As Paramhansa Yogananda says, “The world is full of sugar and salt. Be like the wise ant and take the sugar and leave the salt.”
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The Swamis and the Mysterious Light
By Remez Sasson
A long time ago, there were two swamis (monks), who lived in two neighboring caves.
The Swamis spent most of their time in deep meditation, except the time they ate or were visited by devotees.
The people who came to visit them revered the two swamis, and loved listening to their teachings and advice. They always felt peaceful and happy when near them, a feeling that continued, even after they went away.
One cave was dark, as caves usually are, but in the other one, sometimes, there was a peculiar golden light illuminating the cave. It was not strong, but enough to be noticed and to mildly illuminate the cave.
The phenomenon of the light bewildered the visitors, but they could not come to an agreement about its causes. Both swamis were rather silent most of the time, and did not want to discuss the phenomenon of the light.
Being in the company of the swamis aroused calmness and peace in the visitors. Their minds slowed their nonstop chatter, and they experienced a pleasant inner peace and happiness.
Though the visitors admired both swamis, they believed that the one living in the illuminated cave possessed supernatural powers and was more advanced. He certainly appeared to them as a mysterious person.
One day, a great and well-known sage arrived to a nearby village. One of the villagers came to him and said:
“Great master, we have a question to ask. There is a mystery which you might solve for us.”
“I will be glad to help you, if I can.” Answered the sage.
“There are two swamis living here on the hill…”, the villager started to recount.
“Yes, I know.” Answered the sage, “and you inquire about the light in the cave.”
“Yes, that is true. It is something that has been a riddle for us. Can you please tell us also, if the swami in the lighted cave is more advanced, and if he really possess supernatural powers?”
“Pay attention to your inner self and not to outer phenomena. The outside world always changes, but the inner self does not. When in the presence of a teacher, listen to what he says and be aware of the influence of his words on you. Watch yourself, and see whether under his influence you become calmer and more peaceful, and whether your thoughts, at least for a while, slow down their mad race.”
“Yes, I’ll do so,” said the villager, “but please enlightens us on the mysterious light.”
The sage sat down, and started to explain:
“Sometimes, when one works intensively on the spiritual path, and concentrates and meditates a lot, various phenomena may occur around him, such as lights, sounds or visions. This is not supernatural. The mind has a creative power, and when concentrated, can produce various phenomena even unintentionally.”
“It does not mean that one is more advanced than the other. Not all minds produce these things. Some do, and some don’t.”
“Some of the people who produce these lights may be aware of the light, and some may not. It depends on their psychic sensitivity. So it is also with the people who watch them. Not all see this light. In any case, it has nothing to do with whether one swami is more advanced or less advanced than the other one.”
“Thank you great master, you have solved us this great mystery.” Exclaimed the devotees of the swamis, who were standing by, deeply relieved and happy to understand the mystery that has been bewildering them for a long time.
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Being mad about the past and holding grudges for people’s past actions is a complete waste of time. What isn’t a waste of time is forgiving people and moving forward in life without harboring negative energy.
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Raikva – The Cart Driver
From Chandogya Upanishad, 4. 1-2
Long ago there lived a king called Janashruti. He was knowledgeable, pious, charitable, and he cooked food for all in his kingdom. He believed that he was the greatest patron and that there was no one else like him. He used to measure his merit by the amount of gifts and money he distributed. He had also mastered the languages of birds and beasts.
One night he lay in the upper storey of his palace, enjoying the beauty of the evening twilight. He observed two swans flying past, all the time conversing with each other. One of them said, “Don’t you see the bright band of light that proceeds from the King Janashruti? Beware lest you cross the flaming light of his fame and get yourself burnt. You must know that today there is none as famous as he for abundant charities.” Swift came a reaction from the other swan. “Goodness gracious! You speak as if this Janashruti was greater than Raikva the cart-puller! The king is but mad after name and fame. It is these that drive him to action. With all his charities he is ever restless. He hankers after praise.” The first swan was taken aback and asked: “Who is this Raikva who is just a cart puller yet is greater than the great Janashruti?”
Thus the king overheard the two swans as they flew out of sight and night closed in on the city. But the king was restless. Raikva’s name began to haunt him. “I must find this man little known to fame but one who is at peace with himself and with the world,” he said with determination.
