Living dead are those
who have lost their job in their middle age and nothing looks prospective!
Living dead are those who do not have anything to continue their livelihood on their own nor have other’s confidence to help them!
Living dead are those who once upon a time were respected by everyone around because they have been remunerated handsomely but have now lost respect from the same persons because of their unaffordability now!
Living dead are those
who have now become boring because people no longer feel the need to listen to
them!
Living dead are those
who now have lost all rational thoughts according to others since they now no
longer have any intrinsic values because they have lost their buying powers!
Living dead are those
living in conditions of perpetual depression but people around do not have the
eyes or ears for it!
Living dead are those
walking corpses because it hardly matters to others or to themselves as to whether
they exist or not!
Living dead are those who never wishes to be brought back to life by any supernatural force because they are already living in hell everyday!
Living dead are those
mad men who are realized but cannot make anyone around understand that!
Living dead are those
who are actually not in illusion but the people around them think so: It is
they who actually run around all the time like birds gathering for food and do
not go beyond the first level of awareness of the soul (Annamaya Kosha)!
The real “Living Dead”
in the true sense of the word are those:
Living dead are those who
are actually in the mode of ignorance but presume they are happy, dominating
and enjoying life!
Living dead are those
who see people around them suffering but do not have the inclination to help
them even a bit!
Living dead are those
who give respect to those who do not deserve any respect but give undue respect
to those who do not even deserve it a bit!
Living dead are those having
born as a human being still do not attempt to know the purpose of their existence
till the last day of their lives only to fall into this desperate material pool
of existence perpetually without knowing the consequences of this repeated birth
death old age and disease!
கொடியது கேட்கின் நெடியவெல் வேலோய்!
கொடிது கொடிது வறுமை கொடிது
அதனினும் கொடிது இளமையில் வறுமை
அதனினும் கொடிது ஆற்றொணாத் தொழுநோய்
அதனினும் கொடிது அன்பிலாப் பெண்டிர்
அதனினும் கொடிது
இன்புற அவர்கையில் உண்பது தானே
Meaning: இந்த
உலகில்
மிகவும்
கொடுமையானது
எது
என்றால்
வறுமைதான்.
அந்த
வறுமையும்
இளமைப்
பருவத்தில்
வந்தால்
மிக
மிகக்
கொடுமையானது.
அத்தகைய
வறுமையை
விடக்
கொடுமையானது
தீராத
கொடிய
நோய்
ஆகும்.
தீராத
கொடிய
நோயைவிடக்
கொடுமையானது
அன்பே
இல்லாத
பெண்ணுடன்
வாழ்வது.
அதைவிடக்
கொடுமையானது
அந்தப்
பெண்ணிடம்
உணவைப்
பெற்று
உண்பது
ஆகும்
என்று
கொடுமையானவற்றுள்
எல்லாம்
மிகவும்
கொடுமையானது
அன்பு
இல்லாத
பெண்
இடும்
உணவை
உண்பதுதான்
என
ஒளவையார்
குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.
Translation: People in the following conditions are considered as “Living
Dead” because of their terrible sufferings.
The severity increases in the ascending order as
mentioned below:
Living dead are those suffering in poverty. More than this
are those who are poverty-stricken in their youth. More than this are those who
suffer from a terrible disease. More than this are those who live with a woman
who have no love for him. The most terrible thing possible for a living dead is
to eat the food given by that woman!
Concept inspired by Srimad Bhagavatham: “Due to his pious activities in previous lives, the conditioned soul attains material facilities in this life, but when they are finished, he takes shelter of wealth and riches, which cannot help him in this life or the next. Because of this, he approaches the living dead who possess these things. Such people are compared to impure trees, creepers and poisonous wells.” – Srimad Bhagavatham 5.14.12 – The material world as the great forest of enjoyment.
The context of this conversation is based on a hypothetical situation in corporate world (not hypothetical anymore (LOL) because this world is pretty much ruled by 99% category at this point of time☹), where a senior personnel (Mr.Y) is laid off abruptly and he is conversing with another colleague (now ex-colleague) who is also his good friend (Mr.X).
