd.....

Me, My Guru – Indra and I 

Now our Manda was a student – a good one too (in studies) who had learned and studied Upanishads and other great texts under his Guru. So, he didn’t argue senselessly. He didn’t need lengthy explanations. One question was enough to make him realize where and how his line of thought was going wrong. He immediately fell on Brahmin’s feet and said “Dear sir, you have opened my eyes. You shook my ignorance that came because of my ego and arrogance in me! You can’t be a normal mortal! Please show me your real self!”

Brahmin immediately regained his original luminous form and said “Son, get up. I am Lord Indra – the one you’ve been accusing of having caused wreak in your life. Now, with your senses regained, I am pleased with you. Ask for a boon!”

Manda immediately replied even without waiting for a second “Let my Guru come back to me and may he be relieved of the pain that I have inflicted on him by my actions and words! May he forgive me and accept me as his student again!”

Lord Indra was much pleased with Manda and blessed him so. Next moment, his Guru stood smiling in front of him. Manda knew he was forgiven with one look on his Guru’s face. And yet he fell on his Guru’s feet out of shame, regret and remorse. His Guru lifted him up lovingly and said “When given a boon, you sought my forgiveness instead of your family and material possessions that you lost. I am much pleased. Here, I bring back your family and all in your life – once again!”

Manda fell at his Guru’s feet out of realization of his guru’s love. He led a life worthy of his Guru’s expectations and made his Guru proud in all the years to come!” so saying our Guru concluded the story.

It was time for break. She had some personal work to attend to. And we needed the ‘break’ for introspection. So many questions came up as we discussed the story among ourselves. And out of the brain storming came our understanding that we put in front of her when she came back.

“Fool is one who seeks material comforts, possessions as a boon!”

Contd.....

# right and wrong, dharma, freedom, purpose of life, challenges of life, body spirit balance, ignorance, illusion, maya, Guru, role of Guru, boon, curse, desires, karma, ego, blessing, material benefits vs real wealth, abundance, 

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

Pointers in this story :

“When given a boon, you sought my forgiveness instead of your family and material possessions that you lost. I am much pleased. Here, I bring back your family and all in your life – once again!” - Here it is not be understood as God/Guru are egoists who want to be flattered to get your job down. They are not desperate for our praises. Then what does this line mean? Every choice we make will give us our results. Manda could also have chosen his family and his possessions. Indra would still have given him that. That way also he would have got back what he lost. This is the way a 'mind that is selfish' thinks and acts! He may get it but would lose it eventually and end up being left with nothing again - one way or the other. Not because his Guru/God would curse him for choosing materials over them, but it is the nature of the 'things of this world' to be gone from life. Everything comes with expiry date.

Then what to do? Ask for the highest - be it your Guru's grace/love/blessing or God's bhakthi/grace/companionship. Then with that you would also receive the things of this world (which would also go away after their time) but you would still be left with the Guru/God by your side. 

Is this point clear or confusing?

Me, My Guru – Indra and I

 

Me, My Guru – Indra and I 

For many days, nay years she had been telling of ‘karma’. We seemed to understand it. We hated that topic. Yet, it fascinated us sometimes. And on other times, it just seemed repetitive. And yet, after all these years we still hadn’t got to understand what karma exactly meant or how to avoid it in real time! Hence, we sincerely sat through her lecture hating it for being repetitive (on this subject) and thinking it had nothing to do to the fulfillment of our desire.

I don’t know if she knew our thoughts in this topic. And yet here was one more day allocated by her to this never ending subject and presumably favourite of hers – karma today!

Our Guru started her explanation today with her story today – like most of the days “In the days of yore lived a Guru with his Shishya in the outskirts of a village. He taught the Shishya for 15 whole years. That was the custom in those days. A boy around age 6-8yrs would be sent to stay with a Guru to learn that he needed to learn. He would stay at his Guru’s place, doing mundane daily chores of the ashram. His routine chore would be fixed. Every student would be assigned some routine of the ashram which each would complete before coming and sitting down to learn from the Guru.

A Shishya would be sincere then unlike now-a-days. They would do their chores like sweeping, cleaning, gardening, tending cattle, getting and filling water, plucking flowers and the regular routine chores. They would do all these chores happily and with love and respect for their Guru.

In return they were fed and taught by their Guru. 

Contd.....

# My, my Guru, Indra and I, purpose of life, right and wrong, on following orders, on breaking rules, 

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=aruni to understand the right qualities that a student is 'supposed' to have. These are 'essential qualities' not 'optional qualities'. See how a student has these qualities he becomes already eligible for Guru's love and thereby his Grace.

