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Narada and the

Mystery of Maya

as translated by Sri Eknath Easwaran

 

     Narada is an ancient sage who is said to have

lived for thousands of years, wandering freely through

all the levels of consciousness from heaven to earth.

 

     Narada was on very intimate terms with the Lord,

here in the form of Krishna, so he could ask him all

kinds of questions. And while they were walking, he

asked the Lord, "Sir, can you please explain to me the

secret of this magic called maya?" Sri Krishna

hesitated, because to understand maya is to understand

the whole of life. But Narada was utterly devoted to

him, so the Lord replied, "Of course. Let's sit down

here in the shade and I shall tell you everything. But

first, Narada, it's terribly hot; would you get me a

glass of cool water?" "Right away," Narada promised,

and he set out across the fields. he sun beat down,

and though he was a good walker, the little line of

thatched cottages on the horizon that marked the

nearest village seemed no closer as he strode along.

The heat grew unbearable. Narada's throat became

parched, too; he began to think he would ask for two

glasses of water, and drink the second himself.

Finally he reached the village and ran to the nearest

house. The door opened - and there stood the most

beautiful girl he had ever seen. She smiled up at

Narada through long, dark lashes, and something

happened to him that had never happened before. All he

could do was hem and haw. Finally he blurted out,

"Will you marry me?" That is the Indian way, you know;

you cannot just say "What are you doing on Saturday

night?"

 

     The couple settled down to a life of connubial

bliss. After a while, children began to arrive.

Narada's became a very animated household. Somebody

was always being bathed or dressed; there were meals

to get and people to be provided for. Narada and his

wife became engrossed in their private little world,

quietly building their dreams. Years passed. The

children grew up, went to school, got married; in

time, grandchildren arrived. Narada became the

patriarch of a great family, respected by the whole

village; his lands stretched to the horizon. He and

his wife would look at each other fondly and say,

"Don't you think being grandparents is the greatest

thing on earth?"

 

     Then a great flood came. The village fields

became a raging river, and before Narada's helpless

eyes, everything that he loved and lived for - his

lands, his cattle, his house, but especially his

beloved wife and all their children and grandchildren

- were swept away. Of all the village, only he

remained. Unable to watch the destruction, Narada fell

to his knees and cried for help from the very depths

of his heart. "Krishna, Krishna!" At once the raging

floods disappeared, and there was Sri Krishna,

standing casually on the fields where they had walked

what seemed so many years before. "Narada," the Lord

asked gently, "where is my glass of water?"

 

 

 

 

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Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

 

 

 

 

Mata amritanandamayi

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What a great description of Maya!  That Krishna is certainly a great

teacher.

 

Thank you for sharing.

 

Pahari Maa

 

On May 1, 2006, at 1:45 PM, GeorgeSon wrote:

 

>  Narada and the

>  Mystery of Maya

>  as translated by Sri Eknath Easwaran

>

>       Narada is an ancient sage who is said to have

>  lived for thousands of years, wandering freely through

>  all the levels of consciousness from heaven to earth.

>

>       Narada was on very intimate terms with the Lord,

>  here in the form of Krishna, so he could ask him all

>  kinds of questions. And while they were walking, he

>  asked the Lord, "Sir, can you please explain to me the

>  secret of this magic called maya?" Sri Krishna

>  hesitated, because to understand maya is to understand

>  the whole of life. But Narada was utterly devoted to

>  him, so the Lord replied, "Of course. Let's sit down

>  here in the shade and I shall tell you everything. But

>  first, Narada, it's terribly hot; would you get me a

>  glass of cool water?" "Right away," Narada promised,

>  and he set out across the fields. he sun beat down,

>  and though he was a good walker, the little line of

>  thatched cottages on the horizon that marked the

>  nearest village seemed no closer as he strode along.

>  The heat grew unbearable. Narada's throat became

>  parched, too; he began to think he would ask for two

>  glasses of water, and drink the second himself.

>  Finally he reached the village and ran to the nearest

>  house. The door opened - and there stood the most

>  beautiful girl he had ever seen. She smiled up at

>  Narada through long, dark lashes, and something

>  happened to him that had never happened before. All he

>  could do was hem and haw. Finally he blurted out,

>  "Will you marry me?" That is the Indian way, you know;

>  you cannot just say "What are you doing on Saturday

>  night?"

>

>       The couple settled down to a life of connubial

>  bliss. After a while, children began to arrive.

>  Narada's became a very animated household. Somebody

>  was always being bathed or dressed; there were meals

>  to get and people to be provided for. Narada and his

>  wife became engrossed in their private little world,

>  quietly building their dreams. Years passed. The

>  children grew up, went to school, got married; in

>  time, grandchildren arrived. Narada became the

>  patriarch of a great family, respected by the whole

>  village; his lands stretched to the horizon. He and

>  his wife would look at each other fondly and say,

>  "Don't you think being grandparents is the greatest

>  thing on earth?"

>

>       Then a great flood came. The village fields

>  became a raging river, and before Narada's helpless

>  eyes, everything that he loved and lived for - his

>  lands, his cattle, his house, but especially his

>  beloved wife and all their children and grandchildren

>  - were swept away. Of all the village, only he

>  remained. Unable to watch the destruction, Narada fell

>  to his knees and cried for help from the very depths

>  of his heart. "Krishna, Krishna!" At once the raging

>  floods disappeared, and there was Sri Krishna,

>  standing casually on the fields where they had walked

>  what seemed so many years before. "Narada," the Lord

>  asked gently, "where is my glass of water?"

>

>

>

>  Tired of spam?  Mail has the best spam protection around

>

>

>

> Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Mata amritanandamayi

>

>

>

>

>

>       â–ª        Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web.

>  

>       â–ª        

>  Ammachi

>  

>       â–ª         Terms of

> Service.

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

 

 

 

 

Mata amritanandamayi

 Visit your group " Terms of Service.

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