in death of stars we rejoice

Chance plays a great part in shaping unity of life. Take our energy level for instance. All life forms hold a relative position in Cosmos and are of equal weight. Therefore it is reasonable to believe energy level of each will also be same. Suppose death of a star sends its energy in a violent cataclysmic act to all and sundry? If one did not receive his or her share due to some curious coincidence shall it not be unfortunate? How existing heavenly bodies may deflect it from reaching its intended recipient is something that none may predict. He or she is subject to Law of Negation. If one notwistanding of being denied of one’s share may mop up virtual energy because he or she is compensated under another law? That would not be then so bad.
It may be explained rather fancifully from an example. Henry Ford in inventing automoble merely connected to that point in time and place where it all started. Invention of wheel. In a manner of speaking Henry Ford extended the unsung inventive genius of our primordial ancestor. He made his relevance topical. For such a gift is it not possible that the inventor of wheel compensated him with whatever energy left to his account? Henry Ford is his direct inheritor since he changed the use of wheel in an altogether new way. That primordial ancestor lives on in the manner Henry Ford had given his relevance a shape. Henry Ford is an inheritor as Daimler or Royce is. Despite of narrow confines of time and space in which each works our oneness tap into Oneness by means of energy. Such is the power of Unity of life.
Material nature of life-forms express unity by sharing their energy levels across time and space.
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an overall view

An Overall View
Siva the destroyer was resting under a large spreading tree. He had laid his couch over the grass and slept knowing that while he rested life will go on in its own sweet way. Unknown to him a hunter was chasing a bird through a forest and it in panic flew through the foliage of the tree. It disturbed a wasp’s nest which made the wasps very mad. One by mistake stung the sleeping god. He was so enraged at it and opened his third eye balefully. Having scorched the fields and beyond he went back to his sleep.
When he got up he realized what he had done in a moment’s anger. He felt sorry and looked if he could do anything to make amends. “Is there anything I can do, brother wasp?” the Destroyer called out.
“I dunno,” the wasp replied and went on with his chores. It amazed Siva no little that there was nothing to show that he did scorch the earth. Grass grew thick and cattle were having a good time; so were every bird and the bees.
“Was I dreaming then?” the god could not help wondering.
Actions have a life of their own. Chain of events which a life-form sets into motion will go on after it ceases to exist. What energy was spent by Siva in destroying part of the earth was made use of by life- forms for their own ends.
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Athens on the left

Iadmon whose sole fame now rests as the master of Aesop, in his youth landed in the mainland of Greece, having heard that Athens was the city of opportunities. He came at last to the city gates of Athens and asked for the free- man’s rights to live in the city and do business. The Council wanted to know the nature of business and he said that he was looking for a business, anything that brought him quick returns.
“What is it you want in life?” “ Money, lots of it!” Iadmon replied without batting an eyelid.
He was directed to Athens on the Left.
Having made lot of money as a trader in essential goods Iadmon the Athenian tried to be known for a man of culture. He went to the same Council which now threw him out saying: “Why must a Boeotian need culture?” When he remonstrated that he was an Athenian like them they laughed hard.
That evening Iadmon told his wife that they were not ‘Athenians’ in any real sense. “For that matter we are not in Athens.” added Iadmon.
”But the city is known as Athens!”, said his wife incredulous at first.“Athens in name, but on the wrong side.”
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two laws-2

Law of Compensation and Law of Negation are two opposite laws of equal weight. They do not cancel one another but give a push to individuals and the species alike. They drive the evolutionary turnstile.

two laws

A fellow, on a wintry afternoon after a couple of drinks went to a crowded restaurant where customers were all poor as he. As he came out he could only curse his luck to find that some one had stolen his cheap overcoat while he was busy eating. He caught a chill as a result.
He was bedridden for long due to lung complications that cost him his job. He moved to a room which was a hole in a wall and he somehow held on. Having nothing to lose he hit upon the idea of instant riches. “What a coincidence!” he said as he saw a lottery ticket right before his path. He would have picked it up if only a burly man did not step in to claim his ticket. His elation of fortune was dashed in the next instant.
“Oh I am born unlucky as my father was.” His father was a master craftsman who died in harness. Boy was he sorry for his streak of bad luck! He thought for a few days about buying a lottery ticket which he did as soon as he could make enough money. Again no luck. But he persisted. When he finally won the jackpot he said with a deadpan voice, “ At least I am compensated for my lost overcoat.”
“But ten millions?” Every one in his street said in amazement. “ Yeah it is compensation alright, what is due to my father is not to be overlooked.”
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before the throne

