In the solar system, Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, so logically it should also be the hottest. Actually Venus is the hottest. Why is this? Because there is something special about the atmosphere surrounding Venus that makes it absorb more heat from the sun. In the same way it is not just proximity to Nature that counts but also the receptivity of the devotee. Here by the word Nature I meant God or our true self also which teach us new lessons in every moment of our life.
If we lack the proper receptivity, we will not hear the Nature’s words as they are expressed. They will always be colored and twisted by our own views and tendencies. Each person will interpret it in his or her own way.
Once, a 92-year-old man went to the doctor to get a physical examination. A few days later, the doctor saw the old man walking down the street with a beautiful young woman hanging onto his arm. The doctor was shocked and commented to the man, “Wow! You are really doing great, aren’t you?” The old man replied;” Just doing what you said, doctor: ‘Get a hot mama and be cheerful.’ Isn’t that right?”
The doctor said,” No, that’s not what I said! I said, “You’ve got a heart murmur, so be careful.”
Like this, the true meaning of the Master’s words is often obscured by our own preferences, fears and desires. If this is the situation we couldn’t be helped. We have to become as open and receptive as possible to what is really being said – as open and receptive as an innocent child.
There is a story about four friends. Three of four friends would always side against the fourth in various arguments. One day during the course of a conversation, the fourth friend brought up a very valid point. As usual the first three friends disdainfully disputed his idea. The fourth friend became so frustrated and sad that he started praying aloud to God, “Oh Lord, please show my friends a sign that I am right!” Immediately dark clouds began to gather overhead in what had been a crystal clear sky. The fourth friend pointed to sky and said.” See, God has sent a sign that I am right!” The friends scoffed at his claim, saying that it was purely coincidental. The fourth friend became even more frustrated and pleaded to god to send even stronger sign to convince his friends. Immediately the air was filled with thunder, and lightning flashed across the darkening sky. The fourth friend happily exclaimed, “Now there can be no doubt. God is on my side!”
The three friends were still unimpressed. ‘Oh, that’s nothing. Where dark clouds gather, thunder and lightning are common”, they shrugged.
The fourth friend desperately cried out to God, “Oh, Lord please give them an indisputable sign that you are with me!”
In response, a deep voice boomed out from above,” Lo, you must listen to your friend. His point is correct.”
Upon hearing the voice of God, the three friends said, “So, God is on your side. But it’s still three against two.”
Like this, some people will cling to their own ideas no matter how ridiculous or impractical; they are not at all open and receptive. This is why it is said that it is easy to wake someone who is asleep, but it is very difficult to wake someone who is pretending to be asleep. Let us try not to be like the three friends. We should always try to be open and receptive like Venus to shine better. If we think that we know everything, we will not be able to learn anything. There are matters to learn about even from a microbe which is unseen to our naked eye. So let our hearths be widened as Universe
