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| | | Book Name: The Dhammapada - The Way of the Buddha, Vol 3 | Previous Next | |
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On the way there was a lake. The rainy season was just to come, the monsoons were approaching. The sky was becoming cloudy, dark clouds, thunder, lightning, and Ramakrishna was almost running because it seemed that it was going to pour heavily. He was passing by the lake of the village; because he was running he disturbed the swans in the lake and they all flew together.
Swans are one of the most beautiful birds, the whitest -- symbols of purity, innocence. A long queue of swans suddenly rose high against the backdrop of the black clouds. Ramakrishna was transported into another world. The vision was so beautiful, and the vision was such a message, he fell there on the bank of the lake in utter ecstasy. The joy was such that he could not contain it; he became almost unconscious as far as the outside is concerned.
The other farmers were returning to their homes, everybody was in a hurry; the clouds were there and it was going to rain and they wanted to reach home. They found Ramakrishna lying on the lake bank absolutely unconscious, but with such joy on his face, so radiant was his being, that they all fell on their knees. The experience was so superb, it was something not of this world.
They carried Ramakrishna home; they worshipped him. When he came back he was asked, "What has happened?" He said, "A message from the beyond: 'Ramakrishna, be a swan! Open your wings, the whole sky is yours. Don't be trapped by the lake and its comfort, security and safety.' I am no longer the same person. I have been called. God has called me!"
And since that day he was never the same person: something was triggered by the swans rising high in the sky.
Buddha says: LIKE SWANS, THEY RISE AND LEAVE THE LAKE -- as if Buddha is predicting something about Ramakrishna. The distance is vast, twenty-five centuries, but the prediction is true. It is not only about Ramakrishna, it is about all those who are going to awaken ever; it is about all the buddhas.
The swan has become a symbol in the East of the awakened one, hence the awakened one is called PARAMAHANSA. Paramahansa means the great swan.
ON THE AIR THEY RISE
AND FLY AN INVISIBLE
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