A Secret Dialogue

One day, Shiva entered into the house of Ravana, and found him sleeping. Shiva was surprised. Ravana prostrated himself upon the floor in reverence. With folded hands, he requested Shiva to forgive him, as his offence was not a deliberate one.

Shiva replied that the human birth was a difficult one to achieve, and it did no credit to Ravana's intelligence to be daydreaming, especially during such a time.

Ravana requested Shiva to be compassionate to his (obedient) servant, and to forgive the offence. Ravana further asked Shiva to order him as to which undesirable works he must shed.

Shiva replied, my friend, things which are hidden even to the gods, those I shall reveal to you. Pay attention to what I tell you. Whosoever shall accept what I have to say, he shall be freed from the burden of wrongdoing.

O Ravana! A man (male) should not blow out a burning lamp; 

O Ravana! On the day of the fast, the deity being worshipped resides in the body of the person. Thus (on the day of the fast) one should be clean, sleep upon the floor and stay away from female company. If one subsists on a diet of fruits, and donates (does charity) to some brahmins as well, then the gods will be pleased, and give their blessings. 

O Ravana! Among all the metals, copper is considered to be the purest. It is said that when a person bathes with a copper vessel, the effect is the same as bathing in the waters of the (holy) Ganga.

O Ravana! Fasting, paying respect to (one's) deceased ancestors, and worship; one must observe these, one must not be indifferent to them.

O Ravana! If an alien or stranger asks for something, then one should fulfill the request in accordance with one's faith. [Do not be indifferent to his request].

O Ravana! Whatever works you do, do so in the name of Narayana (God); no blame shall come upon you, and you shall remain free from distress.

O Ravana! If it is neccessary to speak during meals, speak no ill of anyone, and speak no falsehood.

O Ravana! No harsh (and malicious) words should escape from the lips of a married man to his wife. Because his wife is his better half, and the first among his well-wishers. 

O Ravana! If, morning to nightfall, a man sits (idly) upon the threshold of his home, then the wealth he has acquired through meritorious deeds shall be depleted; and his debts shall grow.

On hearing this secret dialogue, Ravana was lost deep in sorrow. Seeing him in a contemplative mood, and moved by compassion, Shiva removed the affliction from his mind. 

O Ravana, he said, this hidden secret was made manifest because of the baseness of your work. Whosoever shall accept (what I have revealed), it shall be of benefit to him.

Ravana replied, this boat (ark) - of moral guidance - shall help me cross the ocean of life. What capacity have I to sing its praise? Protect me; that is to say, instruct me further...

Then Shiva understood that Ravana was his foremost officer, and instructed him:

O Ravana! If another being asks for some food, do not be indifferent to his request.

O Ravana! If one fulfills the request of another, this virtue cannot be equaled upon this earth. Because, in the happiness of a living being is found the happiness of God.

O Ravana! Do not beg, borow or steal... be satisfied with what the Lord Almighty, in his kindness, has given unto you.

On hearing this, Ravana praised Shiva, and requested him to dispel his ignorance...

O Ravana! A person who is sitting in the company of other persons, and brings some food along with him, he should not eat alone. [he is at fault]

O Ravana! On the bed that a married man shares with his wife, a brother - male relative - should not sit on that bed. [he is at fault]

O Ravana! The person who makes still the mind - is of one mind - and listens to (religious) discourses with emotion and feeling, he shall attain to heaven!

O Ravana! If a man criticizes his family or clan, then how will he face his (own) son?

O Ravana! If something has been given to you (for safe keeping), and you deny it, your woman shall go barren. [figuratively speaking]

O Ravana! A person who praises himeself, or is pleased upon hearing his (own) praise from others, no good will come of it!    

O Ravana! No harsh words should be spoken to one's father or elder brother.

O Ravana! The man who abandons his lord or master in the midst of battle (out of cowardice) he shall be damned. [court-martialled]

O Ravana! During his lifetime, the person who does not visit the Ganga - or other places of pilgrimmage - that person's life (in this world) is akin to an animal's. [In India, people visit places of pilgrimmage for ritual bathing, to wash away their past sins]

O Ravana! To hurt your tribe, to kill a living being, or to speak ill of someone (without basis), this constitutes sin.