When St. George came before the Throne of Judgment his fame had preceded before him. Poring over his deeds the Ancient Of the Days said: “You were a native of Cappadocia and supplied pork to the Roman Army. But you became a bishop. Why?”
“ Arian controversy.” St.George replied, ”The emperor thought I was useful to fight Orthodoxy.”
“So you did,”The Highest murmured,”reign of terror it says here.”Laying aside a long list of crimes entered against him the Lord God said,” Bishop Athanasius you know him, the one whom you marked for destruction is here.” St George wished he did not have to meet him.”Wherever he is, it is hell as far as I am concerned.” Next instant he found himself back on the earth. Well as you guessed it, he became transformed from a wretched bully into a saint.

The order of St. George did give him some satisfaction: he did not have to share it with Athanasius. Our concept of evil and good is like the way St.George equated hell with his enemy.

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will the real Socrates stand up?

Socrates, because he walked about the streets of Athens talking to any one who cared to look for truth was a likely figure of fun. His ungainly figure and simplicity did not strike a casual observer as anything worthwhile. The fact that he never seemed to have visible means of support other than a virago of a wife made him a convenient target for comic poets of his time. Aristophanes who knew Socrates used him in his play The Clouds ( 423 B.C) to represent the new breed of philosophers who doubted the traditional teachings of poets. Unlike the ‘ Socrates’ in the play Socrates did not teach for money. Despite many differences between the real and that of the play the public came to confuse the two.
When the play was staged Socrates was present one evening along with his friends. After the play there was a cry, Socrates, Socrates!. The playgoers went on chanting his name. Socrates was about to get up but Alcibiades advised him not to. The elder said that he saw among those who called out a few who were seekers of truth as he.
“They may be full of Aristophanes now. Here is their opportunity to compare the false with the original.” With that he stood up for all spectators to see.
Twenty four years later when he stood before the court of 501 Athenians he could not convince them that he was not that dishonest and irreverent creature whom they had seen in a comic play.
Truth is simple. Yet it has a terrible ring given the weight of Me-factor which an individual has to put up with.

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blind chance

Agastya a householder from Tulu desam, who lived in the middle of two constantly fighting neighbors Ambu and Subbu, had enough of his life. He went to Kailas to meditate. He received in due course enlightenment and his mentor asked him to choose a gift. He chose a deity in gold as large as a man’s palm.
“Chance it is called.” The mentor commented.
“It is a good gift to make my going back to my folks worth remembering.” Before he reached his home he came along a river where one man was about to make a hole in the river. “Don’t,” Agastya ran up to him. “It is chance which brought me to save you.” To his great surprise he was Subbu, his neighbor.
Yogi Agastya gave him his image and said,” Remember Chance has saved you.” Not long after Subbu went on a journey and he carried his image for his protection. While passing through a forest he was waylaid by robbers and was killed for the gold he carried.
As soon as news reached his home Ambu the other neighbor went to the Yogi and fell at his feet and said “Chance which you brought was for my rescue. Was it not?”
Chance has to be explained in terms of total interaction of life-forms. Chance being such that life-forms can profit from events.

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JP tells a story

“At the Creation Time each life form was allotted equal levels of energy to which behemoths complained. Their complaint was that they were the largest elephant-like creatures. “You have counted us equal with insects which are so many.” “Our energy level is same..”
“Trim yourself to make the most of it.” Advised the Keeper of the Celestial Park.
Taking heed of his advice they became in course of time, elephants which were half the size of their forefathers. Complaints of injustice did not come from the behemoths alone. Bees were angry too. They saw mites lolling whole day among the herds of cattle. They complained to the Celestial Keeper that holding same levels of energy with those lazy blood suckers was unfair. “We buzz all day and by sundown we are a wreck!”
“Make your constant toil, something to remember by.”
The result was that they began producing honey which pleased all. “Give them bees, whatever energy left of mine,” said bears who loved it above everything else.
“Why such kindness?” the Keeper could not understand.
“I am thinking of my cubs.” One wise old bear said,” perhaps self interest. Call what you will.”
Jai Paramartha told this story to a crowd who had come to hear his discourse. As the mystic came out one scoffed at it and said, “I don’t believe in such a thing as passing one’s energy level whatever left of it to another.”
Jai Paramartha flung his hand as if to strike him. Involuntarily the other raised his hands to block the blow. “Why do you pose like that?”
“Master I thought you meant to strike me.”
JP merely looked at him and passed on with a friendly smile. “I -a man of peace strike you! Hai Ram, Ram!.”