The king Janashruti then dispatched a servant to find the great-soul. It was not an easy task, but with lot of difficulty the servant found Raikva who sat scratching himself under a cart. The servant asked him whether he was Raikva. “Yes, I am,” was the quiet and dignified reply. The servant went back to the palace and reported to Janashruti.
Janashruti made elaborate preparations and went to Raikva with six hundred cows, a chain of gold and a mule-driven carriage. He offered them all at the feet of Raikva and said, “Sir, be pleased to accept all this and teach me spiritual knowledge.” Raikva’s snapped back, “Take back the chain and the carriage and the cows! Knowledge of the Self is not for sale!” Janashruti went back and returned after a while, this time with a thousand cows, a chain of gold, a mule-driven carriage and his own daughter to be offered as wife. He offered all this and prayed that he may be taught the higher truths of existence. Raikva was not moved by the gifts. But he was moved by Janashruti’s persistence and sincerity. One who has these two virtues is eminently suited to be a perfect disciple.
Raikva said, “In this creation there are many elements which are worshipped as gods. There is the wind that sweeps everything. The fire burns up whatever comes in contact with it. There is also the vital breath which activates a living being. But all these are moved by the Spirit within. This Spirit is not created by anyone. It exists by itself. And yet it creates and sustains the creation. Thus the entire creation is a complex instrument that is carrying out its work at the behest of the Spirit.”
“O king! Have neither pride nor vanity for the charities that you dispense. Go thou, great king, to thy palace. Give but not with pride. Give generously but not with egotism. Give freely but not with an eye to fame. Give but not as something that is yours, but as something given to you by the Spirit for giving to others. He who sees this truth becomes a seer and to him nothing is wanting and he becomes the enjoyer of things.”
The king was extremely satisfied with these words of wisdom that came from Raikva. While departing he gave a thousand milch cattle, numerous gold coins and chariots, and his own daughter in marriage to Raikva. All these Raikva did not reject this time.
Thenceforth, the village came to be known as Raikvaparna, named after the philosopher of the cart.
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FIVE WISE MEN
Five wise men got lost in the forest.
The first one said:
– I will go the left – my intuition tells me that.
The second one said:
– I will go the right – because “the right” comes from the word “rightness”.
The third one said:
– I will go back – we came from there, it means I will go out from the forest.
The fourth one said:
– I will go straight – we should move forward, the forest will end and something new will open.
The fifth said:
– You are all wrong. There is a better solution. Wait for me.
He found the tallest tree and climbed into it. While he was climbing everyone else scattered towards their own sides. From above he saw where they should go to leave the forest faster. Now he could even see in what order the other wise men will reach the end of the forest. He climbed higher and saw the shortest way. He understood the problem and found the best solution! He knew that he did everything right. And the others were wrong. They were stubborn and they didn’t listen to him. He was the real Wise Man!
But he was wrong.
Everyone was right. The one who went to the left, found himself in the thicket. He had to starve and fight with wild animals. But he learned how to survive in the forest; he became a part of the forest and could teach others the same.
The one, who went to the right, met thieves. They took everything from him and made him steal with them. But after some time, he had woken up something in those thieves that they have forgotten – humanity and compassion. The remorse was so strong in some of them, that after his death they also became the wise men.
The one, who went back, made a pathway through the forest, which soon became a road for those who wanted to walk in the forest without being afraid of getting lost.
The one, who went straight, became a pioneer. He visited the places where no one else was and opened wonderful new possibilities for people, amazing healing plants and magnificent animals.
The one, who climbed into the tree, became a specialist of finding short ways. People turned to him when they wanted to find the fastest way to deal with their problems, even if it didn’t lead to any development.
This is how the five wise men reached their destiny. 
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A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.
The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.
When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.
Moral : There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. So be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.
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Clever kids:
A police officer found a perfect hiding place for watching for speeding motorists.
One day, the officer was amazed when everyone was under the speed limit, so he investigated and found the problem.
A 10 years old boy was standing on the side of the road with a huge hand-painted sign which said: “Radar Trap Ahead.”
A little more investigative work led the officer to the boy’s accomplice: another boy about 100 yards beyond the radar trap with a sign reading “TIPS” and a bucket at his feet full of change.
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“Anyone who imagines that all fruits ripen at the same time as the strawberries knows nothing about grapes.” -Paracelsus
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Carl Jung/Quotes
Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.
Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.
Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol, morphine or idealism.
Where love rules, there is no will to power, and where power predominates, love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other.
Thinking is difficult, that’s why most people judge.
Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word ‘happy’ would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.
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