Another very nice article - Sai Ram to all

[neelu789]

Another article that i read and wish to share with all. Om sai ram.
Once upon a time...
 There was a rich King who had 4 wives.
 He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated
 her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.
 He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to
 neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day
 she would leave him for another.
 He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidante and was always kind,
 considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he
 could confide in her to help him get through the difficult times.
 The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great
 contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not
 love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice
 of her.
 One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short.
 He thought of his luxurious life and pondered, "I now have 4 wives with me,
 but when I die, I'll be all alone.
 Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with
 the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying,
 will you follow me and keep me company?"
 "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
 Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.
 The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now
 that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
 "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good!
 When you die, I'm going to remarry!"
 His heart sank and turned cold.
 He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've
 always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me
 and keep me company?"
 "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the
 very most, I can only send you to your grave."
 Her answer came like a bolt of thunder and the King was devastated.
 Then a voice called out:
 "I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." The King looked
 up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny,
 she suffered from malnutrition.
 Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you
 when I had the chance!"
 
In Truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives ...
 Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in
 making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
 Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth.
 When we die, it will all go to others.
 Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been
 there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
 And our 1st wife is our Soul,
 often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the ego.
 However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.
 So cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now!
 It is your greatest gift to offer the world.
 Let it Shine!

[Moosa Patel]

Neelu789, your article is very nice, but what I understand with the term "our" or "we" is the SOUL. you are talking about soul so the first wife should be termed as "deeds".

The center of the Article seems to be "SOUL" and the first wife is "DEEDS". Apnay karama hi apnay saath jaathay hai, aur apnay ko swarg ya naraq detay hai.

Allah Malik

[neelu789]

Agree with you moosa ji, respect your opinion but what i felt reading the article is that, as it is the Soul that is the Truth and the body decays, the deeds we do in the human(or anyother creature) form are carried forward by our Soul. Hum(the 'hum' here also indicates the Soul) agar swarg mein jaaye ya narak mein, it is the Soul, is what the article wants to convey, according to me

[Moosa Patel]

Neelu ji I would like to highlight about following statement in your article "However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go."

We cannot say soul will follow us, i.e. soul will follow human body. Human body is not doing anything on its own. Soul is doing all activities by using human body gifted to soul by god due to karma.

When soul leaves the body, body becomes motionless, so it is soul who does the activity. Body is a medium created by god for soul to funtion, and give pleasure or pain to soul as per its deeds. Thats why I said we cannot say soul follow us.

And hence for the above reasons, the appropriate word for first wife should be DEEDS instead of SOUL. The concept of story is marvellous.

Well its just spiritual conversation and exchange of views, hope I have not annoyed you. My lord SHREE SAI BABA, shows me things in different way.

Allah Malik

[neelu789]

moosa ji,
thank you for pointing that out to me. yes, you are also right in saying that it should be deeds as the first wife. And no! you have not annoyed me even to the slightest, please dont say like that moosa ji, none of us annoy each other and nothing annoys us we are all here as family members in Sai's family. I learnt from the discussion, thank you

[Moosa Patel]

neelu ji,

We should not term it as pointing out, but state it as discussing the topic. Very rightly said by you, that we are members of SHREE SAI Darbar. I am SHREE SAI Devotee from sufi sect, so we like spiritual discussion. We discuss topics, we do not argue. Here is one short story which I read today………

An Inspirational Story, Motivational Story -
The Wise Woman

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

Sometimes it's not the wealth you have but what's inside you (attitude) that others need

Allah Malik

[neelu789]

moosa ji,
beautiful story  selflessness and humility is the best way to be
and in the previous post, by 'pointing out' i meant it like thank you for making me learn that, because it is from discussions that we learn different views and opinions and we put our views forward, i did not mean it like 'pointing out' as in 'pointing out a mistake'(because you said we should not term it like that, im just saying that i didnt mean it any negative way), sorry if the meaning came out that way.

[Moosa Patel]

neelu ji,

Thanks for understanding my view, yeah it is from discussion we learn many things, and in spirituality it is important to discuss and learn. By grace of SHREE SAI BABA understanding power was developed in me while I use to sit for SHREE SAI naam jap at night for one hour.

