What's The Reward For My Success?

Indra and Dhruv were classmates and close friends in a high school in Mumbai. They would

sit together, eat together and sometimes study together. The teachers were surprised that both were equally competent and still had no jealousy between them.

The two passed the high school exams together but destiny took them to different universities thereafter. While Indra got admission in IIT-Mumbai, Dhruv was invited to join an engineering program in Banaras Hindu University.

Due to the difference in environments of the two, the two friends began to develop a different attitude. One could see a clear gap in their likes and dislikes and the gap was widening with the passage of time.

While Indra enjoyed listening to the top technocrats of Boston, Dhruv developed a taste for the leelas of God and Satsang. While Indra enjoyed staying up to date with the latest smart phones, Dhruv enjoyed quite times at the shore of Ganga Ji watching devotees come and pray.

Very soon, the two graduated from their universities and started working. Indra started working for a multinational company in Detroit while Dhruv preferred to stay in Bhilai and work for SAIL. 

Dhruv's mental development was taking a big turn. He was always trying to find time to read stories of the saints and listening to the Hindu acharyas on TV. He soon had a company of colleagues who had similar interests. Work was just a formality for Dhruv. He just did it to make a living but it never was a priority.

Two years passed by. And one day, Indra visited Mumbai and Dhruv met him. The two were so excited. They both wanted to share their stories.

Indra said - Hey dude! How have you been? 

Dhruv said - I am good Indra. I am so happy to see you. How are you? How is life in US?

Indra said - I am very happy. I have been very successful at Ford. My salary has gone up almost 30% since I joined them. I have a nice apartment, a Honda car and a girl friend. I am the king. I know how to make people kneel on my knees. Everyone better know that one day they will need me, my knowledge, my skills, so they better be nice to me. Hey! You started wearing those cheap kurtas? Is that the fashion here? And should I get you an Apple phone? Your phone looks like a very old Philips..

Dhruv said - I am so happy to see you Indra but that is how I live now. My job is OK, nothing great like yours. May be God wants me to live like this. But I am so happy for you. 

Dhruv continued - I have developed a taste for spiritual knowledge and God. It is so interesting. The more I read about it, the less I feel I know. Looks like it is endless and even after reading for two years, I feel I know nothing.

Moral Of The Story

The story teaches us that the success in the material world and the spiritual world have different outcomes. 

Trying to grow in the world and getting success there boosts ego.

On the other hand, trying to get spiritual knowledge and progressing towards God makes us realize that the knowledge and bliss we are pursuing is endless. That realization turns our ego into humility.

A Taste of Prem Ras - 3

A Param Hans saw a naked boy (Krishna) standing with his hands on his waist. The Param

Hans was stunned and he ran away from him.

Someone was passing by that way. 

He told him – Hey, do not go this way. 

The man asked - Why? Is there any shooting going on this way? Is there a risk of life?

He said - No, no! There is a naked little boy standing there. I thought I am a Param hans but as soon as I saw him, I became crazy. I don't know what has happened to me.

Moral Of The Story

Such is the power of Shri Krishna's Premanand that just by seeing Him, the Param Hans who have no consciousness of the outside world, also go crazy. They forget their Brahmanand and have no idea what happens to them when they get an Anand which is millions of times bigger than their own Anand.

In the world, we see something similar when a beggar wins a million dollar lottery.

Calm In The Gravest Situations

Once Guru Shukracharya sent Virochan, the son of Prahlad for hunting. Although Prahlad did not approve, Guru Shukracharya felt it was a part of the training for the crown prince. In the forest, Virochan was searching for a prey when a very strong storm came.

Sudhanva, son of Sage Angira was meditating under a tree which almost fell on him due to the winds. Virochan saved him at the right time. Both were hurt and together they sought shelter at the cottage of Sage Vatsa. Both Virochan and Sudhanva fell in love with the sage's daughter Deepavali.

Later, both Virochan and Sudhanva came and proposed to Deepavali. When she was

unable to choose, Virochan drew his sword on Sudhanva and abducted Deepavali, taking her to Shukracharya's ashram.

The Saptarishis informed Prahlad of his son's actions and Prahlad at once rescued Deepavali, standing up to Shukracharya. When neither Deepavali nor her father could decide between the two boys, her father asked Prahlad to decide.

