A Duplicate One

 

From: Prem Rishi

A Duplicate One

(For younger audience)

A wealthy man used to take a bath daily early in the morning on the banks of a river. It so happened that one time a realized person came about at the same spot. As is the tradition, the realized person wished him by reciting the Lord Name. The wealthy person assumed that this person in the garb of a sadhu (a hermit) must be seeking money in return. The wealthy people are usually infected with a wrong notion that everybody is after their riches. The wealthy man refused to answer and asked him to just go away.

The realized person through intuition perceived that this person pride is at the peak. At first, he does not recite the Lord name of his own and when the realized person persuaded to recite, instead the wealthy person asked him to walk off.

The realized person planned to teach a lesson to this wealthy person. From now on, we would address this realized person as a duplicate one because he reproduced himself as an identical one as a wealthy person. The realized person had powers to transform himself to any shape or form. He became a twin of the wealthy person instantly. We are just calling him a duplicate one.

The duplicate one arrived at the wealthy person mansion. The gatekeeper inquired as to why he has come home early today. The gatekeeper mistook him as the real owner. The realized one (the duplicate one) told the gatekeeper that some one has replicated himself to be as he is. So he decided to come home early thus the replicated one does not cause any disorder by coming to the residence.

The duplicate one instructed the gatekeeper to be very careful. In case the replicated one comes, please do not allow him in the house.

The realized-one-turned-a-wealthy-one went in the house and started performing as if he was the real owner of the place. In the meantime the real owner came at the entrance door of the house to come in but he was not allowed in. The gatekeeper stopped him to enter in the house. The real wealthy person called for his children to allow him in but they too did not listen to his pleadings. No one came to his rescue because by now everyone assumed him to be a faked one.

The wealthy person after being deprived of entry to his own house, went to lodge a report with the king that some one has faked his identity and is living in his house resembling him yet that person is by all means a bogus one.

The king officials investigated the matter thoroughly and came back to report to the king that actually the one who has lodged the complaint, is the bogus one.

The real one became quite anguished and agonized and pleaded with the king again and again that he is the real one. The king had no option but to instruct to fetch the other individual to his court. The king was totally astonished and dazed to see the other individual as an identical one. It was impossible to tell apart. They looked alike.

The king asked them as to who is the real one. The realized-one-turned-a-wealthy-one told the king to test out himself. The realized one asked ledgers (an account book of final entry in which business transactions are recorded) be brought in from the house. Ledgers were brought in, placed with the king for observation and review.

The realized one, without looking into ledgers, reported verbatim all the expenses incurred in detail, by date, by column, by page by page, and according to each category, from its inception. For example, house construction cost, wedding expenses, daily household expenses, losses and profits in business, as to how much some one had borrowed, returned or was pending. The king was startled to find so many minute details and everything so accurately described by the realized one. The duplicate one easily convinced the king that it was he, who was a real one.

Even the real one was shocked to hear all those details because many of these he himself had forgotten due to a span of time.

By this, it was proven that the real one was the faked one and the realized one was the real one. The king wanted to punish the wealthy person but the realized one requested the king to pardon him. The king pardoned the wealthy person because of the request of the realized one.

The real one started wandering here and there. He felt very miserable that all that was his was snatched away from him. He slept that night in the public garden with a heavy remorse feeling.

When next morning the wealthy person decided to go to the same banks of a river to take a bath, he saw the realized person sitting there in his normal posture. Once more the realized one wished him by reciting the Lord Name. Then it dawned on the wealthy person, as to why and how and by whom, all that happened to him in a day span. He sensed that this person is the one who had taken a role of a duplicate one, look-alike role.

This time, the wealthy person responded by uttering the Lord Name. His inflated ego had been punctured and he realized that previous morning he had shown disrespect to this individual unnecessarily. That is why he suffered so much the previous day.

Pride leads to downfall sooner or later. All evil tendencies remain alive under the shadow of pride. One should always be constantly aware and careful for the false pride. False pride causes all kinds of sufferings and miseries to an individual without fail. Detergent against pride, is the soap of Japa (chanting the Lord’s Name)

Now the realized one told the rich person to continue to recite the Lord Name regularly, do not disrespect others in any fashion, and please go to your home and enjoy the life while remembering God habitually.

