PERFECT MEDICINE

  This is very old story  and it makes a point and should be taken with the right spirit  and not try to do fact check . There was a King  and he was the ruler and had everything that a mortal man wishes he could have .He had money and a big palace  and servants  and a beautiful wife  and he could do  anything and anything or not do it if he wishes. But he was not happy and felt sick.So the best doctors were called . Every one had some advice  and gave him some medications and he did not get better and so the another one was called  and he tried something else  and he did not feel any better. So doctors were called from other areas and they all failed.
   The king was not getting better and he was convinced that he was sick and no one was able to find out any solution.It happened that a Yogi or a saint came to the town and was visiting and he was considered wise  and had powers to heal anyone of any element. So he was invited by the king to palace . He came in and he examined the king and asked him many questions  and then said he knows the diagnosis  and the solution or the treatment. Everyone was all ears . So he told them that the king needed to wear a shirt worn by a HAPPY PERSON. No other medicines needed . If the king would wear a short for short time that was worn by happy man , he will be cured .
     So immediately  the king sent all the soldiers in search of such a happy man The soldiers went all over the town . Every house that they went, someone was unhappy as they had lost job or someone had dies , or someone was hungry or failed in examination . So the whole day search did not result in finding a happy man . The night started  and the soldiers did not know what to do . They continued to go house by house.In early morning - they had gone all over the town and they had come out of town at the banks of a river. It was dawn and the sun was rising and the birds were singing  and the breeze was nice . They saw a man sitting on a stone enjoying the entire surroundings . They approached him and asked him if he was happy man . He answered that he was till they came in and blocked the sun rays that he was enjoying. The soldiers moved and asked if he was happy now  and the man said 'yes , I am happy , there is nothing to be unhappy , The surroundings are beautiful and birds are singing and the Sun is rising  and he is very happy . The soldiers told him that he has to come with them to the king and that was the order.
   So they all went to the palace  and the king asked him if he was happy. The man answered Yes . So the king asked him if he could give a shirt worn by the man , The man answered ' " I would but I don't have a shirt !"
     The King got the answer to his problem.!

GUNAS AND IT'S COMBINATION

       Due to COVID,I was not going to gym or to eat out or go for movies. So I had more time at my hand  and I did a course on religion from Harvard University .It was on Hinduism  and I was disappointed . One of the misconception that we have ts that the so called learned Professors KNOW . In one of the links to the course was to an article written by one of the Harvard professor on caste system he argued that even in RIG VEDA there is mention of the same - Brahmin is produced from mouth and Shatriya is from hands  and Viashya is produced from thigh and Shudra from feet .So even the Veda which is suppose to be main scripture, had demoted Shudra. This is simply due to lack of understanding on part of this LEARNED (?) Professor.In one of the older mantra called RAMARAKSHA , which is related to Lord Rama and how we should worship or pray the Lord Rama has several shlokas describing the various body parts as related to different personalities in Ramayan. BIBHISHAN who is described as one with feet.Certainly he was not Shudra by any stretch of imagination.So what does it mean?So I though of talking about the Ravana and his siblings  and the GUNAS.
     There was a Rhushi who was trapped by a lady who was RAKSHAS.and when they had children they were Ravan, Kumbhkarn, Bibhishan and Shurpanakha . First 3 are males  and last one is female. We know that Ravana was the devotee of Lord Shankar and he was the same one who kidnapped Sita and also was indulging in all sorts of sense pleasures. Kumbhakarn was full of indulging in pleasures  and slept 24/7 .The Bibhishan was a devotee of God  and Lord Rama and SHURPANAKHA was wicked female. When she saw Rama she wanted to marry him and when Rama told her that he was married , she wanted to marry his brother Lakshamana . So all that she wanted was to have somehow sense pleasure. So now let me try to explain this on basis of 3 GUNAS or 3 qualities. The father VISHAWA was full of Satwic guna but he did marry Rakshasa woman, who is full of TAMASIC Guna.So the combination created 4 children who have combination of 3 qualities. As you know that Satwic is calm and steady  and Rajasic is activating  and Tamasic is inactivity - laziness. So the Satwic Guna was almost 100% in BIBHISHANA and so he was devoted to Gid and he did pray and did penance and hew blessed with Immortality.The Ravana is more of Rajasic  and some Satwic  and some Tamasic Gunas and so he was worshiping though at times for self pleasures  and he is the same one who kidnapped Sita with lust,Kumbhakarna was 100% Tamasic  and he had done some worshiping too But the Satwic  and the Rajasic Gunas were there in very small %. Predominant is Tamasic.Shtpanakha was combination of Tamasic  and Rajasic Gunas so she was attracted to Rama and then Lakshmana  and then when it did not work out, she wanted to take revenge.
    All of us have all 3 qualities  and the proportion of them at a given time our action is determined. But for practical purpose we have one or another one dominant most of the time . But when another one takes over for a short time we behave differently. So we do see Good people do bad things at times  and Bad people do good things at times . These qualities determine if one is Shudra or Bhamhin. Certainly society did make a mistake  and created casts based on Birth rather than 3 Gunas. 
    May be one of these days we can talk of meaning of various parts of body representing different personalities in Ramayana. 