Once a discussion was going on to determine who is preferable from the two mentioned below:
1. Man who always pray and a devotee.
or
2. Man who do not pray but he is good person.

All agreed on Man who always pray and a good devotee, but my view was Man who do not pray but he is a good person. I was asked explanation, and I said, Ravan and Kans and many demons prayed a lot and were devotee of LORD SHIVA, but they were harmful for good people.

My idea was accepted. Religion, prayers are not bad it is the followers representating religion are good or bad.

Allah Malik

there is another short story "That's Not My Problem" which is as follows:

A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain?

He was aghast to discover that it was a mouse trap!

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There is a mouse trap in the house, there is a mouse trap in the house."

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mouse trap in the house."

"I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, "Like wow, Mr. Mouse, a mouse trap; am I in grave danger, Duh?"

So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to face the farmer's mouse trap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.

In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital.

She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.

So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

[tanu_12]

Jai Jai Sai Ram

V Good Story neeluji, waiting for ur next post..

[rr_sai_bhakt]

 Religion, prayers are not bad it is the followers representating religion are good or bad.

Very well said Moosa ji ... that has been my point of view too ... its very important that a person is essentially a good human being first ...

Om Sai Ram ...

[neelu789]

very nice article moosa ji. so true - "when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk. so we must always help each other in difficult times, just like we share happiness when all's well

here's an article on faith that i read today -

"FAITH "

ONCE A ZEN MASTER WAS SAILING IN A SHIP WITH HIS DAUGHTER. MID-WAY A THUNDEROUS STORM BROKE OUT, LASHING HUGE WAVES AT THE SHIP.

AS THE SHIP WAS ABOUT TO SINK THE EMERGENCY SIGNALS WENT ON. ALL WERE IN A PANIC EXCEPT THE ZEN MASTER WHO SEEMED VERY CALM.

SEEING HIM QUITE RELAXED,HIS DAUGHTER QUESTIONED HIM.. "OH,FATHER ! ARENT YOU SCARED AS THE SHIP MIGHT SINK & WE ALL MIGHT PERISH"

HEARING THIS,IMMEDIATELY THE ZEN MASTER, PICKED UP HIS SHARP SWORD & DARTED IT ON HIS DAUGHTER'S NECK.

BUT HIS DAUGHTER WAS NOT MOVED A BIT IN FEAR.

HE ASKED- "ARENT YOU SCARED, THAT JUST AN INCH MORE & THIS SWORD COULD CUT ACROSS YOUR THROAT!"

HIS DAUGHTER REPLIED- "OH FATHER, YOU ARE MY MASTER & I`M YOUR CHILD SO WHY SHOULD I GET SCARED AS I KNOW YOU LOVE ME & I HAVE FULL FAITH THAT YOU WILL NEVER HURT ME!"


THE ZEN MASTER REPLIED -

 
"EXACTLY MY CHILD! THIS IS WHAT I WANTED YOU TO REALISE. LIKE YOU, I HAVE FULL FAITH IN MY MASTER WHO IS THE UNIVERSAL POWER CALLED GOD & NO MATTER HOW GRAVE THE SITUATION MIGHT BECOME HE CAN NEVER HARM ME AS HE LOVES ME LIKE HIS OWN CHILD. SO THAT'S WHY THIS STORM HAS`NT BEEN ABLE TO AFFECT ME A BIT!!!"


MORAL -

 
ALL UPS & DOWNS IN LIFE ARE JUST SIMPLE WAYS OF GOD, TO NOT ONLY CHECK HOW MUCH FAITH WE HAVE IN HIM BUT ALSO TO MAKE US STRONGER."

om sai ram
bow to Shri Sai - peace be to all

[Moosa Patel]

Faith, very nice article neelu ji, in fact this is what I want to achieve, and I am trying for. The firmness of Zen Master inspite of dangerous situation in front of him. I have experienced it many time under the shade of SHREE SAI BABA I just kept on remembering him and he changed the scene gradually from worst to the best situation.