Story Markers : 

• We hated that topic. Yet, it fascinated us sometimes. And on other times, it just seemed repetitive. And yet, after all these years we still hadn’t got to understand what karma exactly meant or how to avoid it in real time! - Look at the pitiful state of affairs here. It is clearly said "..we haven't understood in ......in real time" and yet they say they find it repetitive. They say we hated that topic. Look at this para again. What does it tell about us? Inspite of not having understood something we can hate it. There is no desire in us to know it especially one that is basis of all our destiny, pain and suffering, desire and what not! It is basis for what we get and don't get. It is the reason we experience what we do. And yet, we are good crying about someone. We are comfortable going to all and sundry asking for blessing but not patient enough to know the 'Law' and stop making the mistakes that is causing trouble in our lives!? Why? Think about it! 
• I don’t know if she knew our thoughts in this topic. And yet here was one more day allocated by her to this never ending subject and presumably favourite of hers – karma today! - Look at the Guru on the other hand patiently talking and teaching the same topic again and again in various ways for the student to get it. And yet, the student in all his haughtiness is angry with her for not 'answering his question' or addressing his issue?! 

Points to be understood :

• Guru explains and waits for student to understand the basics till he can move on to other topics. He is not credited for the same too many times. That is love!
• Being unable to see through this act of Guru and living life being irritated with, angry with Guru is Student. He is ever crying finding excuses out of thin air. To complain, cry and seek attention is what a student does. But that is not his right! He is not being 'right' when he does it as and when he does that!

Homework :

Sit in meditation and seek some answers. Ask -

"What does Guru mean to me?"

"What do I expect from my Guru?"

"What has my Guru done to me till now?"

Me, My Guru – Indra and I

Contd.....

Me, My Guru – Indra and I

One who is lost in penance with one pointed mind and complete enthusiasm can win over even death - Saint Thiruvalluvar.

Shishya called ‘Manda’ was 25yrs old when Guru had a strong urge to do penance in Himalayas. Asking Manda to come near him, he repeated and revised all that was taught to him. He said “Son, my destiny calls me to go to Himalayas for at least 10yrs and meditate there. I am leaving you with all this know-how. Work with the techniques till I come back and become eligible enough for me to give you higher knowledge. Here take an extra ‘dhoti and angavastram’ for you. Stay simple and be in meditation all through the day. Work on your mind and learn to control it. Go to village only once in a day for bhiksha*. Putting everything aside, work on your mind”.

So saying, with heavy heart he left his student. Manda kept looking at his Guru till his form crossed the distant farms and then returned to his hut to resume his life. He would get up at 3am, as was his routine, attend to his personal duties, go to river to bathe and sit in meditation after doing homam. As the sun shone above the head, he would go to the village, seek alms, come to the ashram, eat it, take rest and then meditate till late in the evening. As the sun set, after few hours he would go to bed.

This was the routine. Few days passed. 

One day, he took dhoti (cloth used to cover the body) that he had washed and kept for next day’s use on the mat. He was surprised to see that it was bitten by rat and the holes were so many that it made that dhoti ‘un-wearable’ to him. He had only one spare dhoti and even that was bitten by the rat. Not knowing what to do, he went to village and asked for a dhoti. One of the villagers gave him but said “Sir, I’ll give you this. But the rat is sure to bite this too. This way you’ll receive dhoti by us but lose it to that rat soon. Instead do something about the rat first”. 

Contd.....

(*bhiksha – alms received by Brahmins from the village they stayed in. this way, the Brahmin caste would be able to devote all their time and energy in pursuit of spiritual knowledge. This way the group of Brahmin would be rich in spiritual strength and that would be passed on to the next generation who would come to them as students)

# My, my Guru, Indra and I, purpose of life, right and wrong, on following orders, on breaking rules, 

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=buddha+alms to understand how 'ONLY WHEN WE take what other gives" do we suffer. The other person can give anything. We can condition and expect him to give ONLY blessing, love, respect, affection, material comforts and benefits BUT he can choose to give anything away from any of our expectations. It is our CHOICE as to what we choose to take when given. WE NEED NOT TAKE EVERYTHING GIVEN BY THE OTHER. WE HAVE A CHOICE TO REJECT. There in lies our clarity of thought. There in lies our freedom. There in lies our power. 

Self healing tip : 

How to avoid disappointing Guru or for that matter anyone in particular?

We get angry at others for following reasons:

When we expect something from them

They don't fill our expectations and conditions

The 'Dharma' to be followed in any relationship is instead of looking at 'what is in it for me' to 'how can I contribute in this relationship?'

Homework : 

Meditate. Look within and search for any one relationship where you think on the grounds of 'giving' instead of benefiting or receiving. Are you not happy in that relationship?

Now, apply the same principle in every other relationship in your life. Start with the one where you have maximum complaints and you think is the cause of misery in your life.