MIRACLE

    The common questions that we get or we think about is , can we change destiny?The answer is yes and no . It depends upon what  one considers as destiny. If I have an examination tomorrow  and I have not studied for the examination till today , may destiny is FIXED  and can not be changed by study for one day. But if I have enough time  and effort  and desire then U=I have some chance of changing the destiny. The question can be answered in little different way also , but the next question is cam GOD change it . The answer is again Yes and NO . If your faith and surrendering God is unconditional then my be it can be changed . That brings me to the story for today.
    Tukaram was a saint many years ago . He was more devoted to the God than even his own family  and that did bring him in trouble. He used to sing the praise of the lord called Bhajan  and people were mesmerized  and used to crowd in the temple for the prayers. The Bhajanas used to put people in trans and one with the God . This path of reaching the God is is called BHAKTI YOGA  and many devotees have followed it, but many a times we have conditional devotion . You do this  and I will do that . People have God of convenience  and they ask for things that are outrageous. We pray God to get us parking spot and also the lottery ticket numbers. So the news spread that Tukaram was great Devotee and his Bhjanas are so intense that one forgets everything and gets one with God. The king Shvaji came to know about this  and decided to pay visit . So he came . He was attending the Bhajanas. The news that he came to visit Yukaram spread to King Aurangjeb a Muslim king -Shvaji's staunch enemy . He sent several soldiers to catch Shivaji.
     The soldiers surrounded the temple  and there was no way Shivaji could escape. Shivaji was inside  and he had few soldiers accompanying him. The news that Muslim soldiers are surrounding the temple spread to the devotees Tukaram also came to know about this . He started praying the God . He did not want the KIng to be caught while attending the devotional service . He prayed the Lord . Not for himself . but for the safety of the King. Shivaji had to find a way to escape . He decided to leave the temple . The Muslim soldiers were waiting outside . But every man who was getting out of the temple looked like SHIVAJI . They got confused as to whom to catch as there were several Shivaji look alike  and so in that chaos real Shivaji escaped. So the prayers worked .
    Was this the destiny changed by the unconditional devotion ?You can decide. 