Mr.X:
This post that you shared: Data
warehousing and its architecture is really useful. Thank you very much. Sure,
I am going through this right now. The blog post Mental Maturity
that you shared is also equally good 😊
Mr.Y:
Thank you very much 😊. The need of the hour is to tolerate with mentally
deficient people.
Mr.X:
Yes, by showing empathy!
Mr.
Y: Yes, I no longer need it at this point but you need to ☹ I have
already fallen down and not much to fall further…
Mr.X: Yes, I can understand. I am thinking of this only day in and day out.
Mr.Y:
And you have to come out of the situation quickly for your mental health!
Mr.X:
Fair enough. I have to study day in and day out to get out. otherwise they will
eat me for sure ☹
Mr.
Y: Yes, it’s quite tough nowadays since the market is also not that good…
you got to push through some good contacts. You got to think on those lines
also!
Mr.X: ☹I will try.
Mr. Y: But still some effort to try through direct means as well is also useful, or whatever since that is still better than sitting idle in this sinking ship.
Mr.X:
Yes, I totally agree.
Mr.
Y: I don’t think they can stand long in the industry with this kind of attitude
to everyone though. I am saying it to you because I know about you fairly well.
Mr.X:
Correct, I can understand.
Mr.
Y: Because I see the trend is getting worse over the years as I am watching on
this attitude towards the employees. When the company is quite small, they tend
to treat the employees fairly well. But when the company has grown
exponentially, they want the employees to become their slaves by imposing
arbitrary policies!
Mr.X:
Yes! The trend has definitely changed over the years and it is changing for
really worse for the employees.
Mr.X:
Did you get any talks with some other organisations on your next employment?
Mr. Y: I
have been doing it all the time but nothing is fruitful so far.
Mr. Y: It’s better for you to think they have made you resign and your notice period has already started and try for a job in this attitude. That’s my sincere advice if it all you really realise the gravity of the situation. And the career is already getting into a drain every day you stay there anyway!
Mr.X:
Yes, this is pretty much happening ☹.
Mr. Y: So please think like this because you know they can do anything and you can do nothing about it. And you only will regret later because Its back to square one for you whatever be it.
Mr.X: Yes.
Mr.
Y: I am not ringing any alarm bells because you very much know the reality in
this very place. You can’t afford to lose out and sit like me naively trusting everyone
under the sun ☹
Mr.X:
😊
Mr.Y:
I trust people so much and every time I have seen them only let me down and I don’t
learn any lessons any time because I think I am trustworthy and expect the same
to get reciprocated, but unfortunately luck has not favoured me for not even a single
instance so far.
Mr.X:
I can understand what all you are going through. I can see it clearly.
Mr. Y: So, it is better to learn lessons from others and rather than face it yourself and then learn from it. When the sufferer comes and explains the predicaments to you sincerely, you got to take it whole-heartedly because “The sufferer only knows the suffering of the suffered.” ☹
Mr.X:
Yes
Mr.
Y: That’s why I am patiently talking to you.
Mr.X:
This is very true.
Mr. Y: I am old and mature enough to handle it but I don’t think the youth of today can. At least the majority can’t bear it for sure.
Mr.X:
yes, this is correct.
Mr. Y: What you can think of this in these situations when kids are at the peak of their education, a big home mortgage is on and the family expenses to handle and someone called “employer” to whom to put your heart and soul abruptly says, it’s all over this very moment???
Mr.X: hmm!!!
Mr. Y: You saw this reality that happened right in front of you to a person very well known to you right?
Mr.X: Yes, I was in shock. I told you. I had a lot going in my head at that moment.
Mr.
Y: If this doesn’t ring alarm bells what else will?
Mr.X: Yes, Correct. this is something beyond comparison and was a shocker to me.
Mr. Y: No one can change anyone in this world because it is in their nature to remain as to whomever they are, since this attitude has been inherited from over countless lifetimes and also the upbringing in this present lifetime and also the nature of this age☹
Mr.X:
Yes!
Mr. Y: You are because what you are and you are longing to be virtuous. Demons only long to be demons, because everything is in the corresponding nature. So, there is nothing much one can do about this and simply learn this truth to further better ourselves in the midst of the tortures from them.
Mr.X:
Yes, I fully agree.
