== DEEP MEANING BEHIND STORY ==
Namaskar,
Various gurus have always used stories to communicate important ideas to
the common citizens.
Our human society is comprised of so many people, each with their own
interests, talents, and abilities. Some are intellectuals, some are
technicians, some are artists, and some are scientifically or
mathematically inclined etc.
Everyone has their own specialty, bent of mind, interests, and
understanding.
Hence when a guru wants to convey a teaching to the entire public, the
guru will often give the teaching in the form of a story. Because
regardless of one's psychic inclination, everybody loves a story. All
will listen and learn.
Baba, being the Taraka Brahma and Supreme Guru, has also told many
stories. And embedded in those stories are the gems and jewels of AM
ideology. Hence not only should we enjoy Baba's wonderful stories, but
we should understand them deeply and apply them in our practical lives.
MANGO GROVE STORY
One of the famous stories which Baba has repeated in numerous discourses
is the story of the jinani and bhakta visiting a mango grove. Everyone
in the Marga is aware about this story because Baba has used it again
and again.
As we recall, both a jinani and a devotee go to a mango grove.
Immediately the jinani (intellectual) becomes highly involved in
counting the trees, measuring the length of the branches, checking out
the leaves, and classifying the mangoes according to their genus type
such as Mangitera Zeylanica, Valcarrie, Bombay Ratual, Aroemanis, and
Nam Doc Mai etc. The jinani is involved in all kinds of research and
calculations regarding those mangos. In contrast, upon entering the
mango grove, the devotee goes up to the first tree, grabs a ripe mango,
sits down, and enjoys the sweet taste of that delicious mango. At the
end of the day, the jinani is very hungry and the devotee is totally
satisfied.
This type of mango grove story Baba has recounted various times.
IS IT SO SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND
Just because it sounds like a simple story, we should not therefore
conclude that the meaning is also so simple. There is a deeper meaning
that all may not be aware about. Then of course there is also the matter
of applying it to our own lives in a practical and tangible way.
Baba has told this story because He wants to convey its significance to
everyone. That much we all know. And the most basic idea He is giving is
that devotion is very important and we should all aim to become
devotees. This much also everyone understands.
Beyond that there is more to know, and that is why this story is a real
treasure.
PRACTICALLY APPLYING THE STORY TO HUMAN LIFE
When Baba says that jinanis enter the mango grove and start counting the
trees and analyzing the leaves, but miss out on the fruit, Baba is
guiding us that jinanis come into this world and study so many things,
from lokas to microvita, from kosas to cakras, but they miss out on the
real essence of life, i.e. engaging in sadhana and getting Parama Purusa
and His bliss.
Whereas when a devotee enters a mango grove then he eats the mango and
does not get sidetracked by anything else. Similarly, when a bhakta is
born on this earth he aims for and attains Parama Purusa, and he does
not get waste his time in other useless pursuits like name, fame, or
fortune etc.
Even then it is not so easy to understand.
PRACTICALLY APPLYING THE STORY TO OUR OWN LIFE
When a devotee eats the mango, that presents a colorful and
mouth-watering image for what it means to attain Parama Purusa. Thus
getting Parama Purusa is not some abstract theoretical notion.
In our day to day practical lives, eating the mango, or getting Parama
Purusa means getting bliss out of all the lessons, thinking of Him
always, and feeling His love practically in your heart.
Just as all the taste buds of the devotee in the mango grove are
immersed in the sweet sensation and taste of that mango, similarly a
true bhakta in this quiquelemental world practically feels Baba's divine
vibration in sadhana and even when not in sadhana. One will practice all
the lessons joyfully, doing them will not be burdensome. True bhaktas
feel His inner sweet touch just by closing their eyes or by thinking of
Him. They are always immersed in His flow and life passes blissfully in
that way.
So being a bhakta is not some dry, theoretical experience. One cannot
just say that, "well I have been in AM a long time so I am therefore a
devotee of Baba." It does not work that way.
One can only say they are a bhakta if they tangibly feel Baba's blissful
presence in their heart night and day. Just like a bhakta in the mango
grove can practically taste the juicy sweetness of that fruit. So one is
only a bhakta if really attend to sadhana with great sincerity and feel
the only aim in their life is to serve and please Parama Purusa. Such
persons are not harboring any other idea related with career goals,
prestige, money, or spouse etc. Then one is a bhakta otherwise not.
Baba has told the mango grove story because He wants us all to know the
devotion is the most important element in human life. And He wants that
we should become devotees. And the way to do that is by wholly diving
into the realm of sadhana. Getting bliss in sadhana and loving Him in
dhyana is what it means to eat mangoes in the grove. There is no second
or third meaning.
Thus we should understand the inner meaning of the devotee in the mango
grove and then honestly evaluate if we really satisfy that criteria or
not. And if not, then we should put forth sufficient effort in our
kiirtan and sadhana to get our mind moving in that direction.
HOW SOME MISUNDERSTAND
Unfortunately, it is highly possible, or even probable, that there are
some who call themselves as bhaktas, yet they are not really involved in
tasting the mango. They are not involved in sadhana.
They may struggle to even sit in sadhana; they will not complete the
lessons; and their mind just flickers in various directions when doing
sadhana. Such a person then has no quality of being called a devotee.
But that same person may think that, "I have a good reputation in AMPS
and I have started many projects, built so many schools, and my name is
printed on the newsletter or Prout magazine", and for that reason they
think that they are a bhakta.
When in fact nothing could be farther from the truth. Instead they are
merely falling into self-deception.
Because everyone wants to think of themselves as being a devotee, but we
should not fall prey to false notions of what a devotee is or who we
are. That is why Baba has given the mango grove story. Because it
practically teaches us who a devotee is, i.e. those fully engaged in
sadhana, and emphasizes that devotion is the only way human beings reach
fulfillment and get Him.
THE FATE OF SUCH JINANIS, WHILE BHAKTAS GET HIM
The jinani who is puffed up with the pride of his knowledge will never
be satisfied within, rather he will always be looking outwardly to get
some praise etc. And in the end of life they will not get Parama Purusa,
but will instead get thrust back into the cycle of life and death or
float around the universe as some kind of microvita, like vidyadhara
etc. Such is their empty fate.
While the bhakta will always keep Parama Purusa in the forefront of
their mind, be immersed in His bliss, and ultimately become one with
Him. That is what it means to eat the mango and that is what we are to
do in this life.
Baba says, "The devotee will pluck a ripe mango and eat it... the
devotees will get real bliss...Devotees will come under the shelter of
Parama Purus'a...and cross the Cosmic Cycle comfortably." (AV-1)
Namaskar,
Subhash
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