Life is very short and full of uncertainties. We never know what the next moment brings. It can be joy, pleasure, wealth, success, power and fulfillment. It can also be accidents, pain, sickness, disease, misfortune and death. In order to ensure a more safe future for ourselves and our dependents, we insure our lives and property with an insurance company so that we are protected and compensated in case of loss. We pay regular premiums to the insurance company. If we default in the payment of premiums, we lose our policy and protection cover.
Death is as sure as life is. So are sickness, disease, pain and misfortune. Money does not compensate for pain, negativity and death. We have to leave everything behind when we die. Only the good and wrongs done by us and the spiritual practices of mantra japa and meditation come with us to the next life. Our spiritual practices ensure divine grace during our life to protect us from the pitfalls in this life and in our afterlife too. Knowing that death is definite and a given for every person, we should do our spiritual practices daily, protect ourselves and insure a good future for ourselves like the king in the story below:
There was a very rich kingdom with fertile lands, forests, mountains and rivers that never went dry. This kingdom had a strange rule. After every five years, a new king was chosen. An elephant was set loose with a garland. It went on a procession with music and dancers and selected a person in random and garlanded him. This was the next king. This was an envious position for anyone to receive. The glamour of wearing the golden crown, rich robes, diamonds and gold, the delicious food, a vast army of servant waiting to fulfil every command and the adoration of all the subjects of the land. Blessed was the man who was selected by the elephant to be the next king.
But none in the kingdom wanted to be the king! At the end of the fifth year, the king was exiled to an island which was full of thick forests and wild beasts. No one knew what happened to the ex-kings. It was presumed that they all died there. No man who was chosen to be king ever enjoyed the tremendous powers of being a king or his luxurious lifestyle. All the kings were worried as they knew that they would be exiled at the end of the tenure and had to die in that terrible island.
One particular year was the fifth year of tenure of the current king. He was then taken by the guards to the boat and sent to the island. In the meantime, the crowds gathered on the streets and the elephant came by and garlanded one young man who was watching the fun. This young man was highly intelligent, having foresight and understanding and was hardworking. He was able to rule the kingdom well and brought greater prosperity and peace to the subjects. He was always cheerful and smiling and worked for the welfare of the people. The subjects were pleased with him and they were also worried about what would happen to him at the end of the fifth year. The king for his part did not show any worry or tension with the passing of time.
Finally the day arrived when the tenure of the new king was over and the king had his last ride on the royal horses and reached the river front. He was to board the boat which would leave him stranded in the terrible island of no return. And he would surely die there as no one had returned back till then. The people could not believe the calmness and composure on the king’s face. One of the subjects asked: Your Majesty, this is the last hour of your tenure. Your end has come. Are not your worried about your future?
The king replied: I knew the rules from the day I became the king. I also checked out about this island where all kings are exiled. I knew I had five years to do something to insure my future life. So in the first year of my reign, I sent teams of hunters to the island and they cleared it off all wild animals. In the second year, I send teams of woodcutters who cleared out the forests and cut wood to build a township. During the third year, teams of builders constructed an entire new town and many villages there. During the fourth year, I began to move farmers there so that they could cultivate land and grow crops, vegetables and fruits. During the last year of my reign, groups of people and some of my close advisers went over there. Now when I go there, there is a palace, town, many villages, my guards, cooks, servants, ministers and subjects awaiting my arrival. I will take over my new kingdom! My subjects will be well looked after and taken care of. I look forward to a long reign of peace, prosperity and bliss.
Like the king who knew of the dangers of the unknown island he was to be exiled in and took steps to make that place safe for himself, we too should make our lives safe for living now and in the life thereafter by doing the daily mantra japa of SitaRam, meditation and following the teachings of the Guru.