Me, My Guru – Virochana and Indra

 

 Contd.....

Me, My Guru – Virochana and Indra

He respected his Guru’s discretion in teaching. He didn’t see it as wrong and called it as his Guru trying to withhold Knowledge at every step. He didn’t blame his Guru as being egoistic, manipulative and demanding with his students. His humility (real one, not the pretended humility as many) was the essential quality that made him eligible to come for the next level of learning.

Indra had gratitude. Respect is imperative in gratitude. Loose talking and then covering it with statements like “Oh, did I say so, I don’t remember” or “I didn’t mean to insult you but, maybe because I don’t know how to express right or I am not as good as you in giving justifications, maybe it came out wrong. But, I know I was not wrong, but still forgive me if you think I am wrong because I don’t want your anger to stop me from having my desire fulfilled”.

Such talks and mentality reveal the person’s level of consciousness – that of body conscious and so asuric in nature. It reflects Virochana’s belief that things in this world mean everything. Such people want instant gratification of their desires. And when there is a delay, it is expressed as anger. They feel entitled to receive the fulfillment of their desires.

Indra worked to know the “self”. He was ready to wait ‘to learn about Self” which was desire. To work for, to wait for the fulfillment of one’s desire, to sacrifice, time, joys and pleasures of one’s life is an essential quality of Daivic nature.

In contrast, Virochana was not only pleased with the answer but also went to taint others with his limited and crooked understanding. The entire tribe lived with that ‘limited understanding’ and suffered the pangs of greed, selfishness, jealousy, lust, impatience and arrogance. People who want to become masters at the earliest leading others with ignorance come under this category.

Like a fly that gets attracted to the lamp to meet its end, students whose karma is destined towards their annihilation get attracted towards such masters. https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2019/01/on-dependence.html

Contd.....

# me, my guru stories, Indra and Virochana, asura and deva, asuric nature, daivic nature, karma, illusion, ego, body consciousness and soul consciousness, reality, The Truth, maya, meditation, knowing self, Self, Ultimate knowledge, awareness, mindfulness, 

read related posts https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2022/11/me-my-guru-on-including-sadhan-in-daily.html 

Pointers to understand this post:

" He didn’t blame his Guru as being egoistic, manipulative and demanding with his students. His humility (real one, not the pretended humility as many) was the essential quality that made him eligible to come for the next level of learning. " - How can you learn right and in full if you have complaints and anger for the person from whom you need to learn?

If you think any person is jealous of you and is stopping your growth, trust me, leave that person!

If you are right, he is not someone who can benefit you!

If it is your assumption based on your jealousy and anger, then you will not be able to learn anything from him!

Either way, you will not learn from him! 

Go elsewhere to learn!!!

The essential quality to learn and grow spiritually is trust in your master/Guru and belief he has your best interest in mind!

" Indra had gratitude. Respect is imperative in gratitude. Loose talking and then covering it with statements like ..." - RESPECT is the basis of gratitude. Talking loosely about the other's intention both in person or behind him states that we don't have belief in him and we don't respect him. There gratitude is just a word!

" Indra worked to know the “self”. He was ready to wait ‘to learn about Self” which was desire. To work for, to wait for the fulfillment of one’s desire, to sacrifice, time, joys and pleasures of one’s life is an essential quality of Daivic nature. " -  Guru knows more than you!

If the Guru thinks you don't deserve something NOW, then you need to accept that!

Wait and be in sadhan!

If and when you become eligible, your Guru will give what you deserve, not when you demand it!

" In contrast, Virochana was not only pleased with the answer but also went to taint others with his limited and crooked understanding. The entire tribe lived with that ‘limited understanding’ and suffered the pangs of greed, selfishness, jealousy, lust, impatience and arrogance. " - Spirituality has become the most 'becoming commodity' in this yuga!

Thanks to Kali, every person charades as a Guru!

Everyone wants to be a Guru!

Everyone wants respect that comes with being Guru!

And therein lies the cause of their 'soul's downfall'. Don't fall for it! Beware of it!

Guru or master is one who bears the fruits (in exponential way) of the wrongs committed by his students too, not to talk about his own flaws and wrongs!

Any wrong that he teaches falls into his 'karma account'. Be aware of that!

This is no jaywalk!

This is not the path for everyone!

Work on self only till the right time comes!

Don't burden yourself with extra baggage of this karma too!

Me, My Guru – Indra and I

 Contd.....

Me, My Guru – Indra and I

Manda took dhoti from him but the villager’s words made a mark on his psyche. What could he do to protect his dhoti? This thought kept him busy for couple of days. One day on his way back from river, he saw a kitten. He immediately saw the solution to his problem. He took the kitten home and was totally relaxed now. Within couple of hrs, the cat started crying out loud for food. Manda out of affection for it went into the village seeking milk for it. He gave the milk thus collected to it. for the sake of milk, he ended up going more than once (which he would go for himself) into the village.