Mr. Y: These are the lessons no one will teach you but we have to learn yourself through introspection and learn to get mature through it by life experiences. And getting better and better with every such torturous experiences, so much so, that there will come a point when you will not feel anything as a torture but only as a blessing to better yourself further 🙂 . If one reaches this level he will come to a stage when he will be able to transform at least one person in an otherwise no one is “transferable world”, that would really be the biggest achievement in one’s life because it’s really not easy to lift another soul and absolutely nothing even comes closer to that ever.
Mr.
Y: Really!
Mr.
Y: That too if that is done without any expectations or rewards, no harm can
even come closer to that person whatsoever.
Mr.X:
Fair enough.
Mr.
Y: That is the summary conclusion of Karma yoga in Bhagavad Gita – Working
without expectation of rewards to attain perfection. So, please that got to be
fair enough 🙂
Mr.X:
Yes, I agree.
Mr.
Y: I don’t want anything in life. Because nothing is permanent. I only want to
sustain my near and dear as long as I am there. Our actions and its results are
only permanent imprints of ourselves.
Mr.X:
Yes.
Mr.
Y: I don’t know if I am really going deep into philosophy and not even sure
whether you are inclined into these subject matters. But I know you as a
sincere person, these things definitely appeal to you. Otherwise you will not
come to me because hardly anyone come to me on anything. I am a 100% loner
though I get along well with everyone superficially and always try to keep them
in good humour. And I am always willing to share whatever I can, but everyone
feels superior according to themselves and so they don’t find the need to know
anything from others!
Mr.X:
I can relate to things what is happening and what is going on. So, I am
just preparing myself for any eventuality.
Mr.
Y: Yes, wishing you the very best!
Mr.X: Thanks, I will prepare myself otherwise this world will swallow me! You have always been open and ready to help anyone at anytime as much as i have seen 😊
Mr.
Y: 😊 I have
to step out… We will surely continue and stay in touch wherever we are.
Do let me know…I am always available for any assistance any time you want…
Mr.X: Thank you again so much. All the very best to you too!
Mr. Y: Thank you very much!
Conclusion: Mr. Y is still looking for that elusive job opportunity as I am publishing this post. He is in a burnout state as of now ☹ inside but doesn’t know how to show it outside, probably because he has been mentally drained all through his life… 😊
Even
including the antagonist and mischief mongrel living dead beings.
You
believe this world gives equal opportunities to everyone,
Even
though those “everyone” only satisfies “everyone” in the
category of “everyone”!
You
live for everyone’s well-being,
Even
though those “everyone” lives for their own well-being.
You
want to remain in a life of the one percent category,
Though everyone around you cannot go beyond the ninety nine percent category.
Ninety
nine percent do not want to know the reason for their existence,
One
percent can’t make them understand the reason no matter what!
Ninety nine percent spend time their life for naught,
One
percent knows what is to be sought.
Ninety
nine percent are indulgent,
One
percent are diligent, vigilant and valiant!
Ninety
nine percent are slave of the senses,
One
percent are master of the senses.
Ninety
nine percent are any way my way and only my way mentality,
One percent are my way different way and for everyone’s way mentality.
Ninety
nine percent seeks excuses in every situation,
One
percent sees opportunity even in an adversity.
Ninety nine percent does one hundred things but only one thing may be sensible,
One percent does only one thing but that is one hundred times beneficial to everyone.
Ninety
nine percent are self-centred and selfish,
One
percent are self-conscious and believe in the self.
Ninety
nine percent are in the herd mentality,
One
percent are in the lone warrior mentality.
Ninety
nine percent do not go beyond the status quo,
One
percent changes the status quo.
Ninety
nine percent acts grossly,
One
percent acts subtly.
Ninety
nine percent cannot understand the one percent at all,
One percent understand everything about the mentality of ninety nine percent!
Ninety
nine percent are pretenders,
One
percent are masters!
Ninety
nine percent are grossly materialistic,
One
percent are very realistic!
Ninety nine percent live for the momentary satisfaction that results in only material advancement and sense satisfaction,
One
percent utilises every moment as a means of progress towards spiritual
advancement and self-realisation.
One
percent sustains the ninety nine percent,
Ninety nine percent try to consume the one percent!
…so ninety nine percent is the actual minority,
One
percent is the real majority!