Before departing the wealthy one paid his obeisance to the realized one. Harihi Om

 

 

Bhagavan’s name is the Panacea-a story of Sudama

 
From: Prem Rishi
Those who know me personally know that there are two characters that are very difficult for me to describe. One is the character of Bharatjee from Ramcharitmanas and the other is this story of friendship. Please enjoy this short story.

A story of Sudama…A story of friendship…

Sudama is a classmate of Shri Krishn. Both studied in Ujjain. Sudama is Brahmin and Shri Krishn is Yadav (Cowherd).

Vasudev, Shri Krishn’s father, sent Krishn to learn the scriptures from a learned Guru, the Rishi Sandeepany. There Krishn met Sudama. They studied and played together. They were required to lie in the Ashram of their Guru in strict self-restraint and service of the teacher during the entire period of their studies. The boys were diligent and fast to learn. Under the guidance of their Guru Sandeepany, they mastered the Vedas, the Vedangas, phonetics, grammar, logic, astronomy, and the different systems of philosophy and sciences within a short span. Not only they became well versed in their studies, they also became friends.

When they completed their studies, these two friends parted company and went their own ways. Shri Krishn went back to his parents in Mathura and in due course became the sovereign ruler of Dwarka. And Sudama lived a simple life as a householder, praying, meditating, and seeking the ultimate Truth. Sudama was not interested in acquiring any material gains. Everyone loved him.

As the time passed, because of Sudama’s austere life style, his family began to suffer. On a particular occasion, this Brahmin and his family had to starve continually for a number of days. Sudama’s wife could not bear the plight of children. She had no alternative but to request Sudama to seek help from his friend in Dwarka.

Although Sudama was disinterested in seeking help from his friend but the prospect of meeting his old friend, made him extremely happy. All the old memories during the school time flashed in front of him. When one has good friends, the rejoicing is double. If one has not seen the friend for a long time, the excitement builds. How he or she looks? Will he/she remember me? When you meet old friends, you spend hours and hour exchanging those memories. There is laughter. Merriment. And time flies.

As is the custom, when you go and meet your friend or friends, you take with you some present for your friend. But for Sudama there was nothing in the house. The wife of Sudama had to go to next door neighbor to borrow. The neighbor lent handfuls of rice. Tying these handfuls of rice in an old, torn piece of cloth, she handed it over to her husband to proceed his journey.

Reminiscing his days at Sage Sandeepany’s hermitage with Shri Krishn, Sudama reached the city of Dwarka. After several repeated inquiries, he finally arrived at Shri Krishan’s royal mansion. Sudama is pleading with gatekeepers to let him be in to see his friend. Nothing prevails. Then, one guard out of pity went to inform Shri Krishn. The guard tells Shri Krishn that there is one old man standing at the gate claiming to be your friend. He has no cap on his head, he is not wearing anything on his feet, his clothes are torn and old, yet he claims to be your friend. His name is Sudama.

As soon as Shri Krishn heard the name of Sudama, he hurriedly got up from his throne, his yellow robe dropped from his body, forgot to wear his wooden sandals and dashed outside to receive his friend personally. The entire palace and its officials were totally stunned. Seeing the miserable condition of Sudama from a distance, the Ocean of Compassion, wept with grief.

Shri Krishn embraced Sudama, led him inside his palace, and made him sit on his own couch. With his own hand, the Lord washed the feet of Sudama, massaged them to relieve pain from his hard and long journey. Applied sandalpaste mixed with saffron etc. The Lord offered him a sumptuous meal. After hearty conversation the Lord with a smile on his lips asked Sudama if Krishn’s bhabhee (brother’s wife, Sudama’s wife) sent any present for him.

As you may recall, Sudama’s wife had handed Sudama handfuls of rice but Sudama could not muster courage to give those to the Lord. However, the Lord knows everything. The Lord forcibly dislodged that bundle of rice, which Sudama was holding, tightly under his arm. Naturally it broke loose. It was apiece of old cloth. The contents scattered on the floor. Since the present was brought with love, devotion, humility and affection, it became a delicious offering. In the Geeta, the Lord tells that whosoever offers to Him with love a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water, I appear in person before that disinterested devotee of sinless mind, and delightfully partake of that article offered by him with love.

