Saint is a Sinner who never gave up

This is a story of two frogs told by Paramahansa Yogananda. It has a valuable spiritual importance. It stresses on the importance of persistence in a spiritual aspirant's life.

'Saint is a sinner who never gave up', this quote of Paramahansa Yogananda and this story both stress the importance of self effort for spiritual progress
There were two frogs living in a pond near a farm, It was spring and the grass was green with colorful flowers decorating it, There were swans swimming in the pond, butterflies flying around and fishes swimming and playing. It was a beautiful day and the big frog was very happy to sit and do nothing all day. The small frog jumped from behind the big frog "Get up! lets go and play in the pond" called to his friend.
The small frog jumped into the water with joy, the big frog followed. They swam in the pond happily, they crossed the pond into the barnyard having fun and playing on their way, leaping with joy. In their joy they were carelessly jumping around. It was the milking time at the barn and the frogs accidentally jumped into a bucket half filled with milk.
Insides of the bucket were slippery and it was hard to hold on to, they tried very hard but there was no way for them to get out. They were forced to stay inside and swim. They kept swimming for sometime, it was tiring them. The frogs shouted "Help! Help!" , unfortunately there was no help coming their way.
The big frog groaned "What is the use of swimming, we will die here anyway, I'm already tired, I can't swim anymore". "Don't give up my friend, lets keep trying, or else we will die" encouraged his little friend. They swam for some more time after that. The big frog finally said "I can't swim anymore, It is of no use, we will die anyway, I'm going to quit". The big frog stopped and it gradually sunk into the bottom.
The little frog said to itself "I'll keep trying as long as I can, or else I will also die". So he kept swimming for couple more hours. His legs were moving very slowly, hardly managing to stay on top. The little frog thought of giving up and ending his life , which seemed to be the only option he had.
He remembered what happened to his big friend and kept trying with all his might. "I will keep trying until I die. As long as I keep trying there is hope" thought the little frog.  He swam with all his strength, he was getting weak, splashes in the milk was the only sound he could hear. As he kept trying the milk was getting thicker and thicker with foam, making it difficult for him to swim.
The little frog kept swimming even when the milk got thicker making it difficult for him to swim. Milk got so thick that it was getting difficult even to take his legs out of the thick lump. When he was very close to last of his strengths he found a solid lump forming below him in the milk. As soon as the butter was solid enough to stand on it he jumped with all his strength and leaped outside the bucket.
His joy was immeasurable, He was filled with so much joy, from then on he decided he would keep trying no matter how difficult the situation is.
Moral of the story: Banat. Banat.. Ban jaaye (doing.. doing.. done) Saint is a sinner who never gave up. One should never give up his spiritual efforts no matter how much difficult it is to try. Keep trying, Keep trying

~Sanson Ki Mala Pe~

Sanson Ki Mala Pe
(literally: On the rosary of breath) is a bhajan originally sung by Meerabai (c. 1498 – c. 1557 AD), a Rajput princess and a Hindu mystic from Rajasthan in praise of Lord Krishna. The song has been sung by many famous artists.

[Lyrics & English Translations]

saaNsoN kii maalaa pe simruuN maiN pii ka naam

apne mann kii maiN jaanuuN aur pii ke mann kii Ram

With every breath I take, I chant the name of my beloved I know of my heart, and God knows of the heart of my beloved

yahii merii bandagii hai, yahii merii puujaa

This is my salutation [and] this is my prayer.

ek thaa saajan mandir meN aur ek thaa pritam masjid meN

par maiN prem ke rang meN aisii Duubii ban gayaa ek hii ruup

One lover was in the temple and another in the mosque but to me, immersed in the joy of love, both seemed same

prem kii maalaa japte japte aap banii maiN Shyam

Chanting on rosary, the name of Shyam [Lord Krishna], I become him. Note: A Hindu God sung and revered by the patrons of love.

ham aur nahiiN kuchu kaam ke

matvaare pii ke naam ke, har dam

I am worthless except that I surrender to the name of my beloved, all the time.

priitam kaa kuch dosh nahiiN hai vo to hai nirdosh

apne aap se baateN kar ke ho gayii maiN badnaam

My beloved is not to be blamed, it is no fault of his I became infamous only because of talking to myself.

Jeevan Ka Shingar Hai Preetam

Mang Pe Hai Sindoor

My beloved is the beautification of life And also the vermilion in my hair

Preetam Ki Nazron Se Girr Karr

Jeena Hai Kis Kaam

When fallen in my beloved’s eyes What use is living?

Sanson Ki Mala Pe Simroon Main Pi Ka Naam

On the garland of my breaths I have bejewelled my beloved’s name

Inspirational~Spiritual gems

"Message for the day"

(You read it on)

What is the first thought you have when you open your eyes in the morning? Is it a positive thought or a negative one? The first thought you have in the morning will usually determine how your day goes by.

~

Where there is zeal and enthusiasm, success is guaranteed.