Corollaries
of:
“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.” – Bhagavad Gita – 15.7
“The endeavouring transcendentalist, who is situated in self-realization, can see all this clearly. But those who are not situated in self-realization cannot see what is taking place, though they may try to.” – Bhagavad Gita – 15.11
“Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me.” – Bhagavad Gita 7.15
“An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.” – Bhagavad Gita 5.22
“Those persons who are materially engrossed, being blind to the knowledge of ultimate truth, have many subject matters for hearing in human society, O Emperor. The lifetime of such an envious householder is passed at night either in sleeping or in sex indulgence, and in the daytime either in making money or maintaining family members” – Srimad Bhagavatham 2.1.2 – 3.
“Lazy human beings with paltry intelligence and a short duration of life pass the night sleeping and the day performing activities that are for naught” – Srimad Bhagavatham – 1.16.9.
Inspired by the grand old lady of Tamil poetry Avvaiyaar (Tamil: ஔவையார்; literally means ‘Respectable Woman’) and her classic treatise Moodhurai (மூதுரை) , where the opposite characteristics are beautifully poetically expressed in two consecutive stanzas, I am writing this post on similar lines to my earlier post titled Unknown and this post is titled Mundane!
The intention to depict opposites is because everything is relative and hence opposites are inevitable in this world and may be taken relative to one’s position based on the observer and the observed, perceiver and the perceived.
For example, a person fallen on the ground will not have to fall down further because he is already fallen! but a person standing on the ground or a person sitting at an elevated position can experience a fall 😊.
The purpose of this post is to depict the dual states of being in knowledge and being in ignorance.
Ignorance
is not bliss in all circumstances!
Fire
causes a burn to a little child irrespective of whether the child knows the
characteristics of the fire or not.
Water drowns a person irrespective of whether the person is aware of this fact or not because that has got to do with the chemical composition and physical properties of the person and the water and it will act according to it.
Poison acts on the person irrespective of whether the person knows its side effects or not and whether he has consumed it voluntarily or not.
Medicine acts on the person irrespective of whether the person has the knowledge of its potency or not and whether it is has the propensity or cure or whether it causes adverse side effects.
It is the nature of substances to act according to its composition and properties.
Humans are no exception in this regard, having constituted of five gross material elements in various proportions, each having its own properties and the three subtle elements mind, intelligence and false ego governed by the combination of three modes of material nature – goodness, passion and ignorance.
Thus we (mind) are helplessly acting because of the functions of these gross and subtle elements in material creation.
It is to understand this fact that we mundane, needs to transcend beyond the modes of material nature. We are not mundane in the real sense because we have a mind and an intelligence that can discriminate but since everything is governed by the modes of material nature in this material universe and we are also part and parcel of it, we are in the cycle.
Akrura
during his mission to Hastinapura emphasises this fact to King Dhritharashtra
through this beautiful advice:
“In this world no one has any permanent relationship with anyone else, O King. We cannot stay forever even with our own body, what to speak of our wife, children and the rest. Every creature is born alone and dies alone, and alone one experiences the just rewards of his good and evil deeds.” – Srimad Bhagavatham – 10.49.20 – 21.
The accumulation of our good and evil deeds since time immemorial and also the deeds in our present life determines the ever-transforming combination of the three mode of material nature that is responsible for the unique mental composition of each one of us and that drives our way of life in the present and the next destination after death! It’s only by the endeavour to being in the mode of goodness and by finally transcending even this material mode of goodness to a transcendental mode of goodness or Suddha-Sattva, there is an escape from this material existence.
Before
going to the aspects of mundane, first, due respects to the grand old lady of
Tamil poetry Avvaiyaar as to how she brings in the pair of opposite nature of
people in this world:
“It is beneficial to see people
of good character,
It is beneficial to listen to
their words,
It is beneficial to talk about
their lives and
It is beneficial to have them as
friends.”
The opposite has been written with such a minimalistic effort and choice of words and can be noticed just by visually observing the arrangements of alphabets between the two stanzas, even without knowing the language! This is reflected even in the translation!