The Lord took a mouthful of that rice from the floor and ate it with delight because it was brought by a devotee/friend. The Lord second time took a handful of it and put it into his mouth. When he was about to take it third time, Rukmini- Ma (the wife of Shri Krishn) stopped him.

Sudama spent his time at Dwarka joyfully in the company of the Lord. However, he did not have guts to tell the purpose of his visit. At the same time, the Lord never asked him, why did he come or whether he needed anything. They talked and talked, as old friends, to their hearts’ content. After some time Sudama left. He was shown all kinds of hospitality, kindness and love but was never asked once the reason of his arrival and stay.

On his return trip, Sudama is thinking. I came all the way to Dwarka. My wife is expecting wealth etc. What I am going to tell her. How I am going to face her. His homebound journey became long and tedious. He is travelling back from Saurashtra, Rajasthan and eventually to Ujjain. At that time Ujjain was known as Avanti.

Finally Sudama arrives in Avanti. He is trying to find his old, broken hut. He thought he was tired so he could not find his hut. He went again and again to the same spot but could not find his hut. Every time he comes to the same spot, he finds instead a huge mansion standing there instead of his poor hut. He felt maybe by mistake he has entered into some king’s city and his cottage lies in some other direction. He went back and forth but comes back to same spot. Now he asks a small boy who was standing nearby as to where old Sudama’s hut is. The boy without any hesitation directs him towards the palatial structure. His wife and children wearing new clothes come to receive him. He could hardly recognize them. Sudama inquires his wife how all this happened. She explained that this has been accorded to us in an overnight.

Without publicly announcing, Lord Krishn granted his friend everything. His ways are mysterious. His friend, Sudama did not ask, yet he received everything quietly. In the Geeta, the Lord tells us that there are four types of devotees of noble deeds that worship Him, the seeker after worldly possessions, the afflicted, the seeker for knowledge and man of wisdom. He tells Arjun in whatever way men seek Him, in a similar manner He reciprocates.

Sudama was a seeker of liberation. Without his asking he received the material possession. The Lord is Antaryami (the Inner Witness). He knows what, when and how to bestow. And he does it silently. The love of God is always there whether one is His friend or devotee. If one is sincere, faithful and persistent, that person receives not only what asked but always more. The scriptures are full of those examples. God is truth, knowledge and bliss Absolute. Harihi Om.

Bhagavan’s name is the Panacea – Part/5

Bhagavan’s name is the Panacea – Part/5

From: Prem Rishi

First of all, thanks for sending all those e-mails. Appreciate very much. As some of you know, I was involved in some other project. Here is to continue the Mihama of the Lord’s name.

Remembering God at all times is real Dhan (opulence) and forgetting Him is Dareedriya (poverty). Whatever we have, whether it is our independence, knowledge, power, glory, it is because of the grace of the Paramatma (God).

If there is no peace of mind, one cannot have the least happiness. And, peace is not sold in the shopping center. For attaining peace, one has to build a shockproof protective armor around oneself of Hari-Naam. Peace is happiness and they are indistinguishable. In order to receive unperturbed inner tranquility and perennial bliss, we have to take the shelter of Hari-Naam and Satsang.

Mahatma Gandhi once said. We do not wish to see our own faults, but take delight in perceiving those of others. He said much unhappiness arises from this habit. Our Acharyas (spiritual teachers) say the chief cause for man’s frustrations and miseries are his ego and the false sense of his autonomy. They say remembering God at all times is real affluence and whatever we enjoy is due to the Lord’s grace.

Hari-Naam does not require any special procedure or any rigid austerity to recite. In the contemporary world’s fast moving activities, people usually say they have no time to spend on spiritual pursuits. This Hari-naam’s recipe is available for them to approach the Almighty, if they are interested. It does not require lots of time or any preparation or any particular place.

The snake is tamed and its poison fangs are removed when music from the snake charmer is played – because the snake is spellbound by the sweet melody. In the similar manner, the sacred naam-smaran, the repetitive chanting or remembering the names of the Lord can exterminate the poison of the human mind. The poison is transformed into nectar. Harihi Om

——

Bhagavan’s name is the Panacea – Part/4

From: Prem Rishi

Bhagavan’s name is the Panacea – Part/4

Everyone craves for and wants peace within, yet this is eluding.