In every action and reaction energy is carried across. Every cause and every effect in the loom of Cosmic Nothingness works non-stop.
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the incomplete Me-factor

There was a scholar in Bassorah in the times of Haroun al- Rashid. He was a Hafiz having learnt Koran by heart, an honor which he let all and sundry know. One morning while passing through Potter’s gate he came upon a couple of scholars who were discussing from the Juzw. Being welcomed to join them he went headlong into their debate giving his own interpretations to the words of the Prophet.
An ass who passed by pulling a cart of earthenware pots heard the nonsense which the Hafiz palmed off for scholarship. The beast laughed so hard. The cart puller used his stick which was to no avail. The ass went helter-skelter in fits of laughter causing of course lot of damage. The cart puller was beaten by those traders and he went home angry to find his woman in cheerful mood. It made him all the more irritated. He berated her for every fault under the sun. She took her anger out on her son who in turn found the ass who stood there munching some straw. The boy didn’t like the looks of the beast so he let him have a few blows with a stick. He ran thereafter to pick a quarrel with his mates.
As soon as the boy had left, the ass turned to his mate who also had carted the pots the same morning, and said, “ How can you stand there and watch that brat rain blows on my back?” The ass was fuming still. He added, “ I am beaten for no fault of mine?”

In a chain of events each life-form will telescope into certain sequences and from differing standpoint, which however does not make the sequence lose its connection.
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is it chance?

The following story is a variation on the elephant of Brahma posted just now.

Mahirshi Shunya once, while in his meditations remembered Jai Paramartha. He thought he would go in search of him. He had no idea as to the whereabouts of the mystic. Nevertheless he packed up and went. Lo and behold he caught up with one whom he had only once seen. They chatted and the old man wanted JPto amuse him with a story:

. “ Brahma once went visiting. At some place he stopped over. He tied his elephant to a tree but when he thought he would continue his journey he could not find what tree it was. He called for Shiva. The god of destruction produced a seed and said that it was from the tree to which the animal was tied. Brahma was incredulous but Shiva assured that he would soon find it. Shiva held the seed out. In a trice it was swallowed up. There was his elephant!

Something of that seed disagreed with the animal and he broke wind. A Big Bang it was. The seed came out in cataclysmic force. In its wake came energy making every form visible! Not only that of elephant, but also many universes! The universes were all pulsating with energy and grew out of the tree.
What seemed chaos was Brahma’s idle thought.

“ Are you surprised that I found you here?” Old mahirshi asked JP
“ No, our meeting was bound to happen.” the mystic replied.
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the elephant of Brahma

One day an old man in shabby clothes and with strange manners boldly entered the quarters of Jai Paramartha, disregarding the servants who mistook him for a mad man.
JP was at that time a guest of a rich zamindar who was a favorite of the king. His host sent his attendants to Jai Paramartha to know if he should forcibly move the intruder. Jai Paramartha shook his head. for he knew the stranger indeed.
He recognized Mahirshi Shunya in shabby clothes or not. There was he and he without any preamble tugged the mystic by shoulder and said, “I am onto Cosmic matters!”
Maharshi wanted to know his views about reality of the matter.
The younger man began. “ Brahma once went visiting. At some place he stopped over. He tied his elephant to a tree but when he thought he would continue his journey he could not find which tree it was. Shiva produced a seed and said that it was from the tree to which the animal was tied. Brahma was incredulous but Shiva assured that he would soon find it. Shiva held the seed out. In a trice it was swallowed up. There was his elephant!

