We always hope and plan to improve ourselves and our lives. We are perfectly aware of our shortcomings and also how to overcome them. Our inner self says we need to give up sweets and at least walk daily to stay in good health; to give up smoking and do pranayam; to wake up at a reasonable hour in order to make time for prayers and meditation in morning; overcome our quick irritation and anger with all around us; learn to be more compassionate, peaceful and balanced; listen properly before we react; think and act; be selfless and giving in love and friendship etc. The list is endless. We make resolutions every now and then. We even try to implement them. We invariably fail as we have not prepared ourselves for the change within us. The story of the monkey who resolved to overcome his anger and decided to fast and meditate is the story of our lives:
A monkey was tired of his own restless nature. He decided to turn over a new leaf. He resolved to fast and meditate for a day and uplift himself spiritually. He had watched yogis in an ashram at the edge of the forest fasting and meditating. He was sure it would work. Also fasting would reduce his energy and make him calmer and fitter for meditation. He fixed his fasting for Tuesday – the day of Hanuman – the Monkey God. Having made his plan, he was very excited and leaped about the trees, chattering away.
On Tuesday morning, the monkey sat at the foot of the tree in lotus posture. He was now ready for a day of fasting and meditation. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. He was lost in dreams of fasting and becoming enlightened. After some time he was awakened by pangs of hunger. He realized that fasting a whole day was going to be tougher than he thought. The delicious mangoes hanging from the tree tempted him to climb the tree and eat his fill. He controlled himself for some time. Suddenly the thought struck him – what if he became too weak by end of the day to climb the tree? It was better to climb the tree and then meditate.
The monkey swiftly climbed the tree and sat in one corner. The fragrance of the ripe mangoes was strong and his mouth watered. He turned his face away and shut his eyes. But in his mind, he was feasting on the mangoes. The other monkeys gazed at him admiringly for some time and then went about plucking the mangoes. The meditating monkey peeped at them through half closed eyes to see if they plucked off all the fruits of the tree. As soon as they left, he quickly plucked some mangoes and kept them near him so that he would have something to eat after he broke his fast. After all there was no rule that food should not be kept nearby.
Now the monkey was satisfied that he had a good dinner ready. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before starting his meditation. The fragrance of the freshly plucked mangoes filled his senses and his stomach protested in hunger. He opened his eyes and looked longing at the delicious golden fruit. What if by evening, he became too weak to even peel the mangoes? It was better to peel the mangoes and keep them in his mouth. He would not swallow as he was fasting. That way, he could insure his health and life.
The monkey peeled a couple of mangoes and popped the flesh into his mouth. Saliva welled up and he swallowed the saliva having the taste of the mango. Within minutes, he chewed the sweet flesh of the fruit and swallowed it. Without realising what he was doing, he picked up more fruits and gulped them down. After he had his fill he said: What is the difference if the mango is on the tree, or inside the mouth or inside the stomach?
We are like this monkey. We think that a single day of fasting and meditation will transform us and give us enlightenment. We are told to do an hour of mantra japa. We tell ourselves that the Rama Nama is so powerful that it is enough to say the name just once and then we spend the day watching movies, reading books or doing other work. We deceive ourselves with random quotes from sacred scriptures and wise men floating in the market and on net. Life flows quickly and the end comes fast. We find that we have done nothing and achieved nothing for our soul. Let us stop this self deception. With sincere prayers to God and Guru, let us do our daily sadhana of SitaRam mantra, meditation and following the teachings of the Guru. This will definitely bring about the transformation we seek in our lives.
