Re Faith : Here is one ,Till u post

[Guest guest]

This reminds me of a story narrated by

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. <br>There was a sishya (student) who

came to a revered Guru (teacher) to learn the Vedas

etc, and to finally attain Liberation (Moksha).<br>One

day the Guruji told the shishya that God pervades

everything. God is everything. Everything that you see around

you are different manifestations of God.<br><br>After

learning from the guru, the sishya was walking down the

road. A mad elephant suddenly turned into the same road

that the sishya was walking. People on the road

started running away from the elephant. But the sishya

didn't run away, thinking to himself, "This elephant is

also God. Hence He cannot harm me. Hence, I will not

run away from him."<br><br>But the mahut (elephant

keeper) shouted at the sishya to run away. But the sishya

with revered hands just stood where he was, and din't

bother to run away. The elephant was approaching nearer,

and the mahut was screaming at the sishya to run

away. But the sishya still said to himself, "This

elephant-God will not harm me." and didn't run away. The

elephant then came near him, and with its trunk carried

him and threw him away. He sustained many injuries.

<br><br>The Guruji on hearing this, came to the sishya and

said, "Why dind't you run away from the elephant?". To

this, the sishya replied, "Guruji, it was you who said

that God resides in everything. Then God resides in

that mad elephant too. How can I run away from the

elephant God?"<br><br>The Guruji replied, "Glad you saw

God in everyone. But why didn't you listen to the

mahut-God , who asked you to run

away?".<br><br>------------<br><br>The reason people get into trouble , is b'cos

of

improper understanding. We cannot purposely seek trouble,

and expect God to save us. That is NOT faith. Faith

is loving, and trusting God, inspite of all the

obstacles that we face.

[Guest guest]

<br>Now that we talking abt Shri Ramakrishna's

stories and faith/trust I thought of a story. What I am

writing here is from the English Translation of the

Gospel of Shri RamaKrishna from the Chapter MASTER AND

DISCIPLE<br>-------------<br>Some cowherd boys used to tend their cows in a

meadow

where a terrible poisonous snake lived. Everyone was on

the alert for fear of it. One day a brahmachari was

going along the meadow. The boys ran to him and said:

'Revered sir, please don't go that way. A venomous snake

lives out there.' 'What of it, my good children?' said

the brahmachari. 'I am not afraid of the snake. I

know some mantras.' So saying, he continued on his way

along the meadow. But the cowherd boys, being afraid,

did not accompany him. In the mean time the snake

moved swiftly toward him with upraised hood. As soon as

it came hear, he recited a mantra, and the snake lay

at his feet like an earthworm. The brahmachari said:

'Look here. Why do you go about doing harm? Come, I

will give you a holy word. By repeating it you will

learn to love God. Ultimately you will realize Him and

so get rid of your violent nature.' Saying this, he

taught the snake a holy word and initiated him into

spiritual life. The snake bowed before the teacher and

said, 'Revered sir, how shall I practice spiritual

discipline?' 'Repeat the sacred word,' said the teacher, 'and

do no harm to anybody.' As he was about to depart,

the brahmachari said, 'I shall see you

again.'<br><br>"Some days passed and the cowherd boys noticed that the

snake would not bite. They threw stones at it. Still it

showed no anger; it behaved as if it were an earthworm.

One day one of the boys came close to it, caught it

by the tail and, whirling it round and round, dashed

it again and again to the ground and threw it away.

The snake vomited blood and became unconscious. It

was stunned. It could not move. So, thinking it dead,

the boys went their way.<br><br>"Late at night the

snake regained consciousness. Slowly and with great

difficulty it dragged itself into its hole; its bones were

broken and it could scarcely move. Many days passed. The

snake became a mere skeleton covered with a skin. Now

and then, at night, it would come out in search of

food. For fear of the boys it would not leave its hole

during the day-time. Since receiving the sacred word

from the teacher, it had given up doing harm to

others. It maintained its life on dirt, leaves, or the

fruit that dropped from the trees.

[Guest guest]

Faith is the substance of things hoped for; it is

the substance of things not seen.<br><br>what is not

seen? things like love, peace, joy, all things pure and

honorable and praiseworthy. Things that are to be within

us.(??)<br><br>vicki