Something of that seed disagreed with the animal and he broke wind. A Big Bang it was. The seed came out in cataclysmic force. In its wake came energy making every form visible! Not only that of elephant, but also the universes were made materially visible. Also that tree which held many universes. What seemed nothing became visible. Including you and I.”
Jai Paramartha asked the old Mahirshi,” Do you believe in the story?”
With a deep bow the old man looked straight in his eye and said,” Yes every word of it!” The old man asked in return,” Jai Paramartha, do you believe?”
“No, not at all!” with a smile he added, ”Let not that bother you.”

There are many universes growing out of that point of singularity, beyond which Time, Energy and Matter or Space cannot be accounted for, as a ray of light is swallowed by a black hole. What we may say with some certainty is that Soul of Cosmic Nothingness is represented by soul of every living thing.

Our soul is like the seed.

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life begets life

During the Creation Varuna, the Presiding Deity in charge of the Cosmic Order called the Air, Fire and the Water and said: “It is the earth I am setting out. How shall it be?”.
Agni wanted the earth to be a fire ball. Varuna made its bowels filled with fire. Air suggested the earth should be a pot of incense; so it was. The wind gods blew health and cheer all around.
“Oh I shall water the earth so all life- forms can follow its course.” the streams watered the land and the sea was green and azure blue.
When the earth was ready Varuna set it upon a tortoise. The elements were perplexed. “Why a tortoise?”
“All your suggestions were good and I followed them,” explained Varuna. “But see how he still wobbles?” So I let a tortoise to give that stability.”
Varuna explained after he was finished.
“Why a tortoise? A mountain would have done better?” “Not for his shell alone,” the Deity interrupted, “stability of the earth can come only from the living, even if it be some small creature as this.”

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truth out there

Mopu became one of the earliest converts to Buddhism. He belonged to the tribe of Bhils. The simple forest dwellers were for sometime terrorized by a man-eater. None would help them. Once Buddha happened to pass through their midst. Hearing how they were put to great hardship he went to the fierce beast and argued that he ought to mend his ways. The tiger became all of a sudden docile and chose to live among their midst. The Bhils were naturally converted to Buddhism.
Buddha lived among them for a while.
The morning after Buddha had left for the cities of the plains and beyond, Mopu got up early and began his devotions. He thought of Truth Incarnate who had tamed a murderous tiger and sat for a long time singing praises to his divine gifts.
Much was his confusion to see the tiger now looming menacingly above him. “ I’m going to eat you up.” He came to the point. “Didn’t Truth Incarnate teach you to renounce your meat eating ways?”
“But did he make grass eating a pleasure for me?”
“When I see you fellows feasting night and day over your hunt why I die many deaths of shame and regrets.” The tiger added with a bitter smile. “Why me?” Mopu asked with a shudder,” I may eat meat but I eat it with great distaste. Meat has never made me happy.”
“You speak for yourself, man!” the tiger hissed before his kill.
Buddha as Truth incarnate may be present in spirit among the Bhils who however must deal with the tiger one way or other. This inability of life-forms to hold onto Truth Absolute ‘which is out there’ explains the concept of a finite factor.
Accordingly a finite factor allows us to abridge some aspects of Truth in order to address our time and place more efficiently. The difference is like watching a 3- D movie without Polaroid glasses. Truth is simplified.
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on an autopilot mode

A legend that had persisted from the age of Three Dynasties in China with regards to a curious Sun- disk. The few who are in the know aver that it was dropped from the sky.
The disk lay in a forest on the eastern slopes of the H- mountain ranges. It was a day’s journey so Confucius set out to see it, accompanied by his grand son Tsesze.
It was a large monolithic stone, as smooth as no earthly sculptor could
have hoped to achieve. There was a large void at the center. As a celestial gift it was beyond words, the sage had to agree.
In order to examine it in detail they had to negotiate their way over a series of stones laid across a stretch of shallow stream. At every turn they found that they could see through that opening a changing scenery which was like inspecting a large scroll painting. They stood there awed by the scenic beauty for long.
As darkness fell they realized that instead of looking at the celestial object they spent time admiring the view that reminded them of their own backyard. Before they turned to leave Tsesze asked his grand father,” Is it not curious that had we known that we would spend time the way we did today, we would have better stayed at home?” Later Confucius observed that the nature of life was such that a man was more at ease with what his senses impressed upon him.

