The Ripples (inspirational)

[Guest guest]

THE RIPPLES .........a beautiful story…..!

 

My grandfather took me to for a walk one day when I was about seven, and stopped by a fishing pond.

 

‘Please sit down,’ he invited, patting the ground next to him.

 

‘Now, find a small stone, please,’ my Grandpa instructed.

 

‘What?’

 

‘A stone. Please find a small stone and throw it in the pond.’

 

Searching around me, I grabbed a pebble and threw it as far as I could.

 

‘Tell me what you see,’ he asked.

 

Straining my eyes to not miss a single detail, I looked at the water's surface.

 

‘I see ripples, Grandpa’.

 

‘Where did the ripples come from, son?’

 

‘From the pebble I threw in the pond.’

 

‘Please reach your hand into the water and stop the ripples,’ he asked.

 

Not understanding, I stuck my hand in the water as a ripple neared, only to

cause more ripples. I was now completely baffled. Where was this going? Why was

Grandpa asking me to do this I wondered!

 

Puzzled, I looked at him.

 

‘Were you able to stop the ripples with your hands, my child? ' he asked.

 

‘No, of course not.’ I was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable now.

 

‘Could you have stopped the ripples, then?’

 

‘No, in fact I only caused more ripples.’

 

‘What if you had stopped the pebble from entering the water to begin with?’

Grandpa smiled such a beautiful smile; I just could not be upset.

 

‘Next time you are unhappy with your life, catch the 'stone' before it hits

the water. Do not spend time trying to undo what you have done. Rather, change

what you are going to do before you do it.’ Grandpa looked at me with such

love in his eyes!

 

‘But tell me, how will I know what I am going to do before I do it?’

 

‘Take the responsibility for living your own life my son’

 

‘See....your actions will create lots of splashes in your life, but

remember……that the waves that come from those ‘splashes’ have a knock

on effect on all your fellow creatures,’ he said.

 

‘Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that

circle will also touch many other circles.’

 

‘You will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your

circle to send the peace of that goodness to others.’

 

‘The splash that comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to

other circles. You are responsible for both.’

 

Aaaah...I think I understood ! I realised that each person creates the inner

peace or discord that flows out into the world.

 

We cannot create world peace if we ourselves are riddled with inner conflict,

hatred, doubt or anger.

 

Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world,

creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.

 

We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak them or not.

 

So ultimately it is all up to us!!!

 

This reminded me of the eternal wisdom:

 

YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT IS MERELY A REFLECTION OF YOU!’- Author Unknown

 

 

 

Duty is God, Work is Worship

[Guest guest]

Dear sister Madhvai,

 

I thnik you are creating enough ripples in the

positive direction among devotees. we all create

ripples as well as are effected by the ripples created

by those who surround us. Additionally, we are also

effected by far off plaaces which we do not even see

9like Tsunami or Bombay rains). These ripples enter us

through our senses. That is wise said, withdraw these

senses like tortoise and you willbe peaceful. Other

wisdom is pray for peace(Shanti) 3 times represnting 3

worlds(out side us) and 3 states ( inside us).

 

I recently attended a yajnam in Tirupati where I

could find the peace for very long time in waking

state. other times, I found in prashanti nilayam but

while Swamy's phyiscal presence was there. Alas, after

that , a rush to leave the place give me a feeling

that we are not still gtting over Swamy's physical

form.

 

I hiope yr balvikas calsses are going well.

 

sai blessings willbe always with you,

 

Rajasekhar - Bahrain

[Guest guest]

Dear Brother Raj,

 

Sairam.

 

How beautifully you have expressed the analogy between the theory and the reality!

 

Yes, the ripples can affect not just the 'creator' but also those miles

away.........both directly as well as indirectly!

 

As you so rightly suggested..... especially where situations are beyond our

control..... it would be ideal if we were able to withdraw our senses at will

and be at peace...... ...however in practice it may not be always possible or

easy to do so.

 

Therefore ....Namasmarana ...and praying for peace (within as well as outside

us) is probably the best option for most of us at this point in time.

 

Remain Blessed Always!

 

With love & light,

 

Madhvi

 

 

Duty is God, Work is Worship