Parthi Update
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Watch a Darshan Video - A Humble Prayer
Updated Wednesday, May 25, 2011 1750 Hrs. IST
With today being the penultimate day of final darshan, before a six
week construction phase that is scheduled to begin on 26 May, there have been
good number of devotees filing past the Maha Samadhi seeking Divine Darshan.
Samadhi is the supreme state of equilibrium…the Beloved One has
always remained thus...and so wherever one may be…if they are consciously aware
about His presence and can reflect this state of Samadhi as they walk the path
of life, inspite of crossroads, despite narrow lanes and choosing the road less
travelled…through hills and dales, the uphills and downhills, the storm and the
quiet, the raging
river and the still waters, the thunder and the lightning, the
autumn shedding of crimson leaves and the fragrant spring blossoms, the flood
and the drought, facing the icy avalanche and the desert sands that burn and
singe as well as the waves of the sea that toss with fury, the scorching midday
rays and the cool moonbeams that dance and play…managing the swing between the
pendulum as taught by Bhagawan…then and there, is where one receives Samadhi
Darshan of our Precious Lord…Whose advent is synonymous with the state of
Samadhi…for Samadhi is the supreme state of equilibrium and bliss.
While a heavy downpour in the previous midnight came with a respite
to the ongoing scorching summer, the sky in Parthi remained overcast this
evening after a bright sunny day. A rare phenomenon, a 22 degree halo as
scientifically called, which forms as sunlight is refracted in hexagonal ice
crystals suspended in the atmosphere, was observed over the Parthi sky this
morning.
Watch Video - A Humble Prayer
A HUMBLE PRAYER...
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One evening, Swami related instances from the lives of
Socrates, the Greek philosopher, and Prophet Mohammed to pinpoint the lesson
that one should not leave any undischarged debts before one passes away.
In relating the story of Socrates in His own gripping manner,
Swami described how the young men in Athens were attracted to Socrates because
of the way in which he inspired in them a deep interest towards the basic
problems of life. Because too many young men chose to remain with Socrates, the
authorities in Athens condemned him to death. Rather than allowing himself to
be put to death by others, Socrates chose to end his life by drinking a cup of
hemlock.
Swami described the last scene in which Socrates was
surrounded by his numerous young disciples. With no fear of death, Socrates
spoke to them cheerfully. Before receiving the cup of hemlock from the hands of
his disciples, Socrates told one of them that he owed a hen to a neighbour. He
asked the disciple to give a hen to his neighbour so that he may be free from
any debt to anyone before his passing. He then received the cup of hemlock from
the disciples' bands and drank it calmly.
Incidentally Swami described how Alexander, a student of
Aristotle—who was himself a pupil of Plato, the guru of Socrates—met an Indian
ascetic during his invasion of India and learnt from the sage the supreme value
of detachment (Vairagya) and the impermanence of worldly acquisitions.
Referring to Prophet Mohammed's life, Swami described how on
one occasion when the Prophet was fleeing from Mecca, he had to use the
services of a camel-driver for carrying him across the desert. The Prophet had
no money to pay to him at the time. Later, when the Prophet was about to leave
the world, he called one of his disciples and asked him to discharge the debt
the Prophet owed to the camel driver.
Swami related these incidents to the students to impress on
them how important it is in life to discharge one's obligations to others. The
ancient Indian sages, Swami said, believed that if a person dies without
discharging his debts he cannot escape the obligation to be born again to
discharge the unpaid debts. Our ancients attached the highest value to
honouring one's pledged word. Harishchandra was the supreme example of one who
was prepared to undergo every kind of trial and humiliation to fulfill the
promise he had given.
Swami recited a Telugu poem which says:
The signature is vital to a promissory note;
The army is vital to a fortress;
Character is vital to a community;
Truth is vital to speech.
True friendship
One evening, Swami asked the students to define the
characteristics of true friendship. Various answers were given and the examples
of Krishna and Arjuna were cited. Bhagavan said that He wanted examples from
human beings alone. The relation between Krishna and Arjuna was that of the
Divine to man.
Swami then gave the answer Himself and illustrated it with an
example from ancient Italy. Swami said true friendship is present when the
friends regard themselves as two bodies with one heart and soul. Swami then
related the story of Damon and Pythias. Pythias had been sentenced to death by
a ruler (of Syracuse) for an offence against the State. Pythias's friend,
Damon, came to the ruler and said that as the sentence was to be executed a
month later Pythias might be released from prison to see his wife and children.
The ruler agreed to release Pythias on condition that Damon agreed to be in
prison for a month and was willing to suffer the death sentence in case Pythias
did not turn up on the due date. Damon readily offered to take Pythias's place.
Pythias was freed and permitted to go home to meet his family. On the day prior
to the date of execution a large crowd had gathered at the prison to see
whether Pythias kept his word. Tension mounted as Pythias had not arrived by
the evening. Damon was cheerfully ready to mount the scaffold in case Pythias
did not turn up. Late in the night Pythias came running to the prison to save
Damon from execution for his sake. The next morning the ruler was astonished at
seeing both Damon and Pythias and was struck by the extreme devotion between
the two friends. He pardoned Pythias and took both the friends into his
service.
Swami went on to say that such friendship was not to be found
today. Most "friends" were fair weather friends who flocked around a person
when he was prosperous or held a high position, but ignored him when he was
down and out. Such "friends" were like frogs which gathered in a pond full of
water but abandoned it when it was dry. Swami said God alone was the unfailing
friend who could be relied upon to stand by the man of faith in weal and woe
and protect him through all vicissitudes. Young people should not think that
they could postpone thinking about God till their old age. No one can say when
death will come. Only if one remembers God constantly all the time will he be
able to remember God in his last moments.
Who are sinners?
Swami related at great length an important episode in the
Mahabharata to convey a lesson regarding the role of persons who are silent
witnesses to the commission of what they know to be a grievous wrong.
Describing the incident in which Draupadi was dragged into
the court of Duryodhana by Dussasana, Swami said that Draupadi made a
passionate appeal to the elders present to declare whether the humiliation she
was being subjected to by the Kauravas was in accordance with Dharma, the
recognised principles of right conduct. All the elders, including Bhishma,
Drona, Kripacharya and Ashwathama, remained silent. Vikarna, the youngest of
the Kaurava brothers, was the only person who condemned the outrage that was
being committed against a noble and virtuous Kshatriya princess. His words were
dismissed as those of a callow youth.
Swami pointed out that when a grave crime is committed, the
sin is shared by four categories of persons. Apart from those who are the
actual perpetrators of the crime, the others who share in the sin are those who
are abettors or accomplices, those who instigate or encourage the commission of
the crime and those who are silent witnesses to the crime though they know that
a grievous crime is being committed.
The lesson which Bhagawan drew from this episode for the
students was that when any of them found a student misbehaving or disobeying
the rules of the Institute, they should correct him on the spot and should not
hesitate to chide him. To be silent or indifferent in such situations amounts
to encouraging and abetting such misbehaviour.
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