' It is the obvious that ought to make him think of what made it obvious to him in the first place.'

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nature of identity

A child, as soon as he was old enough to hold a pencil, astonished his parents by his drawing skills. None in the family was known to have any connection with art.
‘May be it is all from my great grandfather who was a carpenter.’ insisted the mother as the child began showing great promise. His lines were so perfect that some rich folks in that village undertook to send him to an Art School.

Soon after graduation disaster struck. His good hand, he was a left hander, showed signs of withering. “ An incipient bone disease,” declared the specialist and added, ” it will strike all over, only a matter of time.” The young artist made his right hand take over. It was not easy but it served him as good as his left hand. To his surprise he found that his style was still the same. Years passed by. It became apparent that his feet now were as useless as his hands. He tried for a time to draw with pencil clenched to his teeth and his style as he could see was same as before. In the end he began teaching another his art. When he realized that he was as good as he, he said that he was through with drawing. He said that he was happy because he had found some one whom he could teach; “ he would continue exactly from where I stopped.”
When told that the style of his pupil was totally different, he replied calmly, ” I did not say that he will take me over but my drawing skills.”

An Unique style
Uniqueness of each is demonstrated in the manner each places his or her emphases in life. One may draw heavily on lives of others but in each case time and place dictates certain adjustments in order to achieve one’s desired results. How one naturally set sight on what is truth also must give its own uniqueness to a life.

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a full circle

The first seafarer who came to the foot of Mt. Athos in the Greek mainland was welcomed by those barbarians who stood in awe of his majestic appearance. They begged him to settle down among their midst and he did.
The newcomer was curious about the mount whose top was lost in clouds. He climbed as much as he could go and brought down a skin of a legendary snake which was as white as milk. His gift the barbarians brought to the temple as a token of their gratitude to Athena, the goddess of Wisdom. They named him Hero.
Years later Hero’s son took to the mount to bring the pelt of a badger the color of which was unlike anything they had ever seen. It was again consecrated to their goddess. With each generation these rough and barbaric nation became more refined and powerful to the envy of neighboring nations. In their eyes their advancing civilization had something to do with newer heights that Hero’s lineage reached which was farther than the previous achievements. The kind of presents they brought from the mountain got more precious and rare.
Among the descendants of Hero no one was considered heroic and almost godlike than Sisyphus. On the day he came to manhood he declared that he will go farther than all. Before taking on the mountain he sacrificed before the altar of Athena for a prosperous climb. The goddess was pleased with him that he reached the top. He picked as the custom was, a gift: the only gift which was found scattered at the peak.
On reaching the ground he presented a bag full of shells before the temple priest who looked at them for a while. Instead of being happy he grew red in the face and swore that it was indeed a dishonor to Athena.
“Why go all the way to bring some common sea shells?” The shells indeed were what the inhabitants used to spread over the roads.
“What a waste of time and effort?” they said in unison. Sisyphus could only reply, “ This was what lay at the top.”
It was greeted by thunderous guffaws of priests and common people who pushed him as far as to the city gates. Throwing him out of their midst they closed the gate.
When the winged Nike told the goddess what had happened she said that the people did wrong to Sisyphus. His gift of shells was a remainder to their source. Once the sea had covered all over their land. She said,“ A mountain may be taken for holy but still cannot remove its connection with common things.“

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a stool pigeon

The day Messaih, The Anointed One, came to Jerusalem the populace welcomed the prince with great jubilation. As a mark of respect the president let all the prisoners free. Rabbi Benn Weiss was there to watch the festivities. While talking with Mordecai the security chief, whose office had become redundant one prisoner saw the much dreaded police chief and jumped in panic. The security chief commented he was a prisoner who was shut up for revealing the secret nuclear program of the government. “He blew the whistle loud and clear.”he said.
“You mean he told the truth?” The rabbi could not believe it. Later they met one who sidled up to the chief and said,”I have some news to inform. Wanna hear?”
“ Shoo! Scram!” bellowed Mordecai. The rabbi asked if he wasn’t interested in hearing him. “Now I am a free man. I dont’t wish to hear from a stool pigeon even if it were truth.”
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least of these

The gods were sure the leech was a mistake: an animal which somehow got out of hand. How well they had thought to the creation of lions and the like! But leech was a problem. There it was and nothing they could do about it.
Aeons later. Atlas holding up the earth developed DVT and somewhere a vein burst. He had his hands full so he asked the leech to do something about it. Of course he stanched the flow of blood and the vein closed itself as by magic. The gods who watched it were unimpressed, ”There is nothing to it. A beginner’s luck.” It was Hera who said, ”Just the same we shall keep him around. Accidents can happen.”

