by Shri Shivarudra Balayogi Maharaj

At a recent Sunday teaching, Babaji retold this story which he heard from his Guru, Sri Sri Sri Shivabalayogi Maharaj. Babaji began the story with a short introduction.

WHEN YOU MEDITATE, you become more broad-minded. You cannot hate; Ultimate Truth is one and is all-pervading. You will love; you will learn to give your love and understanding.

Now, pay your attention and listen to me. When you are in the town and somebody asks you, “Where are you? Where are you from?”, you will mention your house number and street. When you go out of the town, you will convey by mentioning the name of the town from where you come.

Similarly, when you go out of the country, you will name the country that you are from.

Now you see, from a small place and street, your consciousness has risen to a big place called country. That country is yours and you belong to that country.

Now tell me, can you hate your fellow country people? Naturally, you would not like to hate, rather you would like to consider them your brethren, wouldn’t you? How can you hate your brother at your home?

Now, if you ever get a chance to go out of this mother planet, Earth, what would you say? Do you realize how widely you belong to? From a small street to a giant planet, Mother Earth. Can you hate your brother? Can you hate your fellow country people? How can you hate your fellow people of this Mother called Earth?

Ultimately we all belong to the Space, to the Divine, to the Boundless, beyond all limits, all-pervading. How can we hate each other? We all belong to our beloved Swamiji, the all-pervading Master. All of us are equally important to our Swamiji irrespective of our place or status. How can you limit the all-pervading Divine Master to one single physical body? Can you limit the space to just inside a room?

I remember Swamiji had told me a small story with great significance.

The Story

A frog that lived in an ocean once happened to reach a small pond. Some frogs were living in that pond with their king. The king frog was informed of the new arrival. The king sent for the newly arrived frog. When the ocean frog was brought to the king frog, it looked arrogantly at the ocean frog and asked, “Where have you come from?”

“From the ocean, your majesty,” said the frog.

“Oh, nonsense,” shouted the king and, jumping a little bit in the pond, the king said, “Is your ocean this big or smaller even?”

The ocean frog could not help but laugh and said, “Your Majesty, I said I am from the ocean. You cannot simply imagine how big it is.”

“Shut up!” shouted the king. “Don’t teach me lessons, you liar! I will throw you out!”

Then the king thought for a while and with all its strength jumped a little more than the first one and said, “Tell me the truth. This is your last chance. Is your ocean this big?”

With all its humility and peace on the face, the ocean frog said, “Your majesty, this pond is just a small drop in the ocean which cannot be shown or explained here. I invite you to come to the ocean. See and you will experience the truth yourself.”

“Throw this frog out,” ordered the king and shouted, “There is nothing called ocean! How dare this idiot ocean frog invite me to see the ocean to teach me, as if I don’t have any knowledge or wisdom.”

“Yes! Your Majesty, there is no such thing called ocean. Your wisdom is the ultimate. Hail the King of Pond!” shouted all the frogs of that pond.

Then Swamiji had a roaring laughter.

Unless you undertake the sadhana, the practise of meditation, how can you understand or experience the Truth?

May you all be inspired and blessed by our beloved Guru Maharaj.

My love and blessings to you all.

Baba surrenders and offers pranams at the Lotus Feet of Shri Swamiji Maharaj.

Copyright © 2001 SRBY, All rights reserved.