Transformation - A New Life

Sunday, 19 April 2009 12:27 Written by Sacinandana Swami

On my walk through the idyllic fairytale forest, I always cross over a small but enthusiastic rivulet. If one follows its course one will see a rock in its middle, a tall cedar standing on top. From the way the rivulet flows around it, one can tell that this rock had once fallen into it (maybe because of a storm or an earthquake) and stopped its flow-an invincible dam of granite ordering the little stream: STOP HERE.

Limitation, frustration of one's desires, obstacles to one's natural progresses are central themes in human experience as well. How one deals with such limiting experiences decides how one progresses in life. At the moment, my old path in life has been blocked. From the inside, it's the increasingly strong realization that my old ways are not effective enough to have a real impact or benefit on humanity. From the outside, it's an ailing body desperately in need of recovery. Besides getting well physically, what will I do now?

Today I sat next to the happy rivulet, which seemed to be eager to give me its answer: "Just flow around the obstacles. That's the solution. It works. Look at me!" "It's not always so easy," I thought. "Sometimes one has to change a lot more than that. Avoiding obstacles and developing new strategies is not always enough. In other words, a change of heart might be required." And then I remembered an ancient story.

Once there was a small river that streamed flowed into a desert and was instantly swallowed by the hot sands. Year after year it disappeared. People rumored that in its better days-two hundred years ago-it had had enough force to cross the desert, which at that time was smaller. But now...

The river was growing more and more frustrated as the years went on. Finally it started to pray: "I have heard of the ocean. Is there someone out there who can help me reach it?" First there was silence-silence for ten years. Each year the river's prayers intensified. Then one day the river heard a whisper from the wind: "I can help you, together with sister sun, but you will have to change your form and your direction-everything related to your ego. You will have to trust us, the servants of God." "No," called the river, "if that's the price, I'd rather leave things as they are." "Okay," whispered the wind. "Call me when you are ready."

It took fifty-four years for the river to be ready. By that time, factories dotted its banks, all of which had severely polluted it.

"Wind, what do I have to do?"

"Surrender. Sister sun will become very hot for you, and when your waters rise up and form a cloud, I will carry you to the mountain by the sea."

"I have no choice. I am ready for the change. I pray I survive!"

At that moment, as if all of creation had waited for the dying river to surrender, the sun burst forth its heat and the wind carried the river water with strong hands into the sky. Clouds assembled like a long chain of wagons and moved toward the east. There, the mighty mountains lined the sea. As the dark blue chain of clouds arrived at the mountain peaks and saw the mighty ocean, an uninterrupted stream of cold happy tears poured forth and the river of such loving tears rushed forward to be embraced by the ocean's waves. The river had reached its destination!

Reflection

Disciple Mohan: "What I like about this story is the idea that one can't reach the Lord through strategy or technique, but only by changing the heart. But how to change old patterns? It seems they are often stronger than our best intentions."

Guru Shiva Prada Swami: "You need help from both sadhus, devotees of God, and Krishna."

The wind and the sun are devotee helpers, and God's mercy makes everything possible. He wants you to return to him more than anything. I once heard Shrila Prabhupada quote Krishna saying, "Take to my devotional service and return quickly to Godhead, to your home. No one should remain in this temporary world, full as it is with misery. Everyone should attach himself to the Supreme Personality of Godhead's bosom so that he can be happy eternally" (Srila Prabhupada's purport to Bhagavad-gita 9.33).

In other words, it's possible to return to the spiritual world, but not by your own strength. Are you willing to be carried or are you afraid? The only thing that will die in the process is your false ego. Strategies and techniques are often influenced only by ego. Initially the river was afraid of the journey, but then the fear left it. What about you? Think about it then come back for more discussion.