 If you are not able to experience success in all that you do, check if you are filled with enthusiasm or not. Also find out the reason for not being enthusiastic. This helps you to realize and overcome your weakness.

In order to increase your own enthusiasm throughout the day, create an aim for yourself and see that you work towards this aim each day. When you find yourself progressing towards the aim you will become enthusiastic.

Pangs of separation

One day, Radharani went into the forest in search of Krsna. She was experiencing great separation.

Her friend, Vishaka, says, "My dear Radharani, I can see how you are suffering of separation from Krsna. Therefore I have drawn a picture of Krsna."

So immediately, Radharani saw that picture of Krsna and she was attached to that drawing of Krsna at the same time! So it got double as bad! Her separation became completely overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Krsna was also in that same forest looking for Radharani, but He didn’t know where exactly to look. He is also feeling eagerness and separation.

Then Krsna is saying out loud to His friend, Sridham, "My dear Sridham, don’t you also think that Radharani is the most beautiful girl in the three worlds?"

Krsna was further wandering into the forest. He saw a leaf in the forest and His name written on that leaf with red kum kum. Immediately He realized who had done this; He could see who had written this.

Spontaneously, He picked up His flute and played His flute.

Radharani, by the sound of that flute, could understand that Krsna had seen that leaf and that now He was playing His flute. Then She said out loud, "This sound, what is this sound? What is this sound?" and She became also, completely captured by the sound.

She starts saying, "I am the most unfortunate person because I became simultaneously attracted to three persons: to the one who’s form is attracting me, to the one who’s picture is attracting me and to the one who plays His flute! Therefore I’m meant to be condemned. I am simultaneously attracted to three personalities. This is totally to be condemned. Therefore the best I could do is to give up my life!"

But Vishaka says, "But they are one and the same person."

Radharani says, "One and the same?
[Photo courtesy Google]

Goodbye Be£oved

-- O' My Beloved Good Bye --

Once Krishna asked Radha to come alone to one of the kunja of Shri Dham Vrindavan to meet Him before He leaves for mathura…. Shri Radha reached there on schedule time.

Radha : “O Krishna, Here, I am…What do you wish to say ?”

Krishna : “There’s nothing to say. I merely wanted your permission to leave for Mathura.”

Radha: “Do you want my permission or my life?”

Krishna : “O Radhe, Our bodies may be separate but we share the same life. This parting is of the body.”

Radha: “But, what will happen after the parting? Have you thought of that?”

Krishna: “I have, But We must perform the ritual that is predestined. We must complete the task we have undertaken! You know that !”

Then Radha’s eyes and heart filled with tears and pain.

Radha : “Yes, I know that. For you, the task is more important than Radha. But you don’t know that, for Radha, Krishna is the important thing….. She has nothing else. Radha’s every duty, every task, her hopes and her ambition, her prayers and entreaties are all Placed at Krishna’s Lotus feet…”

“If you take these blessed feet away from me…. Then your Radha will be left alone in Vrindavan after your going away to Gokul, like the ash that is left in the holy pot after the ritual of fire is over!”

“You can never understand this pain! Only the beloved can understand this!”

Krishna: “Why? Does not the lover experience this pain?”

Radha: “Not to the same extent! The lover bears this pain with his manliness…but the beloved has only one support : Her Lover! And if her lover deserts her….then how can she bear the pain?”

“She needs her lover to share her pain and cry on his shoulder. Otherwise She cannot show her tears to others so as not to defame her lover…..You’ll keep yourself busy either doing your duty on battlefield or in society or establishing a just social order, but your beloved Radha will be lost in the vast notingness of loneliness…..Whom will she unburden her heart to?”

Krishna: “To Me.”

Radha: “To You?”

Krishna: “Yes, To Me. O Radhe, wherever I may be, in the palace or in the forest on the battlefield or doing my duty…..I give you my word that we’ll meet regularly in the emotional world of dreams….”

Radha: “Huh! I’ll dream if I can sleep. If a beloved can sleep peacefully when separated from her lover…It is disrespect shown to love.”

Krishna: “No. If there is hope of a union with the lover it is not a disrespect of Love to dream be it of heavan or Helll or even the Dream world itself.“

Radha : “How hard-hearted you are. Distracting me with dreams. Sometimes I wonder why I left Heaven (Goloka) to bear this pain in Vrindavan….I could have stayed there with your immortal form watching your antics in human form Crazed by your love…why did I follow you to this mortal World???”

Krishna: “I know why.”

Radha: “Why?”

Krishna: “So that I could enjoy your companionship on this cruel Earth for bit of time…In this environment of violence and greed you wanted to give me your selfless love…Your coming here has made possible the Love Ritual….Which will make Krishna the Incarnation of Love otherwise, in this Incarnation….I’ve to accomplish many difficult tasks!”

Radha: “May I ask something?”

Krishna: “Yes.”

Radha: “You always say you are bound by the love of your devotees and your beloved?”

Krishna: “Yes.”

Radha: “That you always obey their dictates?”

Krishna: “Of course!”

