We live in great ignorance which is partially self imposed. We know the rules of law, the rules of life, spiritual rules, rules of karma etc. But we truly believe that rules are meant for others and they are not applicable to us. We watch others make mistake after mistake and suffer. We even offer the right advice on how to avoid such incidents and overcome their negative effects in life. But when it comes to us, we turn a blind eye and believe nothing is going to happen to us. We are well aware of this failing of ours. We must pay heed when we are cautioned from within by our conscience or warned by someone who offers sincere advice. The person who becomes suddenly aware of the truths of life and takes the right steps to apply the truths in life is truly blessed. For we all live in self imposed fallacy that we are great, pure and standing next to the right hand of God. The story of goat and a priest teaches us this lesson:
There was a famous priest who believed that he heard the voice of God and that every deed he performed was to please God. Once he got this inner urge to sacrifice a goat to please God. So he selected a suitable goat and ordered his servants to take him to the holy river and bathe him and decorate him with flower garlands. The servants were also asked to bathe themselves as part of purification process. At the riverbank, the goat suddenly realised that he was going to be killed. All his past lives flashed in front of him. He realised that the sacrifice that day was a result of his evil actions in the past. So he began to laugh uproariously.
As the goat was laughing, he also realized another truth – that the ignorant priest who was going to sacrifice him would suffer the same terrible results. So he began to cry aloud. The servants were amazed to hear his laughter and then his cries of pain. When they questioned him, he said he would reply only to their master – the priest. So the goat was taken to the priest where he spoke out: Respected Sir, many births before, I too was a priest like you. I was well educated in religious rituals. I thought that sacrificing a goat was necessary to please God so that others would benefit and I, too would benefit for many births to come. The true result of my action was that in my next 499 lives, I was beheaded! Today I realised that I am to be beheaded for the 500th time which would release me from the results of my bad karma. So I laughed joyfully. Suddenly I also saw you suffering from the same results like me due to your ignorance and wrong action. So I wept in pain.
The priest realised that the goat was speaking the truth. So he released him and cancelled the sacrifice. The goat thanked him and said: O Noble Sire, even if you do not kill me today, I am surely going to lose my head. The goat wandered around a rocky area in search of fresh leaves to eat. He saw some tender leaves on a branch and stretched his neck to eat them. All of a sudden, there was a thunderstorm. A bolt of lightning struck and hit an overhanging rock. The rock was cut and it fell down, chopping the goat’s neck. He died instantly and the thunderstorm vanished.
All animals kill only when hungry and solely for food. Man is the only animal who hunts for pleasure and also kills for selfish reasons such as pleasing God. God does not seek the life of an innocent animal and by taking away a life for no reason, we cannot please Divinity. Life is precious and we all know this truth. Yet we think that the rule is not applicable to us. The law of karma dictates that when we create suffering for others, we will suffer and when we do good, we get good. Let us not roll others’ head lest our own head rolls. Let us please God by an easier and safer means – by SitaRam mantra japa, meditation and following the teachings of the Guru.
