BATTLE DRUMS
Friday, 5th May is Buddha Purnima and we pay
obeisance to Lord Buddha’s robust thoughts and breathing and meditation
techniques.
Our lexicon today is once again brimful of words such as
Corona Virus, Covid-19, O2(oxygen), ventilator, masks etc., as the lethal virus
resurfaces once again accompanied with the painful memories of the misery we
all went through. But we fought back with resilience.
When our mind is distraught our prana/chi/energy
levels get enfeebled and in such a state our motivational levels diminish.
Aeons
ago during the times of Buddha
A king had several elephants, but one elephant was very
powerful and brawny, exceedingly obedient, sensible and skillful in everything
especially his fighting skills. In different wars the pachyderm was sent on the battlefield and used
to return only after ensuring victory for the king. Therefore, he became the
most loved mastodon of the king.
Time flew by and there came a time when the mammoth started
getting old. Now the elephant was not able to perform as in earlier times.
Therefore, now the king did not even send his prized possession to the
battlefield but it still remained as a part of the king’s team and retinue.
One day the elephant went to a lake to quench its thirst,
but unfortunately the animal’s feet got stuck in the mud there and the pachyderm
kept on sinking. The mammoth tusker attempted a lot, but it could not extricate
itself from the mud.
People came to know
from the sound of elephant’s screams that the animal was in dire straits. The
news of the trapped elephant also reached the king. All the people of the
kingdom including the king gathered around the elephant and made valiant
efforts to disencumber it. But alas, despite attempting for a long time, there appeared
to be no solution in sight.
At that very time, Gautama Buddha was passing
by. Gautam Buddha, the Sakya Muni stopped and inspected the site of
the incident and then suggested to the king that battle drums should be played
around the lake.
The listeners were amazed at the seemingly bizarre suggestion.
How could the trapped elephant come out by playing the battle drums? But they
could not say anything to the enlightened one and commenced playing the drums.
As soon as the drums of war started ringing, there was a
change in the gestures, behaviour and determination of the troubled elephant.
At first, the pachyderm slowly stood up and then gradually
used its force and intelligence and before long, came out of the mud on his
own, shocking everyone. Gautama Buddha merely smiled and uttered softly, “There
was no lack of physical ability in the elephant, but only the need to infuse
enthusiasm, motivation and will.
In order to maintain enthusiasm in life, it is necessary
that humans maintain purposeful thinking and do not let despair dominate their
minds and thoughts...!!!
During desperate and rough times, we all need to enthuse
ourselves and people around us with hope and enthusiasm by playing, if need be,
the ‘battle drums’. These drums will metamorphose our thought process so that
we relive the abundance of jollity, health and happiness.
The ‘battle drums’ can invigorate and raise our motivational
levels and take the form of yoga, pranayama, breathing exercises like Sudarshan
Kriya meditation, service to the society and appreciating the nature of
impermanence.
“Nothing stays forever. Good as well as bad times go away.
Be Happy,” says spiritual master, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
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