Parables of Rama
by Swami Rama Tirtha | 102,836 words
Stories in English used by Swami Rama to illustrate the highest teaching of Vedanta. The most difficult and intricate problems of philosophy and abstract truths, which may very well tax the brains of the most intellectual, are thus made not only simple and easy to understand but also brought home to us in a concrete form in such an interesting and ...
A highly revered saint (Guru Nanak) in India was in his early youth working in a place where it was his duty to give away alms, to distribute food and treasure to the people. Some poor men were brought before him, with an order from his Master to give unto them thirteen bushels of flour. He gave them one bushel; he gave the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, until he came to the number thirteen. He was counting the number of bushels audibly while dealing out the flour. The number thirteen is called Terhan in the Indian Punjabee language. This is a very remarkable world. It has two meanings; one is thirteen, ten plus three; and the other meaning of the word is "I am Thine; I am Thine! I am God's! I am part of Him! I am His!" Well, he counted 12 and then came the turn of the number Terhan. When he had given the thirteen bushels and was pronouncing Terhan, such holy associations were aroused in him that he actually gave up his body and all to God. He forgot everything about the world; he was beyond himself; no, he was in himself. In this state of ecstasy he went on saying Terhan, Terhan, Terhan, Terhan, and went on unconsciously giving to the people bushel after bushel saying Terhan, Terhan,- until he fell down in a state of super-consciousness, in a state of transcendental bliss.
Thus we see that the people who are in the elementary stages can often rise to the greatest heights, if they are as good as their word; if they are sincere and earnest; if they do not want to throw dust into the eyes of God; if they do not want to make promises with God and them break them.
When once in the temple or church, they say, “I am Thine". Let them feel it. Let them realize it. This is true religion, the primary stage of spiritual development, "I am His! I am His! I am God's!"
Different sects throughout the world can be classed under these three heads—"I am His", "I am Thine", "I am He". So far as the forms are concerned, the second form, "I am Thine", is higher than the first, "I am His", and the third from, "I am He" is the highest. When this state of "I am He" or "I am Thou" is reached, there are no more births. The man is free, free, free! Man is God, God! He has reached the end! OM!
MORAL: The primary stage of love is that in which the lover entirely surrenders himself unto God, the beloved.