Speaking further, Shiva said: 

O Ravana! The man without offspring (to continue his family line), what place has he in this world! 

On hearing this, Ravana asked who will offer water to long-dead ancestors [a form of ritual or prayer to appease the spirits of the dead] if the man is without issue? 

Replying to Ravana, Shiva said that if a man is without issue, a devoted (and chaste) wife may pour water to deceased ancestors.

O Ravana! Only after a great deal of effort, and a good deal of prayer and devotion, does a man attain to his ends. Man should be satisfied with what God has given; happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, good and bad, these should be seen with equanimity. When the end approaches, mother and father cannot help you, nor can your brother; it is only your good deeds that stand by you.

O Ravana! Cutting down a Mango tree is no less than killing a Brahmin; and the merit gained from planting a garden (full of trees) is equal to a thousand sacrifices.

O Ravana! This should also be known that the father is affected by the deeds of the son... 

... On hearing this discourse, Ravana was lost deep in thought. He said (to Shiva): I have understood some of the things you have said, and other things I have understood not. How shall I gain salvation when my time comes? 

Shiva saw that Ravana was drowned in sorrow, and (out of his kindness) reassured him. He told Ravana not to think too much, but to be patient, and to meditate. Because this discourse would free him from wrongdoing, and help him gain salvation.

O Ravana! The person who is wrathful and displeased at the wealth or prosperity of others, that person will become a pauper in this world and will suffer in the other world. 

Ravana asked Shiva to give him some more advice...

Shiva said that if a man does not follow his master's orders, then he will be sorry for it.

On hearing this, Ravana questioned Shiva saying what would happen if the man were given a task that were unreasonable or impossible to carry out? 

Shiva replied that until further orders are given, he should attempt to carry out that task to the best of his abilities. 

Ravana asked Shiva what if he failed in his duties altogether?

Shiva replied that the man should ask for forgiveness (from the good lord) for his fault.

O Ravana! If a person embarks upon a (religious) pilgrimmage, he should not stop on the way to enjoy the hospitality of others.

O Ravana! Neither parent - mother or father - should hit or hurt a child who is crying.

O Ravana! A man should pay (due) wages to his servant.

On the question of remarriage, Shiva says that  if a widower marries again, he will have neither happiness, wealth or progeny in this world. 

Ravana replies that if a man without issue marries again, then he is not at fault. But, if he has a child (from a former marriage), he should not marry again.

O Ravana! A person who keeps this discourse in mind, he will find happiness, both in this world and in the other world. And, he will carry out his duties to God with a selfless spirit and a happy frame of mind.  

The Good Sense of Geese

Next Autumn, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in a "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are heading the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What message do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally - and this is important - when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

The Treasure Within Us

An old man had been begging by the side of a road for many years.

One day a stranger walked past, and the beggar looked up at him, pleadingly. "Spare some change?" he mumbled, mechanically holding out his cap.

"I have nothing to give you," said the stranger. Then he turned his head and asked, "What's that you are sitting on?"

"Nothing," replied the beggar. "Just an old box. I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember."

"Have you ever looked inside?" asked the stranger.

"No," said the beggar. "What's the point? There's nothing in there," he said. 

"Have a look inside," insisted the stranger. The beggar got up and managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold.

***

I am that stranger who has nothing to give you, but who is telling you to look inside. I am not telling you to look inside any box, as in the story, but inside somewhere even closer: inside yourself.

"But I am not a beggar," I can hear you say.

Beggars are those who continue to look outside themselves for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love.

Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakable peace that comes with it, are beggars, even if they have great material wealth.

However, every one of us holds a treasure-trove of gold within ourselves, which is infinitely greater than anything the material world can offer.

The Truth Of Life

The truth is that life is hard and dangerous:


That he who seeks his own happiness does not find it; 

That he who is weak must suffer; That he who demands love will be disappointed; 

That he who is greedy will not be fed; That he who seeks peace will find strife;

That truth is only for the brave; That joy is only for him who does not fear to be alone; That life is only for the one who is not afraid to die!