Mundane
is the Jivatma (due to its externally looking nature and perceiving through
imperfect senses)
Mundane
is the activated (by the Paramaathma, Antaryaama, Indwelling or Supersoul)
Mundane
is the eternal servant (either to senses (during material existence) or to the
supreme lord (after liberation))
Mundane
cannot realise that unknown
Mundane
speculates using the imperfect knowledge of material sciences
Mundane
cannot attain the unknown
Mundane
drives itself using the material senses
Mundane
identifies with the body
Mundane
identifies with the senses
Mundane
identifies with the mind
Mundane
identifies with the intellect
Mundane
identifies with the intelligence
Mundane
identifies with the ego
Mundane
is being in a state of forgetting the original identity
Mundane
is being bound by feelings and actions
Mundane
is being materialistic
Mundane
is being in a tendency to dominate material nature
Mundane
is being in a state of inequilibrium
Mundane
is being bound by the modes of material nature
Mundane
is being superficial
Mundane
is being predictable to circumstances and situations
Mundane
is being known
Mundane is
being slave of the senses
Mundane is
being in the concept of “I” and “Mine”
Mundane is
being conditioned
Mundane is
being in a bodily state of existence
Mundane is
being in a state of lamentation due to failed desires
Mundane is
being afraid of death
Mundane is
being considering oneself as a “doer”
Mundane is
being in a sense of proprietorship
Mundane is
being in a state of sense gratification
Mundane is
being in a state of forgetfulness
Mundane is
being in illusion
But…
Mundane
is to be overcome
Mundane
is to become self-realized
Mundane
is to realise the pangs of four-fold misery – birth, death, old age and disease
Mundane
is to attain the Unknown
Mundane
is to realise it is only spiritual knowledge that is factual and eternal, all
else is temporary and nescience
Mundane
is to realise the tricks of speculators, jugglers and pseudo-mystics and not to
fall into their trap
Mundane
is to listen to the inner voice by shutting out the external noises
Mundane
is to engage in solitary pursuits to purify body mind and intellect
Mundane
is to thoroughly understand the transient nature of material existence
Mundane
is to slowly get detested detached from this transient world through knowledge
of revealed spiritual literatures from a spiritual master (alive or not alive
taking the master by heart)
Mundane
is to learn to tolerate bodily and mental pain inflicted through the three
sources 1. Adhyatmik 2. Adhibhautik 3. Adhidaivik. (miseries inflicted by the
body and mind itself, those inflicted by other living entities, and natural
disturbances)
Mundane
is to realise the futility of senseless exploitation of mother nature and learn
to live in harmony with all the living entities
Mundane
is to reject man-Gods or man-made Gods and understand that there is a supreme controller
who is the source of everything
Mundane
is to learn to surrender to that supreme
Mundane
is to totally understand the helplessness in the hands of material nature and
the illusory energy of the Lord
Mundane
is to learn to activate the intellect to our pursuits towards the absolute
truth through devotional service
Mundane
is to acknowledge the indwelling that is doing its designated duty and functions
in a subtle manner
Mundane
is to acknowledge that it is the indwelling that activates the consciousness to
awaken ourselves from sleep
Mundane
is to acknowledge that it is the indwelling that activates our vital organs to
perform its functions
Mundane
is to acknowledge that it is the indwelling that controls the fire of digestion
that digests four types of food stuff – Bhagavad Gita 15.14
Mundane
is to acknowledge that it is the indwelling that activates the five prana
Mundane
is to acknowledge the indwelling is unknown…no one knows how it does these
activities for our survival in the material world
Mundane
needs to understand that the process of self-realization can only start from inward
to outward.
Mundane
needs to understand the futility of material existence and want to give it up.
Mundane
needs to understand whether to transcend from this mundane existence to a
transcendental state is self-discretion…
To summarise, a mundane should realise that human life is a misery at every step, confronted with dangers due to the propensity of the soul to lord it over material nature through the deluding power of false ego, injecting the concepts of I and mine, having lured by the unsurmountable illusory potential of Maya (at least in theory) to get entangled perpetually through the attractions of opposite sex, progeny and wealth remaining in the trap of material existence, the way out of this trap is self-realization through knowledge and surrender through devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
The subtle variations of intrepretations by great acharyas of various sampradayas/schools and the many liberated souls, combined with our own understandings of their philosophies that give rise to brainstorming with meaningful interesting discussions thus clearing our doubts and ignorance and broadens our insights.
