This is a story about a great sage Vishwamitra from the ancient Vedas ~ it was gathered together from several separate articles in Amma's monthly Matruvani and "Awaken Children !"
Vishwamitra's spiritual path is a beautiful learning example ~ he starts as a powerful king with ego ~ he meets the great sage Vasishta ( real sage ~ no ego ) who feeds his huge army in no time at all. The king notices the sage has powers ~ the king's ego wants the powers ~ battle ~ old sage beats the crap out of the king and his powerful army. The king contemplates ~ although humbled ~ still king's ego says ~ better become a sage ~ more power ~ surrenders kingdom but not necessarily his ego ~ surrenders kingdom for more power( spiritual power ) ~ the king becomes a perfect meditator ~ meditating continuously for years ~ much ojas radiating brilliantly. Indra( a celestial god ) notices ~ Indra is always afraid of losing his position ~ sends a celestial maiden ~ ojas and radiance disappears ~ meditator is on a detour ~ no problem it's all part of growth ~ and temporary ~ after detour, returns to continuous meditation ~ becomes so powerful ~ creates his own new universe( or was trying to, not sure ) because the current universe did not suit him ~ people began to call the former king "Maharishi( great sage Vishwamitra ) " ~ but fear his great temper and his curses when angered. Maharishi is OK and benefiting mankind when his eyes are closed ~ with all this power ~ Maharishi is still not fulfilled because people call the old sage Vasishta "Brahmarishi". Brahmarishi is higher than a Maharishi. Maharishi goes to Brahma, Siva and finally Vishu to find out why? ~ Vishu ~ devises a plan ~ sends both the Brahmarishi and the Maharishi to earth to find 1,000 people lower then them and feed them ~ Maharishi succeeds(?) easily right away ~ the Brahmarishi fails(?) after searching all day could not find one person lower than him-Self. A humbling experience for the Maharishi ~ but not humbling enough ~ next plan ~ kill the Brahmarishi ~ Maharishi hides in bushes ~ waiting for his chance ~ while Vasishata gives discourse to his disciples ~ Vasishta praises the Maharshi for his great austerities ~ meditating continuously ~ and thus benefiting the whole world ~ via his super radiance ~ the Maharishi's heart finally melts and he has no choice but to surrender completely ~ to his guru Vasishta( whom he was trying to kill because of extreme jealousy ) ~ surrender what? ~ his big enormous spiritual ego( which is all his knowledge, powers, arrogance, etc ) ~ by god's and guru's grace ~ no choice ~ it is done ~ ego annihilated completely ~ then Vasishta lifts the Maharshi from his prostration and says "now you are a real Brahmarishi" ~ who no longer has desires to create universes or use his powers on earth indiscriminately ~ he becomes an instrument of God ~ humbly serving humanity and accepting everything as God's Will. ~ the story continues ~ During those days there were many rishis( sages ) performing great yagyas, etc~ all for the benefit of mankind ~ one big problem ~ there were also many powerful rakshasas( demons ) ~ although the rishis had great powers especially Brahmarishi Vishwamitra ~ it was not their role to kill the rakshasas ~ they had to submit to sacrificing even their bodies to the cannibalistic rakshasas ~ so, Vishnu reincarnated as Rama a Kshatriya( a warrior ) Prince ~ Vasishta was Rama's first guru ~ and Vishwamitra was Rama's second guru ~ to prepare Rama to kill many demons ~ Vishwamitra at end of training presented Rama with celestial weapons to use against the rakshasas ~ perhaps it was frustrating for Vishwamitra to have all that powerful knowledge and weapons and not be able to use them against the rakshasas. Lord Rama played His role very well ~ teaching everyone, by example, great humility by allowing HimSelf to be taught by the many rishis of the time and showing them great reverence, bowing down to them, etc ~ I don't understand it all ~ but it seems that: 1)as long as there is any ego-mind remaining in the head there will be problems 2) when ego-mind finally falls into the heart and dissolves due to God's Love and Guru's Grace, problems are over and one becomes an instrument of God >From above story about Vishwamitra, it seems it is possible to gain a great Siddhi Mind with all sort of powers and knowledge and still maintain a huge spiritual ego. It does beg the question of who is really fully Enlightened/Awakened? It seems on the path of 100% knowledge without devotion and without guidance of a loving satguru, the greatest danger is a big spiritual ego. Perhaps, the safest approach would include Selfless-Service, Devotion, Self-Inquiry along with meditation and/or other spiritual practices all with Humility and if possible a genuine spiritual teacher with those qualities. ~ end ~ love and peace, anatol ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