Prahlad asked Sudhanva if he approved him to be the judge. Sudhanva accepted. Kayadhu and Prahlad's wife tried to convince Prahlad to decide in Virochan's favor. Prahlad however decided Virochan was wrong to have used force and that he decided Deepavali should marry Sudhanva. Virochan humbly admitted his mistake. Prahlad also announced that his son Virochan would get a death penalty for his mistake against the Brahmin.

But everyone including Sudhanva and Guru Shukracharya urged Prahlad to pardon Virochan as the severity of the mistake was not big and there was no violence in the incident. Prahlad agreed and changed his decision and pardoned his son.

Prahlad first ordered death penalty for Virochan and later pardoned him. In either case, he did not have any feeling. Such was the Vairag in Prahlad's heart.

Moral Of The Story

Something happens in the world and when we see or hear it, we feel good or bad. In

either case, we prove that our mind is still in the world. How much we feel depends on how much our mind is attached in the world.

But examples like Prahlad teach us that our inner strength - which is our relationship with God - helps us to treat both good and bad situations with the same calmness and tranquility.

Jaggery Served In A Marriage - What An Insult?

Dhani Ram was very happy. His son Sanchit is getting married today. Everything is all set.

All the prestigious invitees are already at the venue. Everyone is amazed at the expensive decorations in the hall. The ceremonies are being held with the chanting of the mantras by Shastri Ji, the head priest of the Jaipur's Gobind Temple. Musicians are playing classical instruments in the background.

Just then, Dhani Ram saw the manager Akshay of the hall running towards him. He looked very worried and was sweating. 

Dhani Ram asked him - What is the matter? Why do you look so perplexed? Is everything alright?

Akshay said - No Sir! We have a problem. There was a fire in the warehouse and all the sugar and mishri sacks are destroyed. We were able to put off the fire but where will I bring sugar for tea and coffee of 800 people at this time?

Dhani Ram also was panicked now. He asked - Do you have a solution Akshay? It is a question of my prestige. Please do something.

Akshay said - Sir, if you don't mind, I can serve the jaggery grains instead. Jaggery is just another form of sugar although unrefined but still will make the tea and coffee sweet.

Dhani Ram could not say no as there was no other option.

But then he heard an old man from his native place come shouting to him - Dhani! What is wrong with you? You are serving jaggery in your son's marriage? This is an insult.

Moral Of The Story

Sugar is refined form of jaggery and both are sweet. But jaggery is served in villages only. Serving jaggery in a party in a city is taken as abnormal.

In the same way, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj teaches us that Brahmanand and Premanand are both unlimited and everlasting bliss. However, Gyani's Brahmanand is like jaggery and Bhakt's Premanand is like sugar or even mishri. Who wants to taste Brahmanand when a Rasik saint can Grace us with Premanand, which is hundreds of thousands of times sweeter than the Brahmanand?

Can You Swim The English Channel?

Johny won medals for swimming at many sport events. He trained very hard and had built

stamina to swim for many miles together.

Tim was Johny's coach. He accompanied Johny on each of his ambitious missions. Tim would alert Johny when things would become risky or Johny was extending a bit too much. On a couple of occasions, Tim helped Johny out of the water when Johny was fatigued to his limit and could not move on.

Johny had bigger plans than what Tim could think of. Johny wanted to cross the English channel and that too without the support of Tim or any escort boat.

Tim said to himself - This is a mission impossible. Why is Johny not ready to have my support or the escort boat? He can kill himself.

Moral Of The Story

The Gyanis meditate upon the Nirakar or impersonal form of God and want to achieve Him with their own strength. This is like swimming the English channel with no support.

Just like the swimmer's body is not perfect and can give up on the way, the hidden desires (Vasanas) in the Gyani's mind, due to his past deeds, become his obstructions and his meditation continues to fall on his way.

A Bhakt Never Falls

Jamie was very fond of animals. His dad brought a pet cat for him on his birthday 3 years

ago. He called it Amber. Jamie fed Amber and played with her and Amber enjoyed being with Jamie. As Amber grew up, she had four babies. Jamie would spend hours watching Amber as she took care of her kittens. He made a small cat house for the family in the garden so they had enough space to play.

The kitten grew up soon. And they would walk away from their home now.

Jamie was seeing one going away and was thinking - Should I bring it back to its house?

But then he saw Amber jump and lift its baby in the mouth and herself bring it back.

Jamie narrated this to his dad - Dad! I saw Amber picking up her baby with its mouth. Wow! Then I do not need to worry that the kitten would go astray.

Jamie's dad said - You are right Jamie! Since the cats themselves hold the baby in their mouth, even the baby does not need to worry that it will fall. It knows that its mother is holding it, so it need not worry.

