THE SPIRITUAL LAW OF CHARACTER | | IWGR II | RAMA राम

|| < : REGAINING PARADISE LOST WITH OM ! : > ||

In India there is a beautiful story in the Puranas .

It speaks of Krishna jumping into the river Yamuna while Krishna's parents , friends and relatives stood by struck dumb with amazement . In their very presence Krishna jumped into the torrent . They thought that Krishna was gone , and would never rise again .

The story says that Krishna went to the bottom of the river and there was a thousand-headed dragon . Krishna began to blow the flute , began to play the chanting OM , began to kick down the heads of the dragon , began to crush down the heads of the dragon one by one ; but as Krishna crushed the many heads of the dragon one by one , other heads sprang up and thus it was very difficult .

Krishna went on jumping and dancing upon the crested head of the dragon , went on playing the mantram on the flute , went on chanting the mantram and still jumping and crushing down the heads of the dragon .

In half-an-hour the dragon was dead ; what with the charming note of the flute and the crushing of the dragon by the heels , the dragon was dead . The waters of the river were turned to blood and the blood of the dragon mixed with the water of the river .

All the spouses of the dragon came up to pay homage to Krishna , they wanted to drink of the nectar of Krishna's sweet presence . Krishna came up from the river , the amazed relatives and friends were beside themselves , their joy knew no bounds , so happy were they to find their beloved Krishna , their beloved one , in their midst again .

This story has a double meaning . It is an object lesson , so to say , for those who want to gain an insight of reality into their own Divinity .

That lake or river represents the mind or rather the lake of the mind , and whoever wants to become Krishna ( the word Krishna means or stands for Deity or GOD ) , whoever wants to regain the paradise lost , has to enter deep into the lake of one's own mind , to dive deep into oneself .

One has to plunge deep into one's own nature , reaching the bottom one has to fight the venomous dragon , the poisonous snake of passion , desire , the venomous dragon of the worldly mind .

One has to crush it down , has to destroy its crests , has to kick down its many heads , has to charm and destroy it .

One must make clear the lake of one's mind , one must clear one's mind this way .

The process is the same as that followed by Krishna .

One is to take up the flute and play the mantram OM through it . One has to sing that divine , that blessed song through it .

What is this flute ? It is simply a symbol for you .

Look at the flute . Indian poets attach great importance to it . What a great deed was it that the flute performed that it was raised to such a dignity ? By virtue of what great Karma was it elevated to such a position ? Why was it that Krishna who was the object of worship , who was loved by mighty monarchs , who was worshipped by thousands of fairies in broad India ; how was it that Krishna , the beloved one , the powerful one , the Love personified , that Krishna who did not condescend to look at rulers or monarchs , why gave Krishna this flute kisses ? What raised it to such a position ? The flute’s answer was ,

" I have one virtue , one good point I have . I have made myself void of all matter " .

The flute is empty from head to foot . " I emptied myself or non-self " .

Just so , applying the flute to the lips means purifying the heart , turning the mind unto GOD ; throwing everything at the feet of GOD , the Beloved One .

Just give up from your heart of hearts .

Give up all claim upon the body , give up all selfishness , all selfish connections , all thoughts of mine and thine ; rise above it .

Wooing GOD , wooing GOD as no worldly lover woos one's love ; hungering and thirsting after the realization of the true Self , just as a person of the world hungers and thirsts for what one has not had for a long time , hungering and thirsting for the divine ; yearning for the truth ; craving after a taste of the Supreme Reality of Self , putting yourself in that state of mind is applying the flute to the lips .

In this state of mind , in this peace of heart , with such a pure soul begin to chant the mantram OM ; begin to sing the sacred syllable OM .

This is putting the breath of music into the flute . Make your whole life a flute . Make your whole body a flute . Empty it of selfishness and fill it with divine breath .

Chant OM and while doing it , begin that search within the lake of your mind . Search out the poisonous snake with its many tongues .

These heads , tongues , and fangs of the poisonous snake are the innumerable wants , the worldly tendencies , and the selfish propensities .

Crush them one by one , trample them under your feet , single them out , overcome them and destroy them while singing the syllable OM .

Build up a character , make firm resolutions , make strong determinations and take solemn vows so that when you come out of the lake or river of the mind , you may not find the waters poisoned ; so that the waters will not poison those who drink from them .

Come out of the lake having purified it altogether .

Let people differ from you , let them subject you to all sorts of difficulties , let them revile you , but despite their favours and frowns , their threats and promises , from the lake of your mind there should flow nothing but divine , infinitely pure , fresh water .

Nectar should flow out of you so that it may become as impossible for you to think evil as for the pure fresh spring to poison those who drink from it .

Purify the heart , sing the syllable OM , pick out all points of weakness and eradicate them .

Come out victorious , having formed a beautiful character . When the dragon of passion is destroyed , you will find the objects of desire worshipping you just as the spouses of the dragon under the river paid homage unto Krishna after Krishna had killed the snake .

SOURCE | SATYAVEDISM.ORG