From: venugop@athena.cs.uga.edu (my father is a GUN !!!)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Story from Chandamama
Date: 20 Aug 92 19:03:07 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens

In article <1992Aug19.160918.3214@ducvax.auburn.edu> l_n_@ducvax.auburn.edu (N.Lakshminarayanan,Auburn Univ. AL36849) writes:
>=======================================================================
>		The self-doubter and his experiences
>				or
>			Narada goes to Earth
>		====================================
>
>	Narada had often reflected on Vishnu's observation on the effect
>of contact with a Great Soul. He could not quite believe it -- how did
>one rise through contact with a Great Soul?
>	So for the umpteenth time he put the question to Vishnu. After 
>a moment's thought Vishnu said, "Go down to Earth, Narada, and roam 
>about, for you will see it happen".
>	Accordingly,Narada went down to Earth looking for enlightenment.
>Narada rested under a tree thinking about where he would go. He looked
>up the tree to find that a baby bird had just broken out of its shell
>and was looking about too. Interested, he went closer (no timid 
>creatures of the wild were ever afraid of Narada) to look at the little
>one. The little one looked unblinking at Narada, then fell dead! How 
>heart-broken was Narada--"To think that I caused him to die!".
>	With a heavy heart, Narada told Vishnu his experience, and what
>kind of an enlightenment was this?
>	"Patience Narada, go back to Earth and look again", said Vishnu.
>	So Narada went back to Earth, and this time he arrived at a 
>house. The people in the house, recognizing their visitor, welcomed
>him and commended him for being just in time to see their new-born
>calf. Eager to see it, Narada stepped around to the cow-shed, escorted
>by his host. There the awkwardly stumbling little one looked up at
>Narada, faltered and fell dead! Narada was aghast. What was the matter?
>"Why did the little one die on seeing me?"
>	In no mood to stay, Narada apologized to his bewildered host
>and hurried to Vishnu preparing to ask any number of questions.
>	Confronting Vishnu, Narada started on a high note, ready to pour
>out his bitterness. Vishnu gently stopped him with a restraining hand.
>Again, all he would say was, "Patience Narada, go back to Earth and look
>again".
>	So Narada patiently went back to Earth for the third time 
>to "look again".
>	Now Narada came to the house of a rich man, which seemed to have
>been spruced up for festivities. The people gathered were greatly 
>thrilled to see their heavenly visitor, and the man of the house lost no
>time ushering in Narada.
>	"I am blessed with a child, Narada, and how opportune that you
>should be here! Here she is and do let her have your blessings!".
>	The little one stared fixedly by turns in different directions,
>then turned to Narada who had stooped down to look. Narada had barely
>spoken a word of admiration when the child convulsed, turned blue and
>...died! This was the end. Narada was numb-struck and close to tears.
>	He slowly turned his steps heavenward -- he could not 
>senselessly apologize to his host this time, this was a calamity --
>wondering in a daze that somewhere in all this there was an answer to
>his question.
>	Vishnu welcomed Narada back with kind words and a knowing 
>smile. Narada knew that Vishnu had known all, so it was unnecessary 
>to report his misadventure. 
>	"Narada, there was tiny bird which came into the world and saw 
>you, only to leave it. Then there was a calf which came into the world 
>and saw you, only to leave it. Finally, there was a child who came into
>the world and also saw you, only to leave it. Maybe the calf remembered
>a bird,maybe the child remembered a calf,and....do I see the Great Soul?
>...Do you?".
>	Narada was moved beyond words and stood transfixed before his
>Lord.
>======================================================================
>
>	I don't remember the exact words of this story from Chandamama, 
>so I used my own words. However, only the words are mine -- I have not
>added to (nor I hope, detracted from) the theme of the original story.
>
>Ln

  I had read the magazine right from 1975 till December last year.
  It is common to see reruns of old stories and now it is loaded 
  with advertisements.
  Any way the story does not explain certain points,why is a bird
  inferior to a calf and the itself inferior to man?
  The Dasha Avatar is a progression in superiority in nature
  from a Fish to Modern atomic age man.Does this story just
  illustrate evolution?
  Does a superior central nervous system make a being or a person
  superior?
  Where does one go from there onwards and what is the position of
  GOD in the hierarchy?
  If God is the ultimate form did God go through this evolutionary
  process?
  If not is God different form the living beings on earth?
  Have you posted this story because you have understood the concept
  of MUKTI and have found a way to attain it?
  regards
  gopa
  GOPAKUMAR VENUGOPALAN




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