Once Jamie went to visit the zoo with his dad. He saw a monkey baby holding his mother's belly. Jamie was watching carefully. Just then a woman offered a banana to the monkeys. The mother monkey jumped to get the banana and in this jerk, the baby monkey fell down.

Jamie said - Oh no dad! Why doesn't the mother monkey also hold its baby in her mouth just like Amber?

His dad laughed and said - Well Jamie! These are laws made by God. This is the difference how a cat and a monkey carry their babies. And yes, since the monkey baby is holding its mom with its own strength, there is always a risk that it will fall.

Moral Of The Story

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj refers to this example to teach us that a Gyani progresses in his meditation with his own strength. Due to the subtle Vaasanas, he becomes weak in his path and falls from his path. 

However, a Bhakt or a devotee abandons his ego. He surrenders to God and progresses in his Sadhana and Bhajan with the strength of God. And since thereafter, God takes his responsibility, the devotee never falls. The devotee's faith carries him forward while the Grace of God protects him from falling.

A Taste Of Prem Ras - 2

 In Brajdham, a Gopi was craving to get the association of her dear Krishna. And then while she was

working, she saw Krishna walking by.

She said to Krishna – O Kanahiya! Can you lift this cow dung for me? 

Krishna said – No No..I don't work for free.

The Gopi said – You don't have to work for free. I will give you butter in exchange. The number of times you pick it up, the same number of cups of butter you will get. 

Krishna said – OK. This sounds but better. But neither me nor you know how to count, so how will we remember how many times I picked up the dung? 

The Gopi said – I have an idea. I will make a tika (mark) on your face with the cow dung for each load. And I will remove one tika for each cup of butter I give you. OK? 

Krishna agreed. 

When everything was done, the Gopi took Krishna home. 

Krishna said – Give me the butter quickly, I have to go back home. The Gopi kept delaying so she can have more and more Darshan of Krishna. Krishna became anxious. He repeated. 

The Gopi laughed and said – Yes I am bringing it, but how beautiful are you looking Kanah! 

Krishna stood up and saw his face in water in a bucket. He could not stand Himself and washed his face. 

Krishna said – Give me the butter quickly. I have to go. 

The Gopi said – What should I give you now? There is no tika on your face now.

Moral Of The Story

God is the cause of all causes. God is the ruler of Maya as well as Jeev. God reveals, protects and destroys the worlds. Infinite number of universes are revealed from every pore of His body.

But there is one entity that controls God. And that is Love - Prem. God becomes a slave for this love. It is for this love that Krishna plays into the tricks of the Gopis - just for a cup of butter.

A Taste Of Prem Ras - 1

Narad Ji always mentioned that the Gopis of Braja held the highest position as selfless devotees. Here is an interesting incident.

Narad Ji once saw a Gopi meditating on the bank of river Yamuna.

When she opened her eyes, Narad Ji asked – O Mother! You have been in Dhyan for so long. Is Shri Krishna your Isht Dev (God) ? Is your goal to attain Him?

She answered angrily – Don’t pronounce that name in front of me. I was trying to get rid of Krishna from my heart. He is such a nuisance. He does not let me do my work. He keeps coming to my heart and I keep forgetting  what I am doing. So my rotis (bread) burn and my husband and my mother-in-law shout at me. I want Him (Shri Krishna) out of my mind.

Moral Of The Story

Strange are the ways of love in Braj. While devotees practice to keep Krishna in their heart, this Gopi is praying to get rid of Him.

God Must Give What You Pray For

A demon wanted to achieve Parvati Ji. And so he did great Tapa to please Shankar Ji.

 

Shankar Ji, also called Bholenath was pleased with his Tapasya and appeared.

He said to the demon - I am very pleased with your austerities. Please ask for a boon.

The demon said – O Mahadev! I ask for a power that he should die on whose head I place my hand. 

Bhole Shankar knew that the demon would misuse the power but since due to the demon's austerities and prayers, he had to give the boon. 

And so he said - Tatha Astu! (The boon is granted!)

The demon then asked – O Mahadev! Did you actually give me the boon? How do I know that I have the power? Can I test it on your head?  The trick in the demon's head was to kill Shankar Ji, so he could get Parvati Ji.

Shankar Ji said - No No! That will kill me. And so he ran and the demon followed. 

Shankar Ji ran to Shri Krishna. He told Him what had happened and asked Him for His protection. 

