What is Sin?

A monk was once sitting in his seaside hut when one of the village women came in, carrying a handful of dripping sand, which she had just picked up from the beach.

"Do you know what this is?" she asked.

"It looks like sand," said the monk.

"Do you know why I brought it here?" she asked.

"No. I can't imagine why," the monk answered.

"Well, these are my sins," the women explained, "My sins are as countless as the sands of the sea. How can I ever obtain forgiveness for all of them.?"

"You got that sand down by the shore, didn't you?" asked the monk, "Well, take it back there, and pile it up into a heaping mound of sand at the edge of water. Then you sit back and watch the tide come in and slowly wash away the pile altogether. That is how God's forgiveness works ....!"

Moral of the Story ....

Friends, the word 'sin' comes from a root which means 'forgetfulness'. One may not be able to see the connection between forgetfulness and sin, but there is a connection. Forgetfulness means unawareness, unconsciousness.

In unconsciousness, sin is bound to happen. Sin simply means that one doesn't know what one is doing. Since one remains unaware, whatsoever one does has to wrong. However, to recognize that "I am a sinner" is the beginning of a great pilgrimage, is the beginning of real virtue.

Friends, as far as awareness is concerned, a man who is full of awareness and alert, cannot do anything wrong. It is intrinsically impossible. Awareness brings so much clarity, right perception, and understanding that it is impossible to do anything that can be harmful to anyone. Such a person can only be a blessing to the existence.

Have a Great Day Friends !

Complaints and the Mind

An aspiring monk was searching for a Guru. He went to a monastery and there his preceptor told him, "You can Study and Meditate here but we have one important rule that, all the students have to observe complete silence. You will be allowed to speak only once in 12 years time." The young monk agreed.

After meditating, studying and practicing in silence for 12 long years the day came when the student could say any one thing or ask his one question. So the monk said, "The bed is too hard."

Then he kept going for another 12 years with silent meditation and got the opportunity to speak once again. He said, "The food is not at all good."

Twelve more years of hard work and he got to speak again. Here are his words after 36 years of difficult spiritual practices, "I quit!!"

The Master of the monastery quickly answered, "Good, anyway all you have been doing was nothing but complaining!"

Moral of the Story ....J

Friends, although externally we seem to be silent, we remain busy with our internal dialogue of complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves. For most of us, this is the way of life ….complaining, judging, blaming, feeling unfairly treated, disrespected, etc. etc.…. all the usual rubbish that the mind loves to chew on.

The feeling of deep gratitude can arise only when we become aware of what existence is giving to us. In fact, we have nothing to give in return. We may not be worthy of it at all, we may not deserve it, still the flowers bloom, the sun rises, the moon shines, the stars twinkle and the clouds keep showering rains…. The existence goes on giving, whether we take any note of it or not….It just showers on us….

Friends, our attitude towards life is our own choice. Whether we choose gratitude or complaint, that is exactly what life will reflect back to us. A complaining mind is never at peace….!!

Have a Blissful Day Friends, without any Complaints!! J