Om Ganesha February 3, 1999 Morning Prayer, Namaste my Chelas.
The early dawn is misty, the fog has settled over our Ganga like a beautiful veil. The moon which is beginning to wane was shining through the mist over the Ganga and her temples. How blessed we are at this Kashi Ashram. My prayer for you all is that you understand about pride and ego. Even though many of you have been on a spiritual path for many life times, there comes a time where you may forget who you are. It reminds me of a tale my Baba once told me.
Many life times ago, there was a holy man who sat at the feet of his Guruji for many years. He worshiped the Mother. He was always with her when ever he could be. He would close his eyes and call upon the Divine.
At that time Lord Shiva had to be away for a long long time. Who would take his place cried out the Gods. Then the Bhakta holy Man was thought of and he was brought in to protect the Mother Parvati, until Shiva could return.
The holy man was humble and grateful. Many days past and the holy man’s ego began to be inflated as he watched the a handmaiden past him by flirting with him. He forgot the Mother as his ego grew and grew. The handmaiden was only a lila of the Mother used to see if her holy Man would truly remain humble. It was also a chance for the handmaiden to grow . They both failed the test of truth and time. The holy man fell in the handmaidens trap as others before him had. At that time, Lord Shiva Returned, in the disguise of a poor Rishi. The holy man was in a hurry to meet his hand maiden, they had begun to make love. The holy man was so rushed that he tripped the Rishi. The holy man did not even realize that he had done this. The Rishi chased him to the end of the Shiva Loka where only purity can dwell. He then kicked him off of Shiva’s and Parvati’s world, where he dropped to the earth in the form of a worm. Fortunately he fell to earth in a Guru’s Ashram where he had to start all over again to learn how to rise to the feet of the Mother and never let go of her feet. The Mother Parvati cried and cried, for the holy man was so close to her, just like her son. Yet she knew that if he would have consummated the flirtation with the handmaiden, even as a worm he would not of fell to the Ashram on earth.He would have crawled the earth alone on his belly. Now at least he had a chance to rise up leaving the ego. He did Puja and begged the Mother to make him whole again and live at her feet as a full Sanyasan, never to look or touch another woman again.
You see my Chelas, the story is called the rise and fall of the Holy One. You must be careful that when you get close to God that you do not freak and listen to the Ego who is none less then Lila of the Mother. Never the less the Mother was still very hurt. I will continue this story at another time. The Holy one who became a worm, when he could have become the Mothers constant companion. My prayer for all of you is that you know what you have and have deep gratitude. The ironic part of the story as my Baba told it to me with great glee ( Our Baba is much Blacker then Me) is that the handmaiden was allowed to stay with the Mother, close but never that close. The Mother watched her for now it was her time to change or be sent to earth as a insect who must be humble before the worm and many many life times behind him. Now my Chelas, as I take you to God, have one sight and that sight should always be on the Mother. This is my prayer, and this is my wish. There is no woman or man who can give you the love like the Divine ones can. I love you all. Love Ma Jai Black Kali Ma Ki Jai