The demon approached Shri Krishna and said - Where is Mahadev? I want to test if he gave

me the power. I think he fooled me.

Shri Krishna told the demon – You are wise and you are right. Did you believe Shankar Ji? He just cheats people's trust by giving fake boons. I just saw that you kept your hand on your own head and nothing happened.

The demon said - Did I? Let me try again.

And as soon as the demon put his hand on his head, he died. And thus Shri Krishna saved Shankar Ji from his own power.

Moral Of The Story

If God is pleased with your Bhakti, He is bound to fulfill your desire - whatever it may be. You can ask for a material reward, liberation or God's Divine Love. It is entirely your choice. 

But God is bound by His own law to give what you want.

The I Endangers Us

Tara was a poor woman. She had two goats from whose milk she made a living. When Tara

travelled to her brother's house in the nearby village, she would take the two goats with her.
 

Once, she was visiting her brother Akash. The goats were with her.

Akash said to her - Tara! I just wanted to let you know that there is a news of a wolf in this village these days. Looks like Ramu saw it in his farm.

Tara replied - Brother Akash! Is that a cause of any worry? Can we hide the goats somewhere?

Akash replied - Yes Tara, let us hide them in the backyard, so they are not visible from outside.

So Akash took the goats and tied them in the backyard with his cow.

In the night, the two goats began to make a noise. They kept saying - Mein Mein.

The wolf senses the sounds very quickly. It heard the sound and discovered the goats and killed one of them and took it with him.

Tara came out crying. But what could be done now. The goat was gone.

 

Moral Of The Story

Just as the goat says Mein Mein, the Jeev also says with an ego - I, This is mine, I did this..Just as the wolf suddenly attacks the goat and eats it up, Yamraj or Kaal also attacks the Jeev and takes it with Him. Both the wolf and the Kaal would not spare the goat or the Jeev even if they realize their mistake and ask for apology or want to repent. There is no opportunity to correct oneself when the damage is done.

The Incompleteness Of Gyanis

Once a sage named Jawari Muni was going through a forest. A beautiful girl was sitting

there with her eyes closed. She was so beautiful that it was hard to believe that someone like her would meditate in a forest. 

The Muni said to himself - She must be from a different Lok. I must wait for her to open her eyes. 

At last, she opened her eyes. 

The Muni asked her – O Lady! Your body seems to have a glare that I have never seen before. Who are you and why are you meditating. 

The girl replied– Maharaj! I am Brahm Vidya. Everyone becomes Brahm Gyani only after attaining me. 

Muni was surprised and asked again – Oh! But if you are Brahm Vidya yourselves, then what are you doing here? What is the goal of your meditation.

Brahm Vidya replied – Maharaj! I am Brahm Vidya of course! But what is the use of this knowledge which cannot get me the love of Shri Krishna. I feel so incomplete and hence I am praying to Shri Krishna.

Moral Of The Story

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj teaches us that the sweetness of the love of Shri Krishna

(Premanand) is many thousand times higher than the Brahmanand of the Gyanis.

It is natural that one forgets his pleasure if he gets even the taste of a higher pleasure. And so the Gyanis forget their Brahmanand as soon as they get a flavor of Shri Krishna's Premanand of Vrindavan. The likes of King Janak were famous to be conscious of themselves only. However, no one can imagine their state when they got even one glimpse of Shri Ram.

A Wrong Swar Changes The Outcome Of The Yagya

Tvasta, performed a sacrifice to kill King Indra. 

The Rishis who were performing the Yagya did not want that to happen. Since they could not say No to Tvasta, they cleverly changed the pronunciation (swar) of a mantra which yielded an opposite result. 

The mantra was originally meant to pray to increase the power of Indra's enemies. 

But due to the change in the swar by the Rishis, it prayed to increase the power of Indra.

The sacrifice produced a demon named Vrtrasura to kill Indra. The demon was extremely ferocious but in the battle, Indra's power continued to increase and ultimately Vrtrasura was killed.

Moral Of The Story

This story teaches us that the Yagya as described in the Karm Kand has many strict rules to follow. If any of the rules is not followed correctly, the result cannot be predicted.

This is to explain that the rules of Karm as described in the Vedas are never ending and are extremely difficult to follow in Kaliyug.

The Touch Of Paras

The Paras or touchstone is a stone from heaven which when touches anything made of

iron into gold. Shruti was once coming back from temple. As usual, she gave some money and food to an old beggar. This was her every day routine.

The beggar said to Shruti - O little lady! If you did not give me this help, I do not know how I would have survived till today. May God give a daughter like you to everyone.