Why?

If it were a commodity, we will go to the department store, and buy it. The richer we are, the more we would be able to buy it. But, unfortunately or fortunately that is not the case. We find people miserable and frustrated. Jealousy is the prime cause. People cannot stand others getting what they want in life. Even Sadhakhs (the spiritual aspirants) are prey to it, what to talk of others. In the 12th chapter of the Geeta, the Lord talks about the marks of enlightened devotees who are free from malice towards others. One should not grumble over the lack of any worldly possession. One should be contented in life. One should take refuge in the Lord. Pay obeisance to Him. Chant His name. The purity of mind will take place. And will make one abjure from unnecessary needs. One will get contentment. Then one will experience peace within. One should set a limit for oneself, even in the case of earning money. The lesser the desires are in life, the more peace of mind. The more desires will lead to frustrations etc. The significance of the sacred name of the Lord is ‘aparampar’ (boundless, limitless). Join and enjoy it.

Satyabhama and Rukmani always felt envious of Draupadi-ma because Lord Krishn talked about her quite fondly. Once upon a time, they could not resist in asking the Lord as to why is that case. Lord Krishn answered and requested them to be patient about it. At the appropriate time, the answer will be forthcoming. As it happened that Draupadi-ma came to visit Lord Krishn and decided to stay over. The next morning, Draupadi had taken a bath and was experiencing difficulty in straightening her hair. The Lord requested Satyabhama and Rukmani to help Draupadi in this task. When they were helping Draupadi in combing hair, both of them heard very clearly from every hair of Draupadi the word – ‘Krishn, Krishn…’ Then and there both of them found out the reason of the love of the Lord towards Draupadi.

Even the hairs of Draupadi were reciting the Lord’s name with dedication and enjoyment.

Dear ones, there you have it. Harihi Om.

 

Bhagavan’s Name is the Panancea – Part/3

From: Prem Rishi

Bhagavan’s name is the Panacea – Part/3

The Paramatma is the soul of all beings. The relationship between the souls and the Supreme Being is eternal. The secret is as to how to re-establish this relationship. By learning from devotees like Prahalad and Dhruv, to mention a few. Devotion is the basis. And the recitation of Hari-Naam is the part of that devotion. The result. Once the devotee establishes the bond, he or she will get lasting bliss and peace. Please remember that the soul’s relationship with the Almighty is timeless. We should draw great comfort from the Geeta where the Lord tells us, Chapter 8 – “Fixing your mind on Me, you shall by my grace, overcome all obstacles.” His name has the divine power and constantly, its recitation fixes our mind on Him. And as promised by Him, we overcome all obstacles of our lives.

The world does not seem to have capacity to deliver the goods that we seek. On the other hand it is an ocean of problems. But the Paramatma is merciful. It is we who can never repay our debt for His benevolence. I won’t go into detail on this subject but would remind this body that we think is ours plus everything else for us has been gifted by none else but by His grace. Let us make earnest effort to reach Him by means of this body. He does not need lots of paraphernalia to be pleased with. Let us recall His famous words from the Geeta, Chapter nine – “Whosoever offers to Me with love a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water, I appear before that disinterested devotee of sinless mind, and delightfully partake of that article offered by him with love.” Here are three key words to pay attention to. One is ‘disinterested devotee’ that means a devotee should of ‘Nishkam Bhavana’. The second is that he should be of ‘sinless mind’. This we can acquire by chanting His pious divine name, attending Satsang and reflecting upon Him. It would be also wise to take time off from the worldly occupations and contemplate on death. No need to be afraid of it. But be aware of its importance. Nobody is ever immune from it except God. Everything in this world is embraced by death. With the exception of God nothing which makes its appearance in the universe is ever immune, even for a moment, from the buffets of death. We should always think about God. Lastly, the Lord paid tremendous importance to the third key word. That is love. He used this word of love twice in the above shlok. Our love with sincerity should be directed towards the Lord. When Ramakrishn Paramahans was once asked whether one could envision the Paramatma with mortal eyes he replied that He could be seen with the eye of devotion and love

The following Rig Vaidic Mantr advocates the adoration of Lord Vishnu for the attainment of spiritual enlightenment:

“Tamu stotAraH pUrvyam yathAvida R^itasya garbham janushA pipartana Asya jAnanto nAma cidviviktana mahas te viShNo sumantim bhajAmahe.”