Me-Factor
Each life-form has something to give. It serves a purpose for the wellbeing of the whole. This potential to give, based on what each may perceive as one’s essential self is defined as Me- Factor.

In Japan traditional houses are oriented and windows are placed in such manner to frame pleasant features of the landscape. The Japanese call it ‘borrowing scenery’ from Nature. Similarly our self borrows from Oneness* what is most advantageous to us and shut out what is not to our purpose.
My self shuts out but it is an arbitary choice. More often than not what I dismiss as trifle or beneath my notice could add much more to the quality of my life.

Explanation: *Oneness is a biological imperative, (‘ survive or perish’ is one such.) into which contributions of every life-form forms a part. It is positive in quality.


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the best deal

l
Not so long ago in one of Pacific islands there was a king who loved big game hunting. The king had made his preparations to sail into the mainland where he was promised elephants, rhinos and tigers to shoot. Before he went his priest approached him and said, “Sire I am your conscience keeper. So I would also accompany you.”
The king said, ”Oh no. As you can see every available space is taken up.” “But there is one seat still free.” The priest persisted.
“That is for my guide. For a hunt I trust his skills more than yours.” Seeing disappointment in the face of his priest the king said,” Ah you can do one thing for me. You can do it without stirring from this island.”
“What that be sire?” “Do sacrifices to the gods for a successful outcome of the hunt.” The king replied.
* Self would look for success in any enterprise the best deal which it can get. If man’s actions do not speak for himself he cannot speak for anything else.
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in his best interests

The old teacher of Jai Paramartha came to him one day and said: “How is your standing with the king?”
“Good.”
“Then why don’t you run an errand for me?” the teacher asked him. “I want you to recommend me for the post of tutor for royal children.” The master said, ”the king will surely oblige you.”
“No master.” The old pupil excused himself. When asked for the reason he replied, ”Conflict of interests.” Jai Paramartha added,” I was hoping to fill that post myself.”
“Why would you need a job which fits me nicely?”
“Because I have aged parents and a few others to support.” Jai Paramartha said firmly.
Self represents what is the best in a man to the visible world. The mystic is after Truth but he must pass his apprenticeship first. Self requires him to fulfill his obligations to those around him without which he cannot be called mature or sensible.
* Self is the starting point as eternity is begun with managing seconds, hours, days and months.
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the fire-bird

The Fire- Bird
A man by name Chang of Hainan island on coming to the mainland wanted to present himself before the emperor. He made himself a court dress in silk with sashes and embroidered work.
But to his great dismay while he was lodged in the city of Sun and the Moon, his dress was eaten by moths. These moths, upon enquiries he found, were the personal property of a fabled bird. An immortal advised hapless Chang thus,“You can make your complaints to the bird with the speech of man and who guards the gates of heaven. He will surely pay for damages.”
“Surely I will make him pay.” Chang was angry and dismayed. With the aid of an experienced guide he reached where the phoenix used to roost on a cherry tree.
After hearing his complaint the fire-bird said that those moths were indeed part of his plumage.
“Then you shall be happy to help me out?” the man was hopeful, ” It is with great effort that I got this court dress.”
“How many times do you think that I have risen from ashes?” the bird asked.
“But I get to see the emperor only once.” The man was really put out, ” I have no time to make another dress.” The fire- bird continued as if he did not hear him,” those moths have survived fire each time.”
“But they damaged my dress!” “Fair enough.” The phoenix replied, “you give your dress, in exchange for mine.”
Chang thought for a while but the idea of a dress from a bird known for self consuming in its own fire seemed too overwhelming. ”What if I should develop its very nature?” After a pause he exclaimed in horror,
”Why, I will be reduced to ashes!”
“Oh no!” he shrank from its presence, saying, “I will borrow from one who is about my size.” He was for forgetting the whole thing.