Shruti said - Never mention it Baba..you are just like my father. I just wanted to mention that I will not come to this temple everyday now. Tomorrow is my marriage and I will be living a bit far from here. Won't you bless your daughter on her marriage?

The Baba said - O my daughter! I bless you every moment. It is sad that you are leaving. But let me give you a special stone as a gift to you. Just keep it in your house where you worship. This is special and was given to me by a sage who was passing by.

Shruti thanked the Baba and came home with the stone.

Shruti's mom saw a dirty stone on Shruti's bed and thought - What has happened to this girl? While other girls collect jewellery, she collects dirty stones. Let me throw this out of the window.

As Shruti's mom threw the stone outside, the stone touched the iron lining of the window and it turned yellow. Shruti's mom was taken aback when she saw this. 

She called her husband and said - Listen! I threw a stone which Shruti brought from the temple. The stone hit the window and look at this what happened.

Shruti's father examined the window lining and said - You know what? This lining has turned into gold. The stone that you threw is a touchstone or a Paras. Lets go find it.

The couple went out and found the stone. Now they were enjoying becoming richer with every touch of the stone.

Shruti's mother touched the stone with her watch and said - Hey, I have a gold watch now.

Shruti saw this and in her heart of hearts said to Lord Krishna - O God...so it was you in the form of the beggar to bless me. Thank you God, I really thank you for coming for me.

Moral Of The Story

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj narrated this story to explain that whether we touch the

touchstone with iron accidentally or purposely, whether we throw it into iron or we touch it softly, the iron will become gold in all cases. This is because of the nature of the touchstone is to convert iron into gold.

Similarly if someone brings God into his mind whether with love or anger, he will get the benefit of God in both cases. Because God is pure and it is His nature to purify the mind and senses and Grace with His Bliss.

Some examples are that Lord Krishna gave His abode to Gopis who thought of Him with love. He also gave His abode to Kans who thought of Him with fear and to Shishupal who thought of Him like an enemy.

Guru Seva

Long ago, there lived a great scholar called Ayodh Daumya. Daumya was a great teacher and had many accomplished students. One of his students was Aruni.

Aruni was not a good student but served his Guru in the maintenance of the the ashram.

One day, it rained heavily in the area. Guru Daumya asked Aruni to ensure that the the fields do not get flooded. Aruni went and saw that the banks between the farms were crumbling. O Lord! If the banks break, the water will flood the field and the crops would be destroyed..

Aruni tried to make a bank with some firewood but it did not work. He tried again and again and even tried to make the banks stronger by plastering it with mud but it still did not work...The rains kept washing the mud away. The water threatened to enter into the fields...

O Lord what should I do....Aruni thought...

Early morning in the Gurukul, Guru Daumya needed Aruni's help as usual and looked for him. 'Where is Aruni?' He asked his students.

The students looked at each other and said - Gurudev! The last we saw him was when you sent him to to check the field banks!

Daumya and his students immediately set out looking for Aruni in the cold rain.

Everyone shouted - Aruni, Aruni, where are you?

'Aruni!' Daumya shouted in the cold night. He strained his ears as he heard a faint reply, 'Gurudev.....the bank..the crops...'

Daumya ran towards the sound. He saw Aruni lying on the crumbling bank. Aruni was acting as the bank preventing the water from entering the field.. 

Aruni looked faint from hunger and cold. He was constantly muttering, 'Bank breaking...crops washed away...' Daumya carried back Aruni to the ashram while his other students mended the bank.

Daumya was extremely happy with Aruni's selfless service. 

He said to him - Son! I am proud of you...You have done a great service to the ashrama....

Guru Daumya blessed him and as soon as he kept his hand on Aruni's head - All the Gyan

that Aruni could not capture entered his brain. 

Guru Daumya said - Henceforth you will be known as Uddalaka [In sanskrit, Uddalaka means, the one who was raised from the boundary].

True to the teacher's words, Uddalaka Aruni after completing his studies became a guru and became a great teacher...Uddalaka was the grandfather of Ashtavakra...A great scholar, who was the teacher of King Janaka, the father of Sita in the Ramayana.

Moral Of The Story

A true saint or a Guru is a Divine personality who knows God and how to attain Him. A Guru has the same powers as God and can give us the Divine Spiritual Knowledge as His Grace in no time.

This story teaches us that Seva (service) is one Sadhan (means) by which we can please our Sadguru and hence get His Grace.