From Puttaparthi... Symbolic Examples from Swami

July 16, 2008

1. Here is a coconut tree and up here are the coconuts. This tree has a shadow which extends for a distance on the ground. Now, a man who wishes to secure the coconuts climbs up the coconut tree.

At the very time he is climbing the tree; his shadow may be seen climbing the shadow tree. And, when he plucks the coconuts, his shadow may be seen plucking the shadow coconuts.

The man who climbs the real tree secures the real coconuts and, at the same time, his shadow self climbs the shadow tree and plucks the shadow coconuts.

But if the man does not relish the task of climbing the real tree, and instead limits his action to the climbing of the shadow tree, he will not get satisfaction from the shadow coconuts.

The shadow tree represents the world, and the shadow coconuts represent worldly attractions. The real tree represents spiritual life, and the real coconuts represent the fulfillment of life.

Thus, the person who devotes his life and energy to spiritual values will automatically get worldly benefits.

2. A tree has a trunk covered with bark and myriad roots to feed it and hold it firm. It has branches spreading in all directions, tapering into twigs. It has millions of leaves which breathe and borrow energy from the Sun. It fulfills itself by attracting bees to fertilize its flowers into seeds. All this variety of color, fragrance, taste, smell and softness, of strength, toughness and tenderness has emanated from one single seed. All creation has emanated similarly from ME. This is the Divinity inherent in all.

3. The hundreds of flowers in a garland are held together by a thread, which you do not see.... So also, this world has an unseen Master and lawgiver. The Unseen is the sustainer of the Seen. GOD is that thread in which the flowers are strung; we see only the garland; we do not see that string that holds the flowers together. "

4. There is a dark room and in a corner there is a coiled rope. A man enters the room, faintly sees something coiled & shouts " Snake, snake, " and rushes out. A crowd gathers, and people then enter the room armed with sticks and carrying a lantern. And what do they see? A rope and not a snake. There was never a snake. Only a rope. The person who saw it first was deluded on account of darkness, and when the darkness was removed he along with all others saw that there was no snake and only a rope.

5. There is an injection bottle. The expiry date written on it is 1970. In the year 1972, both, the medicine and the bottle, are still there, but the medicine has no power. In the same way, in our destiny there may be the medicine or karma. But by the Grace of God we can weaken or blunt its effect. If God is pleased, He will certainly annul the bad effects of past actions. Therefore, the most important thing is we have to try is to earn the Grace of God.

6. You want DEVOTION & LIBERATION!!! Hence, I am going to treat you like a wet towel! Just like one rinses the towel to take out the water, I will squeeze you out & you are in for great tests. The 6 deadly enemies; desire, anger, greed, attachment, pride, and jealousy have to be squeezed out!!!

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