AMMA SAYS - STORIES & JOKES

[Guest guest]

OM AMRITESWARYAI NAMAH

 

AMMA SAYS - STORY

 

It's not morning yet

 

There was once a man who having lived a completely spiritual life

for many years, became frustrated, thinking that he hadn't had any

real experiences or progress. He had lived for many years in the

Himalayas, practicing strict and rigorous spiritual disciplines. But

now, his mediations and spiritual practices had begun to feel purely

mechanical. Without any true meaning. So, finally, the man decided

to forego his life of spirituality and return to a totally worldly,

materialistic life.

 

One day, he passed through a certain royal courtyard where a very

beautiful lady was dancing. He thought to himself, "Anyway, I'm

foregoing my spiritual practices and returning to a worldly life, so

I might as well sit here and enjoy this dance!" And so he sat to

watch the lady dance. She danced for many hours on end, until it

became dark. Finally, giving up out of exhaustion, she turned to her

husband who was standing nearby and said, "Oh, I give up! Usually,

the king would have called me by now and presented a token of his

recognition. Now, it doesn't look like he's going to call me at all.

So, let's stop and return home."

 

But the dancer's husband wouldn't let his wife give up so easily. He

advised her, "No, no, my dear. "Wait and see a little longer. It's

not morning yet". The king will surely call you. Just continue to

dance, and you'll see! So the dancer continued, and just as the

dancer's husband had predicted, the king called the lady to perform

before him. He was so pleased with the dance that he immediately

bestowed the lady with jewels, gold, and other riches as a token of

his appreciation.

 

Having witnessed all of this, the man who had given up his spiritual

practices felt very remorseful. He began having second thoughts,

remembering the words of the husband who had said, "Wait a little

longer; it's not morning yet." He thought to himself, "My life is

not yet over. I still have time left. I should wait and pursue my

life of spirituality a little longer without giving up so easily.

Even this worldly dancer, despite her exhaustion, continued to go on

further. So, especially when it come to spiritual matters, I should

continue all the more." And thus, the man removed his worldly

clothes, donned ascetic robes once again, and returned to his

spiritual practices. And eventually he attained the supreme goal of

Self-Realization.

 

"Children, We shouldn't give up our spiritual practices so easily,

thinking that we're making no progress. Our practices will never be

worthless. They always pay off. Once we get discouraged and give up,

it is nearly impossible to start all over again."

::

AMMA SHARANAM