A note for example middle C on a piano is regular vibrations at the rate of 262 per second. If the wings of a humming bird could produce so many vibrations at the same rate it is middle C. No one by any stretch of imagination will, on that account conclude the bird and the piano are one and the same. The bird has truth of nature, too distinct to be confused for anything else. This truth is drawn from Truth.

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The Me-Factor

Aesop’s donkey had a tough day. Earlier in the day he upset some pots and pans in the market for which he was roundly abused by the shop owner. Then it was his master who called him stupid for missing the direction. Later in the evening Aesop’s wife as she led him to the stable, was sore at the beast. The reason? He had fouled up the corner where the oxen were to lie. The beast of burden knew his difficulties did not end there.
After supper he overheard his master chatting with some neighbors. One of them commented, ”The world is certainly out of joint. So skewed up I say.” At this point the donkey brightened up to tell the rooster, ”I tell you, why I am singled out for blame!” and he added, ”It is the world at fault. I happen to fit the bill, that is all.”
Our concept of self is always lopsided where we do not see self in its totality. So we have someone always to blame for our troubles without accepting our own share in it. If ozone layer is spoilt beyond repair is there any point in blaming the North or South? Aren’t we also part of the problem?
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a human scale

Our essence cannot be in our body which is corporeal;nor can it be in our intellect which is merely a vehicle for taking our cues from Idea an absolute value. Let us for argument sake call it Truth. It is Absolute but it is not our essence. Identity is Truth given a human face. A human scale.
One evening a beggar approached Rabbi Benn Weiss and said that he was an angel in disguise.” Never mind these tatters, Rabbi,” he said in a conspiratorial tone, “I am indeed an angel sent down to find how many in this City of Peace are worthy to be called His own. So I shall ask you to buy me dinner.”
They were before a sidewalk restaurant. “Of course!” Rabbi said and treated him to a hearty meal while he stuck to the usual. The stranger remained by his side even after he had paid the bill and wanted to go home.
It was late.
“I need a place to stay for tonight, Rabbi.”
“Try Wayfarer’s Lodge over there. It is free and clean.” ”You gave me dinner and why refuse me now?”
Benn Weiss interrupted him saying,” A poor man’s dinner is no bother, But to have you under my roof, is more than a man like me can afford.” “But I am an angel!”
“Go tell that to your archangel, my friend. He sent you didn’t he?”
Rabbi Benn Weiss walked on.

* Among mankind Truth needs to have a human scale;
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a fistful of starlight

A Fistful of Starlight
A scholar who was for long abroad on archaeological trips finally returned home. There was a reception given to him by the Board of Trustees of Natural History Museum. The night was clear and warm. Under a starry sky the old scholar surrounded by many who came to see and hear him felt at ease. A reporter for the local newspaper wanted to know what made him give so much of his time and resources to a time dead and gone.
“Dead but not gone!” the old scholar replied. He clenched his fist and asked,” What makes it possible for me to do this?” “Your body of course.” “Where do you think that my body found its elements in the first place? Did it not come from stars?” the scholar asked.
“I guess so.” The reporter nodded,” We are made of stardust and all that.”
Catching the young reporter looking at the starry sky he asked, “What is the night sky lit up with? Does not light from stars dead and gone still reach us? Do we take them for dead?”
“I guess not.”
The scholar made his point. We are made by the past. The dead count as one with the living. Events from the past do affect us still. For better or worse.
That perceptible aura each life form radiates, is drawn from what is past. I might clench my fist yet it is not empty: in that very gesture I hold the brightness of life.
* The past shapes us as much as we will, our future.

benny

what is metaaphysics?

sufficient-unto-this-dayWhat Is Metaphysics?
It is a branch of philosophy that systematically investigates the nature of first principles and problems of ultimate reality. These would not have had a leg to stand on but for Cosmology and Ontology which make the study very essential to us.
Cosmology or the structure of the universe merits mention here because it cannot be explained without your being a part of it. Metaphysics is also the study of Being. Ontology it is called. We have therefore a personal interest in what goes on around us anywhere in Cosmos, just as Cosmos has its stake in its investment. Let me put it in another way: Our Being is Cosmos inside out which does not mean our Non-Being shall make Cosmos come to right. We have made such a transaction impossible with certain events set in motion while we have had our being. So we may get on with the queerness of Being as natural as that of Cosmos is.
benny

what is metaphysics?

