Prayers of a Divided Mind
9:04 AM Posted In Story Edit This 3 Comments »
Once upon a time there lived in India a great devotee of Vishnu. He worshipped and prayed to Vishnu for many years. He went on praying and worshipping. Nothing happened.
One day Vishnu appeared to him and said, “I am pleased with your worship. In response to it, I am giving you three boons. Choose wisely.”
The man who had been worshipping for so many years forgot why he had started the worship. His mind was fleeting so constantly that worship became an obsession with him. He said to Vishnu, “Let me think and recollect what I actually wanted.”
He thought for some time. Suddenly he became aware that he was not in good terms with his wife. So he asked, “I am angry with my wife. Kill her!” Immediately his wife died.
The moment he came to know about her death, he became aware that he loved her very much. As such, he said to Vishnu, “I have loved her very much; please revive her again.” Thus the second boon was wasted.
Vishnu said to him, “Now you have got only one boon left. Think wisely before asking for it.”
The man replied, “Give me enough time to think, otherwise I will again commit a mistake as there is no fourth boon.”
Vishnu waited and waited. Years passed and he came again and again to the man and asked, “Now ask for the third boon. Have you decided?”
The man became puzzled. He could not sleep and almost became insane by thinking as to what to ask, as only one boon was left. He went to persons who were considered to be wise for guidance. They suggested many things but he found them unsatisfying.
Finally, he asked Vishnu, “Please tell me what I should ask. I am going insane by thinking what to ask for.”
Vishnu replied, “There is only one boon you can ask for, which is worthwhile. It is desirelessness. All else is worthless. If you remain obsessed with desires, whatever you may ask, the next moment you will want just the opposite of it. So remember, ask for desirelessness.”
One day Vishnu appeared to him and said, “I am pleased with your worship. In response to it, I am giving you three boons. Choose wisely.”
The man who had been worshipping for so many years forgot why he had started the worship. His mind was fleeting so constantly that worship became an obsession with him. He said to Vishnu, “Let me think and recollect what I actually wanted.”
He thought for some time. Suddenly he became aware that he was not in good terms with his wife. So he asked, “I am angry with my wife. Kill her!” Immediately his wife died.
The moment he came to know about her death, he became aware that he loved her very much. As such, he said to Vishnu, “I have loved her very much; please revive her again.” Thus the second boon was wasted.
Vishnu said to him, “Now you have got only one boon left. Think wisely before asking for it.”
The man replied, “Give me enough time to think, otherwise I will again commit a mistake as there is no fourth boon.”
Vishnu waited and waited. Years passed and he came again and again to the man and asked, “Now ask for the third boon. Have you decided?”
The man became puzzled. He could not sleep and almost became insane by thinking as to what to ask, as only one boon was left. He went to persons who were considered to be wise for guidance. They suggested many things but he found them unsatisfying.
Finally, he asked Vishnu, “Please tell me what I should ask. I am going insane by thinking what to ask for.”
Vishnu replied, “There is only one boon you can ask for, which is worthwhile. It is desirelessness. All else is worthless. If you remain obsessed with desires, whatever you may ask, the next moment you will want just the opposite of it. So remember, ask for desirelessness.”
3 comments:
nice reminder thanks
Every individual is a spirit soul and as long as the soul exists it performs action which will be obviously the result of desire. The soul is eternal. Hence desire is also eternal. One cannot stop desiring, instead one can channalise desire for libertion. Then desire will not create bondage to the material world.
Hence in Vedic philosphy there is more stress given on devotional service to God. This way would desires and actions are not stopped instead they are channalised to give moksha.
Good site.
i enjoyed reading so wise and helpful stories. i thinkthe wisdom of these stories helps to understand the real meaning of life.
“There is only one boon you can ask for, which is worthwhile. It is desirelessness. All else is worthless. If you remain obsessed with desires, whatever you may ask, the next moment you will want just the opposite of it. So remember, ask for desirelessness.”
thanks for sharing
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