All of them are identified by subtle variations and even have sub sects in them having further subtle differences in their main tenets.
For example, Sri Sampradaya is branched into two subsects – the Northeners (Vadagalai – the sect i belong to by birth 🙂 ) – the progressive, and the Southerners (Thengalai) – the more orthodox…
You may excuse my limited knowledge of variations between various manifestation of Lord Krishna/Lord Maha Vishnu/Lord Naaraayanaa and the interchange in terms of name/usage – Lila-incarnations, incarnations, expansions, primary expansions, secondary expansions, expansions of an expansion, portions, plenary portions, portions of plenary portions etc.
But the ultimate thing to note is that they are all specially empowered beings designated with a specific purpose during the course of their descent into the material plane and subsequent ascent into the spiritual plane once their mission/purpose is accomplished.
They are Nitya (https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5717/nitya), determined to bless us jiva souls to also to transcend/ascent to their plane and it is up to us to utilize the teachings and follow their path (in whatever ideology that one may find comfortable to follow because of their modes of material nature -apart from the above four , not to ignore / forget the Advaita school of thought propounded by Aadi Shankaracharya, an empowered expansion of Lord Shiva/Rudra as mentioned in the Padma Purana and Shiva Purana, refutations of this school of thought is the primary factor behind the tenets of the vaishnava sampradayas that came into existence/prominence after the ascent and descent of Aadi Shankara).
It’s only the spiritual evolution and the realisation of the impermenance, ever-changing and ever-transforming attributes of the material universe and the need to transcend beyond it that is of primary importance.
This concludes my 150th blog post!
Note: Regarding transcendence, one may refer to this amazing, mind-blowing book – Transcendence – My Spiritual experiences with Pramukh Swamiji and be blown over by it! – A dialogue between The People’s President, The Missile Man, above all a great human being to have walked on this earth, Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam(1931-2015) and Pramukh Swamiji(1921-2016) – the acharya from the lineage of Bhagwan Swami Narayan school of Vaishnava Sampradaya – the treatise Vachanamruta being the bible of the teachings of this Sampradaya, and the establishment of Akshardham temples all over the world under his leadership, particularly the amazing Akshardham temple at Noida, New Delhi, India.
These are the books that has the capability to alter the course of our thought process for good!
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu said: O demigods, fulfilling one’s own interests is so important that one may even have to make a truce with one’s enemies. For the sake of one’s self-interest, one has to act according to the logic of the snake and the mouse.” – Srimad Bhagavatham – 8.6.20
What
is this “logic of the snake and the mouse” and why this had to be invoked
by the master of masters of all Acharyas, Lord Vishnu to the devas?
Surely, this has got to be the master of master of all raja-tantras or political brilliance of the highest standard to outwit the most strong and formidable opponent!
The
strength of the devas reduced drastically and the
demons/asuras taking full advantage of it defeated the devas and took the
control of the entire universe.
The
devas, having been driven out of their own residence, approached the supreme
father of material universe Lord Brahma for help, who in turn approached his
father, Supreme Lord Vishnu and offered prayers for assistance.
Lord
Vishnu mentioned churning the milk ocean to produce nectar that would make them
immortal is the only solution.
He
asked them to sign a truce with the demons following “the logic of the mouse and the
snake” because a massive physical labour is required to undertake this
task and because the demons are in the rajasic
mode of nature (Mode of Passion), they are very suitable for this purpose…
Thus
the concept of signing an armistice with an ultimate enemy to achieve the
ultimate purpose outwitting and utilise the resources of the enemy to achieve
one’s own mission is the logic of the mouse and the snake.
The
logic (story) goes like this:
Once a snake got into an earthen pot and was relaxing in it.
A naughty but very clever mouse running around the pot jumped and
fell into the pot accidentally and in the process closed the lid.
Now both the mouse and the snake got caught inside the pot.
The mouse got terribly afraid of the snake and pleaded not to eat It.,
mouse being natural food for the snake.
The mouse said to the snake: “Both of us are now trapped inside
this pot and so we both of us will be captured and killed!”
The mouse continued: “If you will not eat me now, I have a plan by
which both of us can overcome this danger and get out of this pot!”