Once a taxi driver dropped me in lonely place at night, far away from main city and left, I was tired and helpless I said to SHREE SAI BABA I cannot pick up all the luguage and enter the city I will sit here, and started remembering the incidents in which he use to send help for his devotees. After 15 minutes or so, one taxi came towards me and asked me if I need a taxi, I said yes and asked him, how did he think that there is a person in the dark. He said one old Fakir came and told me there is one man waiting for taxi............

rr_sai_bhakt, thanks for appreciating my views. and we as SAI devotees know that Sabka Malik Ek. I feel how fortunate were those people who could see SHREE SAI BABA, and what a Paradise feelings for those who see SHREE SAI BABA after maha samadhi.

here is one Spiritual Story by Massud Farzan on GIVE & TAKE
 
One day Mulla Nasrudin saw a crowd gathered around a pond. A Moslem priest with a huge turban on his head had fallen in the water and was calling for help.

People were leaning over and saying, "Give me your hand Reverend! Give me your hand!" But the priest didn't pay attention to their offer to rescue him; he kept wrestling with the water and shouting for help.

Finally Mulla Nasrudin stepped forward: "Let me handle this." He stretched out his hand toward the priest and shouted at him, "Take my hand!"

The priest grabbed Mulla's hand and was hoisted out of the pond. People, very surprised, asked Mulla for the secret of his strategy.

"It is very simple," he replied. "I know this miser wouldn't give anything to anyone. So instead of saying 'Give me your hand,' I said, 'take my hand,' and sure enough he took it."

Allah Malik
 
 

[neelu789]

moosa ji, that was a very wonderful experience u had thanks for sharing.. and the story also imparts the fact that Guru only know the best and how each different individual is..

here is another article i read today -

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go
to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of
walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked
down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a
dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who
would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to
catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and
the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was
reaching down to the shore, picking up something and
very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got
closer he called out,"Good morning! What are you
doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing
starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing
starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I
don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are
miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listned politely. Then bent down, picked
another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the
breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for
that one."

This reminds us of the words of Baba:

"Unless there is some relationship or connection,
nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to
you, do not discourteously drive them away, but
receive them well and treat them, with due respect.
Sri Hari will be certainly pleased, if you give water
to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the
naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and
resting. If anybody wants any money from you, and you
are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark
at him, like a dog. Let anybody speak hundreds of
things against you, do not resent by giving any bitter
reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will
certainly be happy. Let the world go topsy-turvy, you
remain where you are. Standing or staying in your own
place, look on calmly at the show of all things
passing before you. Demolish the wall of difference
that separates you from Me; and then the road for our
meeting will be clear and open. The sense of
differentiation, as I and thou, is the barrier that
keeps away the disciple from his Master, and unless
that is destroyed the state of union or atonement is
not possible, "Allah Malik" i.e. God is the sole
Proprietor, nobody else is our Protector. His method
of work is extra-ordinary, invaluable, and
inscrutable. His will will be done and He will show us
the way, and satisfy our heart's desires. It is on
account of Rinaubandh (former relationship) that we
have come together, let us love and serve each other
and be happy. He, who attain the supreme goal of life,
is immortal and happy; all others merely exist, i.e.,
live so long as they breathe".

These words of Sadguru Sai are priceless and very
important to remember.

Om Sai Ram

Baba bless us all
Bow to Shri Sai - peace be to all

[Moosa Patel]

neelu ji, words of SHREE SAI BABA which you have mentioned from Shree SAI SATCHARITRA, I try to read them at least once in a month, or whenever I find opportunity to read it. That para changes individual’s thinking and makes him gentleman. Whenever I give money to beggars I say in my heart SHREE SAI BABA I am giving money from what you have given to me………The article posted by you, on throwing of star fish in the ocean tells us that we should not look at the quantum of task, and stay back, but carry out as much as we can. Today I read on short story by Paulo Coelho which is as follows:

A wise man arrived at the village of Akbar and the people lent no importance to him. Except for a small group of young people, the wise man was of no interest to anyone; on the contrary, he became a object of irony for the inhabitants of the city.

One day he was walking down the main street with some of his disciples when a group of men and women began to insult him. The wise man went up to them and blessed them.

When they left, one of the disciples remarked: “They say terrible things, and you answer them with nice words.”

And the wise man replied: “Each one of us can only offer what he has.”

Allah Malik

[GaneshHariharan]

moosa ji, excellent post. thank you. an example as to how we should conduct ourselves. om sairam.