What Is Metaphysics?
It is a branch of philosophy that systematically investigates the nature of first principles and problems of ultimate reality. These would not have had a leg to stand on but for Cosmology and Ontology, which make the study very essential to us.
Cosmology or the structure of the universe merits mention here because it cannot be explained without your being a part of it. Metaphysics is also the study of Being. Ontology it is called. We have therefore a personal interest in what goes on around us anywhere in Cosmos, just as Cosmos has its stake in its investment. Let me put it in another way: Our Being is Cosmos inside out which does not mean our Non-Being shall make Cosmos come to right. We have made such a transaction impossible with certain events set in motion while we have had our being. So we may get on with the queerness of Being as natural as that of Cosmos is.
benny

What is metaphysics?

What Is Metaphysics?
It is a branch of philosophy that systematically investigates the nature of first principles and problems of ultimate reality. These would not have had a leg to stand on but for Cosmology and Ontology, which make the study very essential to us.
Cosmology or the structure of the universe merits mention here because it cannot be explained without your being a part of it. Metaphysics is also the study of Being. Ontology it is called. We have therefore a personal interest in what goes on around us anywhere in Cosmos, just as Cosmos has its stake in its investment. Let me put it in another way: Our Being is Cosmos inside out which does not mean our Non-Being shall make Cosmos come to right. We have made such a transaction impossible with certain events set in motion while we have had our being. So we may get on with the queerness of Being as natural as that of Cosmos is.
benny

ask me another!

Mahirshi Shunya when a baby was entrusted under the care of an ascetic. Years later he would tell of his experience to his many disciples.
Once he narrated thus:

‘ My mentor on seeing me for the first time told my father that I was too raw. “ It is too early to teach spiritual precepts,” he said. Ten years later my father led to him and Acharya Peepul examined me. He said ‘ Just as I expected. The boy has become a regular dunce. He knows too many things which are irrelevant and not to the purpose.” He looked at me searchingly and in the end agreed to take me as his chela (pupil).

On the first day I asked him if birth was another name for death. My mentor asked me,” you get rid of all that you have learnt. Then I shall explain to you.” Rest of the day I spent in getting rid of whatever I had acquired by way of knowledge. It was impossible. In the end I had to admit defeat. My mentor kindly asked me to sleep it off. Next morning I ran to my mentor to say,” Master I didn’t think of it while I slept.”
“ But now?”
How shamefaced I was! That moment I admitted I remembered everything that I had, the day before tried to get rid of. “ O.K.” you have learnt the lesson. Take your place with other boys.”
His disciples asked,” What was the lesson you learnt that day?”
“ Not to ask useless questions,” replied Mahirshi Shunya.

benny

sufficient unto this day

The Seed Of Life

Years before Jai Paramartha decided to leave all the worldly cares and become a seeker of Truth, there was one who had become a Mahirshi, a sage. He was a devotee of Brahma the creator and he settled himself at the foot of the Himalayas. High above him stood a Shivlinga in a shrine. To every pilgrim who passed him to do obeisance to the image he would say, ‘Remember Brahma, the ultimate principle!”
“But we have come to worship, Shiva the destroyer!”
“Just the same mind Brahma. Will you?”
All the pilgrims took him for one with special gifts, touched by gods meaning that he had lost his marbles.

Once young Gampa Guru alias Paramartha, was brought by his father to visit the shrine of Shiva. Mahirshi as usual reminded the boy to mind Brahma. “I have come for neither, Mahirshi” Gampa Guru replied,” I have come to look at you. You’re so talked about in our village.”
Before the holy man could recover the boy asked, “Pray what is your name?” “Shunya as in Punya.” ( Nothingness as in Holiness )
Turning to his father, the boy whispered,”See him, father the one who sits there?” “That mad Mahirshi who tries to distract all to worship Brahma instead?”
“He isn’t against Shiva! “ the boy said seriously,” He says consider the seed of Life, consider the creator!” The old Mahirshi who overheard him came to him and told the father of the boy,” He ought to sit there instead of me.” His father was surprised beyond words.
benny