The meaning of this Mantr is:

We should put an end to our recurring births by attaining the real knowledge of that ancient Being who is eternal and real. Understanding the significance of these names of Lord Vishnu, we should repeat them consistently.

Weather others repeat Thy holy names, O Lord Vishnu, or not, but we shall adore Thy charming effulgence and divine names.

Similarly in the Rudr, it is said “NamasyA kalmalIkinaM namobhir.h gR^iNImasi tveshhaM rudrasya nAma”, God destroys sins, we should chant the illustrious and distinguished names of Lord Rudr with obeisance.

Let us travel in the realms of the Bhagavat Puran. Let us understand one thing very specifically that the devotion is a mark of divine grace. Sage Suk Dev Maharaj has narrated the Bhagavat to King Pareekshit after the king was cursed to die by snakebite in 7 days times. Pareekshit is a descendant of the Panadavas. Pareekshit has handed his kingdom to his son Janamejaya and retired to the banks of the Ganga. He has resolved to contemplate on the Lord for the remaining days of his life.

Suk Dev Maharaj appears on this spot. By the way, this place still vibrates with sacred ambience, though the Ganga flows a little distance now from the past.

Let us recall Pareekshit’s words to Sage. How beautifully he says to Suk Dev Maharaj! “Men’s houses are instantly purified by your remembrance.” There is no difference between the name of the Lord or His representatives such as Suk Dev Maharaj. A house is insentient. If a house is instantly purified by his remembrance what to talk of us, Jeeves who are sentient.

Will it not enhance our unalloyed devotion to God? The answer is – surely it will.

Bhagavan’s name is the Panacea – Part 2

From: Prem Rishi

Someone e-mailed me, rightly so, asking what Bhagavan means. Bhagavan is the Supreme Lord, who is the fountainhead of all energies. He is the possessor of six opulences in full – all strength, all knowledge, all beauty, all wealth, all fame and all renunciation.

Every moment of our lives we face innumerable sorrows. However, there is somebody close at hand who not only can relieve our sorrows but even can uproot the causes of that sorrows and will provide us comfort, if only we ask for it sincerely. Can we be sure when we are in distress that we would get spontaneous help from our intimate friends or relatives? They may come up with any of these excuses – they do not have time to spare or they are not nearby or they have a problem with a resource. When I was discussing this topic with one of the devotees, he very smartly answered back that they will provide not one but all three excuses.

But what about that invisible source who can provide any type of assistance, at any moment and at any place. That totally dependable source is Bhagavan who is ever ready to relieve His devotees’ grief. We should be able to taste the sublime nectar of the Hari-Naam.

This loving dormant propensity resides in everyone. The divine name is impregnated with all the blissful qualities of the Lord. The name is beneficial to all and is easily acceptable. Nothing can be compared with the divine name of the Lord. A true devotee always keeps singing the name of the Lord. Radha and Meera were always deeply immersed in Naam-sankirtan.

Mind can be broadened only through divine contemplation. Divine contemplation is possible only for the fortunate. How to develop steadfastness in chanting the divine name? Our sages and saints tell us by associating in Satsang with pious people. Tulasidasjee says ” I pay my obeisance to the holy men that are the mines of all virtues.” They tell us that contact with noble people is the root of joy. Harihi Om.

‘Hari-Naam’.

From: Prem Rishi

Bhagavan’s name is the Panacea

People all around complain that their worries do not go away. They cannot accomplish their tasks and their desires do not get fulfilled. Chanting divine names is the panacea for all ills. Valmiki by reciting ‘Ma’ and ‘Ra’, the name of Lord Ram, improperly, yet, his sincere chanting with faith made him a sage. He scaled the heights of perfection. He was blessed by divine grace to compose the Ramayan, the story of Lord Ram.

Please always be conscious that not even a blade of grass can grow without His consent. When Bhagavan is enshrined within heart, He will listen to the genuine pleas of His spiritual aspirants. He can lavish anything and everything open-handedly but unfortunately we have only two hands to receive it.

Sudama was bestowed a fortune unasked.
We should develop intense, sincere and steadfast faith in Bhagavan’s powers and in His grace. Harihi Om