Seeing his plight, the villagers took pity on him and gifted him a cow. This way, he could get milk for himself and the cat and there was ‘no waste of time’ of his in search of food for himself and his cat.

In just few days, he developed affection towards the cow. He felt bad that it was sitting under the tree all day long. He decided to build a shed for it. he went into village seeking wood for the same. Knowing it to be a difficult task to do on his own, few villagers pitched in. in few days, they built a good shed for his cow. It was on one of those days that one of them suggested that he also grow some grass for the cow to graze. Suggestion being genuine, it was taken and implemented by our dear Manda.

Manda started tending the grass, cattle and the cat. He soon found that the milk was much excess than his requirement. He started giving it away and people started paying for the same. 

Contd.....

# My, my Guru, Indra and I, purpose of life, right and wrong, on following orders, on breaking rules, 

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=Goddess+Lakshmi+and+Lord+Narayana to understand the connection between earning material riches and being wealthy. Also understand how our attitudes and character make a difference in us being rich or wealthy....

Points to understand :

Why should I work for things that I don't need?

I have all that need already in my life. Why do I want more?

Why am I going behind my wants?

Does fulfilling my wants fulfill me completely? Can I be so sure of it?

THink about it! Meditate. Take time to look within. Face yourself honestly and be free of your clutter. Be free of your fears. Be free and enjoy the bliss that is rightfully yours.

Purpose of Rama's birth

…contd….

I hope you have written down the answer. Your honest answers should’ve included –

I work because –

·         I am supposed to

·         I want money

·         I want recognition

·         It gives me status and respectability

·         It betters my image in others’ eyes

·         It gives me a sense of achievement

·         It increases my self-esteem

·         It gives my life a purpose

·         It boosts my self-confidence

The following answers would be rare but also possible –

·         I want to share my know-how with others

·         I love to work

·         I want to express myself through my work

There can be few other reasons too which I could have missed. When ordinary going to office has so many reasons – more than one major reason then for His Act – do you think there’ll be only one major reason? We can deduct few of the reasons to know His Grace and to benefit out of it.

Let’s go through the characters you mentioned….

Jaya and Vijaya were cursed at the start of creation and hence their first birth in Satyauga as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashyap. Their three births spanned in three yugas that is very long time. Because period of satyayuga – 17,28,000 years, Thretayuga-12,96,000 years, Dwaparayuga-8,64,000. So, the curse was lifted in approximately 38,88,000 years. Certainly not short span of time. So, you see every wish gets fulfilled – when though is the question! For it to fructify so many factors should be conducive. Yes it applies to each of our desire/wish too!

Ahalya - beauty without a blemish - beauty personified

Ahalya was created by Lord Brahma from all the elements of beauty and she was beauty personified. Ahalya in Sanskrit means a+halya means one who is without blemish. Her beauty became her curse and Indra fancied her and stalked her. There are different versions to this story though. So, I’ll keep it straight for our purpose. One night Indra roasted like cock and Sage Gautama, Ahalya’s husband thinking it to be early morning left for river and Indra in his guise returned to enjoy conjugal bliss with Ahalya. When sage Gauthama came and realized as to what has happened, he cursed both Indra and Ahalya.

 Ahalya and fake Gauthama (Indra in disguise) cursed by Sage Gauthama

When Ahalya sought his forgiveness, his anger having come down he shows a way to get redeemed of her cursed. He says when Lord Rama forgives her and blesses her with his touch, he being Sri Vishnu Himself, her curse would be lifted and she would become woman once again but till then she has to remain a stone. 

 

Ahalya redeemed of her curse when Lord Rama visits the Ashram

Mother Ahalya agreed to this and started her penance and it took sixty thousand years for that day to come – the day Lord Rama came to visit Sage Gautama’s Ashram and redeem her of her curse.

Sabari was actually old woman but an accomplished Siddha as referred to by other sages who asked Rama to visit her. She had served many rishis with lots of dedication and they pleased with her ‘seva’ (service) taught her various techniques of penance. All these rishis before to ‘siddha lok’ (Siddhas don’t die a natural death. They through a special technique ascent to a special world in their astral body and continue their penance there) blessed her saying “do penance and develop purity and your penance will bear its fruits when Sri Rama would come to pay visit to you.” And Lord Rama did come to visit her from ‘Panchavati’. They had told her that he and his brother Lakshmana would come to visit her and they did accordingly.

Mother Sabari serving Lord Rama and Lakshmana

What do we get to know from these 3 cases?

...contd....