The Way To Perfection-Part I

Anecdotes

-Staff

By Staff

Monday, June 2, 2008, 13:02

One day little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Then Jesus placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Wow! We may ask: what is this quality that gives the child automatic ticket to the gate of the Kingdom of God? Take some time and watch the little child lost in the fun of life. What do you see? Total selflessness! With no sense of "I" and "mine" the little child is rapt in the bliss of 'being'. Totally unattached to life, the child lives in the fullness of Life.

Then a certain rich young man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good." Surprising, isn't it? But that is the Truth. Only God is Good! And we can be good only when we realize this Oneness with the One.

Then Jesus said to the young man: "If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "Do not kill" (the Vedic law of Ahimsa) "Do not commit adultery" (the Vedic command of Brahmacharia) "Do not steal" (the Vedic law of aparigraha) "Do not give false testimony" (the Vedic command: speak the truth, follow righteousness) "Honor your father and mother" (the Vedic admonition: Mother is Divine, Father is Divine) and "Love your neighbor as yourself " (the Vedic injunction: Do to others what you would like done unto you)

"All these I have kept since I was a child" the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Hmnn! Let us wait a minute. How many of us can honestly say this to our Beloved Swami! "I have kept all the Vedic or Bible or Sathya Sai Code of conducts, etc, (they are all the same) from my childhood?" This simply means that this rich young man is no ordinary person. He is indeed a great Soul. Jesus was deeply pleased with this young man. He looked at him with love and he wished God would bestow on him still greater blessings. And He saw in him one lack. In spite of his great wealth and despite his strict adherence to the path of righteousness, he still had no Peace: that undisturbed stillness of bliss which the world and its objects cannot give.

Jesus then gave him the great invitation: a call to Divinity, a ticket to 'Prashanthi Nilayam', the Abode of Supreme peace. Jesus said to the man, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

My Jesus! The man was shocked. His mind reeled round his bank accounts, his numerous estates and companies, his wife and children, his honor and social status… all the comfort and pleasures… to give up all these and come and follow this wondering homeless recluse? His face bowed down with the burden of decision. His heart was beating fast. It was a moment with momentum – a divine opportunity not different from the critical choices which made the Buddha and St. Francis of Assisi forsake their Kingly Estates in search for perfection.

Meanwhile Jesus stood patiently looking at him…waiting… for his "yes". But he walked away sadly. What a life time opportunity that was missed! How many people today are able to accept these same commands from the Avatar of the age: "Go… sell all you have… give them to the poor… come … follow me."