The snake thought: “I am anyway going to outwit this mouse and will
eat it when I am out of this pot. So for the time-being, let me agree to
this mouse’s proposal and cooperate with him to get out of this imminent
danger.”
The snake said to the mouse: “Let it be so!”
The mouse said: “Okay. Sit tall and raise your hood so that I can
climb and sit on top of it. And remember this: You should close your
eyes and not open it till I say so, Otherwise this plan will not
work out and we will continue to be trapped inside the pot!”
Since the snake also wanted to make a desperate escape, it had no
other alternative.
The mouse, very happy, having convinced the snake about his plan,
climbed to the top of the snake and sat on it and situated itself close to
the lid.
The mouse said to the snake: “Thank you very much for your
cooperation. Just close your eyes for about 10 seconds and both of us will
be done!””
The snake said: “Okay, make it fast. We don’t have much time left!”
The mouse with all his strength, jumped high, able to pierce the
lid and escape to the outside world through that hole and started to run
towards its hole as fast as possible.
The snake opened his eyes and was happy to notice the hole, also
escaped from the pot.
The snake now thought about catching that mouse for prey, watched
it running at a distance and started to chase it.
By the time, this realisation came to the snake, the mouse was fast
enough to reach its safe haven!
The snake standing outside the rat hole said to the mouse: “Can you
please come out of this rat hole for a minute? I want to thank you very
much for what you have done to me and I have a gift for you!”
The mouse said to the snake: “I very much know your plan. We are
natural enemies and I am sure if I come out now, you will surely eat me
because we are in our natural environment now. I only asked your
assistance inside the pot because I was in dual danger that time. One was
yourself and the other the owner of the pot who is sure to kill me when he
find me inside. It’s only out of providence that my plan also provided the
escape route for you! That truce is now over and we both are now back to our
natural habitat.”
The snake realised this mouse is too smart for him and so decided
to let him go to search for a different prey.
The
devas thus executed this plan to perfection in the Samudra
Mandhan (Churning of Milk Ocean for
Nectar) described in the 8th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatham to regain their lost
glory.
Having
been asked to accept to whatever be the demands made by the demons during the
churning process by the Supreme Lord Vishnu – from the start of the churning
process – to accept the tail portion of the snake Vasuki (since tail was
considered inauspicious and head auspicious according to the demons) and leave
the head to the demons to accede to the various outputs during the churning process
like Vāruṇī, the lotus-eyed goddess who controls drunkards, a horse named
Uccaiḥśravā, which was as white as the moon etc. to the demons.
The
devas clearly realised that it is the final product of churning – the nectar – is what they ultimately
want and the intermediate products are just transformations and hence there is
not much value associated with them.
So they are happy to let them go, but when the jug of nectar was snatched by the demons from the hands of Dhavanthari, the expansion of Lord Vishnu as God of Medicine, the devas became morose.
The Supreme Lord Vishnu, to fulfil His promise, appeared as Mohini-murti incarnation, bewildered the demons by creating a quarrel among them, retrieved the nectar from the demons and distributed the entire nectar to the devas.
This entire episode – “the logic of the snake and the mouse” or the churning of the milk ocean for nectar by devas and asuras is best summarised by these last two verses of Srimad Bhagavatham in Canto 8: Chapter 9 – The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti.
“The
place, the time, the cause, the purpose, the activity and the ambition were all
the same for both the demigods and the demons, but the demigods achieved one
result and the demons another. Because the demigods are always under the
shelter of the dust of the Lord’s lotus feet, they could very easily drink the
nectar and get its result. The demons, however, not having sought shelter at
the lotus feet of the Lord, were unable to achieve the result they desired.”
– Srimad
Bhagavatham 8.9.28
“In human society there are various activities performed for the protection of one’s wealth and life by one’s words, one’s mind and one’s actions, but they are all performed for one’s personal or extended sense gratification with reference to the body. All these activities are baffled because of being separate from devotional service. But when the same activities are performed for the satisfaction of the Lord, the beneficial results are distributed to everyone, just as water poured on the root of a tree is distributed throughout the entire tree.” – Srimad Bhagavatham 8.9.29
Spirituality is the only way to solace 