FRIEND IN NEED IS -----

   This story is old one  and may be PANCHTANTRA , I thought of it while thinking about certain modern day friendship. Some times the friendships are based on no motives  and sometimes they are based on mutual benefits and then there are others where other than selfish motive there is no reason for friendship. So this story is of that type of friendship, where selfish motive dominates .
   On the bans of a river there was a tree of Indian fruit called Jmbhul. This fruit is very sweet and has backlash purple color. There was a monkey who was playing on that tree. He often wondered as to what is on the other side of the water . There was a crocodile  living in the river  and it used to come towards the bans of the river where there was this tree  and the monkey lived there. Some how they became friends. The monkey would give the crocodile the Jambhul and she loved it.The this feeding continued every time the crocodile came towards the tree  and the monkey was there . They started talking and so they became friends.
    Few days passed  and this exchange continued . As they were talking every day, the monkey told her that he wanted to know as to what is on the other side . He did not know swimming and he knew that crocodile could swim and could go to the other side. So one day he asked her that he wants to know as to what is on other side . The crocodile told him that other side is similar as this side , but the monkey was not satisfied with the answer. He wanted to go on the other side  and see it for himself . The crocodile being friends with the monkey, offered him to take on the other side . The monkey was happy. So she told him that he can sit on the back of the crocodile  and she will take him on the other side and then she can bring him back . So the day was fixed . The monkey took lots of Jambhul with him  and then the crocodile took him across the river . The monkey was happy  and saw the other side  and then played on some of the trees  and collected more fruits  and started the journey back home. As they were in the middle of the waters the crocodile told the monkey that she was wondering about the heart of the monkey . She told him that she thought that his heart must be very sweet tasting as he is eating every day sweet Jambhul. The monkey knew what she was saying and what her intention were . He knew that she would kill him and wanted to eat the heart . It was quite obvious from her talks . So he told her that he was sure that the heart is sweet.but since he is monkey  and jumps all the time ,he was worried about the heart as it might fall somewhere and so he usually keeps it the tree where it is safe. The crocodile was convinced . So she agreed to take him back and made him promise that when they get back, he will give her the heart.
   As they reached the banks of the river the monkey jumped off  and climbed up the tree. The crocodile waited in the waters  and asked the monkey to throw the heart . The monkey laughed  and told her that the heart is always in the chest  and he can't give it to her as he would die . The friendship ended .
     The moral of the story is clear , we often have friends that are friends as long as we have money and they get to enjoy . But as soon as there is selfish motive they would not hesitate to stab you in back. 

GREED

   In life we make choices  and they are most of the time guided by our desires  and our upbringing and also our greed . What happens when one finds a wallet full of money while walking  on street? Do we return to the rightful owner or if none is known give it to police or pocket the money?.As I believe we all are responsible for our own actions  and Every ACTION has REACTION. The so called Law of Karma. So at every stage of our life we make decision or have choice  and we hope we will make right choice . So this is one of the old stories.
    This is a story that I had read many years ago , may be 40 years ago or so. There was a town in China  and there were 2 friends  and they were fast friends. As thew grew up, they were separated  and one of them , we will call him Min. The other one , we will call him Yin stayed in the same town. He had a small restaurant and it was doing OK . But then in the same town another richer man started a fancy restaurant with music  and some dancing . With some additional entertainment, many town people started going there and the new one  and the Yin had difficult time making ends meet. He could hardly support his own family. He did not have money to invest to do same thing that the rich man did . So he had only limited people coming to his place. One evening he was sitting in his restaurant  and his old friend Min walked in . Yin was was very happy to see old friend and offered him the food  and tea. They had long chat  and Min came to know that his old buddy was not doing good.As he was about to leave, he told Yin that he is going to give him a gift. He pained a picture of Peacock on the restaurant wall.He told his friend to clap 3 times Yin clapped and the peacock came out live  and started dancing and after doing a spectacular dance went back and became a picture again. Min told him that there is only one condition . He should not ask for any money to do the dance  and he should not ask peacock to dance more than one time in a day.He left.
     When the news of this peacock spread around, more people started coming to the restaurant  and his business grew . He started making more money. Yin always followed the rule that was told by his friend . One day a rich man was visiting the town. He came to know about this miracle peacock dance  and he came to the restaurant.. He wanted to see the dance . There was a crowd. but he wanted to witness this dance alone with his family and did not want any one there crowding the place . Yin refused to do so . But then he offered money  and Yin still refused . He offered more  and Yin decided to do it . He told the crowd that it was going to be a private show  and they can come next day to watch it . He drove every one out. Then he clapped 3 times  and the peacock came out of the picture  and did the dance , but he did not look very happy . The rich man wanted to watch it again  and he offered more money and Yin again fell for it  and clapped again  and the peacock came out  and looked tired  and sad  and dis some dancing . Then he tried it again to clap and the peacock would not come at all.
    The next day Min showed up . One look at the peacock picture  and he realized as to what had happened. He asked Yin and Yin did tell him the truth. Min told him that now that Yin broke the rule, the peacock can not stay any longer . He clapped 3 times and the peacock came out  and Min left and the peacock followed him . Now the restaurant was without any magic  and Yin started loosing the patrons.. The greed caused the downfall .  