Radha: “Will you listen to me.. If I ask you not to leave me and go away from Vrindavan ?”

Krishna: “I’ll obey you, if you order me to.”

Radha: “All right! I order you to promise me that you will stay here with me….”

Krishna: “All right! I give you my word. I’ll not leave without your permission….”

Radha: “Then sit by my side and play the flute…”

Krishna: “As you wish!”

Then Krishna started to play His transcendental flute and Radha put her head on Krishna’s shoulder and started to listen the sound of His transcendental flute with great attention.

Radha statred to weep and her eyes were filled with tears and said to Krishna…

Radha: “May I ask for something?”

Krishna: “Yes.”

Radha: “Make me two promise before you leave..”

Krishna: “What?”

Radha: “First, not only in my dreams but in reality as well as long as I am on this earth…you’ll stay in my heart for every moment….”

Krishna: “And the second?”

Radha: “Second, before I leave this Earth you will meet me at least once.”

Krishna: “I give you my word! But I also want you to promise me something.”

Radha: “What?”

Krishna: “You will not shed tears….”

Radha: “That will be difficult…”
Then Krishna Himself wipes tears from Radha’s eyes and Said : “O Radhe…. Every tear of yours will be an obstacle in my path of Duty. So, give me your word”

Radha: “Allright! I give you my word! I won’t shed any tears!”

After said that Radha placed her head upon Lotus Feet of Shri Krishna…and Krishna immediately left that place…….

And Radha started to Sing this song of seperation with Her unconscious and broken heart…

O Lord of my Life! Goodbye….
O Lord of the World! Goodbye...
A broken heart, a silent love,
bids my Beloved Goodbye..

Goodbye….Goodbye….Goodbye…
O My Beloved Goodbye….

I cannot go with thee.. Nor can I stop thee…
You walk on the path of duty,
which path should I take?

O Lord of the World! Goodbye….
O Lord of the Flute! Goodbye....
A broken heart, a silent love
bids my Beloved Goodbye….

Goodbye….Goodbye….Goodbye…
O My Beloved Goodbye..

The waves of the Yamuna separates our hearts..
We will occupy the same Earth,
Our ultimate union is definite!
On the chariot of Religion!

Goodbye…
On the path of Duty! Goodbye…
A broken heart, a silent love
bids my Beloved Goodbye….

Goodbye….Goodbye….Goodbye…
O My Beloved Goodbye…
[photo courtesy Google]

F£ute of Krishna

-- A beautiful story about the flute of Krishna --

There is a beautiful story about the flute of Krishna. You know Krishna always holds a flute in his hand, but there is a great story behind it.

Everyday Krishna would go in the garden and say to all the plants, “I love you”. The plants were very happy and responded back and said “Krishna, we love You, too”.

One day Krishna rushed quickly into the garden very alarmed. He went to the bamboo plant and the bamboo plant asked, “Krishna, what´s wrong with you?”

Krishna said “I have something to ask you, but it is very difficult”.

The bamboo said “Tell me: if I can, I will give it to you”.

So Krishna said “I need your life. I need to cut you”.

The bamboo thought for a while and then said “You don´t have any other choice. You don’t have any other way?”

Krishna said, “No, no other way”.

And it said “OK, I surrender to you”.

So Krishna cut the bamboo, made holes in it. Krishna made a beautiful flute out of it. And this flute was with Krishna all the time. 24 hours a day, it was with Krishna.

Even the Gopis were jealous of the flute. They said, “Look, Krishna is our Lord, but yet we get to spend only some time with him. He wakes up with you, He sleeps with you, all the time you are with him”.

So one day they asked the bamboo, “Tell us the secret of it. What secret do you have, that the Lord treasures you so much?”

And the bamboo said “The secret is that I´m empty inside. And the Lord does whatever he wants with me, whenever he wants with me and however he wants with me”.

So this is complete surrender: where God can do whatever He wants with you, whenever He wants, as He wants. And for that you don’t need to be scared, you know, you have just to give yourself. And who is yourself in reality? It’s just Him!
[Picture courtesy Google]

"Say NO to eating SONGS" that Fly

We ate the birds. We ate them. We wanted their songs to flow up through our throats and burst out of our mouths, and so we ate them. We wanted their feathers to bud from our flesh. We wanted their wings, we wanted to fly as they did, soar freely among the treetops and the clouds, and so we ate them. We speared them, we clubbed them, we tangled their feet in glue, we netted them, we spitted them, we threw them onto hot coals, and all for love, because we loved them. We wanted to be one with them. We wanted to hatch out of clean, smooth, beautiful eggs, as they did, back when we were young and agile and innocent of cause and effect, we did not want the mess of being born, and so we crammed the birds into our gullets, feathers and all, but it was no use, we couldn’t sing, not effortlessly as they do, we can’t fly, not without smoke and metal, and as for the eggs we don’t stand a chance. We’re mired in gravity, we’re earthbound. We’re ankle-deep in blood, and all because we ate the birds, we ate them a long time ago, when we still had the power to say no.
[Margaret Atwood]