REAL VALUE

     One of theses days,when I came home from work, my son asked me if we could go get some driving practice. He had gotten the learner's permit  and wanted to practice the driving skill. So we decided to go for a drive. I was in my Home Attire. When we went around we were passing by the Gym that we go. So he asked me if we could go to gym. I did not have much work and so we thought that would be good . So we went inside . I started exercise with treadmill. I saw some one waving hand at me  and I did respond.In next 5 minutes, he came to me and I recognize him .He was son of one of my patients. After exchanging  usual meaningless hellos, he says to me .''Doc You can do better than this."pointing at may clothes.I had to explain that I was not planning to come to gym and we thought we were going around only in our neighborhood. He did recognize me as physician and felt that I should be better dressed. This brings me today's story.
    In a small town in India there was  were 2 friends . They were friends and grew together. Both had some business  and with bad luck, one of them became very poor  and bankrupt. He did not have enough money for eating . The other guy was doing OK. So one day there was celebration in this rich guy.s house  and many in the town were invited. This friend who had lost everything was not invited. The poor friend thought that it must be a mistake  and there is no way he could not invite me or welcome me. He also did not have good meals in days.So he thought to himself, why not go for the function and I am sure the friend will welcome me with open arms . So he went there . His clothes were nor expensive  and he looked like poor . may be a beggar. When he went in the dinning hall, and approach the host, which was his long time friend , the host pretended to not recognize him. When he tried to jig his memory, he called his guards  and threw him out insulting him with bad words.
     As it happened this poor friend started some small business  and then over period of time became rich.The time had passed  and theses 2 friends had no contact with each other.. The first friend came to know about rich merchant in the town and decided to invite him for the dinner . So he went . There was a feast  and many sweets  and other delicacies were cooked  and these 2 friends sat at the table to eat . As the food was served  and people started eating the guest friend started taking each item of food  and was putting on his clothes . He put some on shirt  and some on coat and some on his pants. Everyone was surprised. The host asked as what he was doing. The guest answered , 'this great food is prepared for the expensive clothes  and not for someone who is wearing it , Because if it was for me when I came to you 5 years ago,  and needed food you would not have thrown me out . The only difference between myself from 5 years ago  and now is,now I am wearing expensive clothes'
   So in life we do value EXTERNAL APPEARANCE more than Internal - how a person is. education, moral and character etc , We tend to have more importance how some one is dressed or rich than how good someone is.

CHANTING AND COUNTING

   I have done this  and many of us have done it. We offer the GOD conditional love . I will do such and such FOR YOU ,IF YOU DO THIS FOR ME.Our love is conditional to getting something more from GOD.But we also FEEL that doing something MORE is BETTER. It is  almost  like offering 21 roses is better than 11 roses on Mother's day or Valentine Day . So we tend to COUNT when we chant The rosary beads  that we use has same thought behind it . I WILL DO 108 or 1008 MALAS of rosary beads.That brings me to the today.s story.
    Namdeo was a devotee  and he had done devotional chanting. He used to wake up early in the morning and then after bathing in the river , he would sit at the banks of the river and do chanting counting with rosary beads. In India in those days ladies use to go to river,to fetch water . So one day MUKTABAI, sister of DNYANESHWAR was going along with some other ladies  and she saw Namadeo sitting there chanting and counting. She smiled . Namadev saw that and thought that she was laughing at him . So he went to her house  and asked her as to why did she smile .She said 'no specific reason , I just smiled .'Namadev was not satisfied with that answer, and so he insisted on getting the truth. So Muktabai told him to observe the ladies who go to fetch a water and told him that he will get the answer,
    The next day Namadeo was again sitting  and this time he was watching the ladies carefully.The young ladies were walking and talking while they were getting water. One of the young ladies was newly married , so the other ladies were asking her and teasing her . So one of the ladies asked her, 'Do you get thought of your Husband -Do you think about him?'. The lady answered 'off course , I think about him!', So  another lady asked 'How many times in a day you think of your husband?'
The answer was ' WHAT A SILLY QUESTION. WHEN ONE LOVES SOMEONE ,ONE DOES NOT KEEP A COUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES ONE THINKS OF THE PERSON!'
     Namadeo got the answer. When you LOVE GOD , you Think of Him all the time  and there is no need for COUNTING . He threw the rosary beads .