Story about existence:

Years ago when I was a young boy, I came across a book written by a young writer Miss Uma Das who in later years made quite a name for herself as a writer and a poet. In particular I remember a poetry of the book which touched me. More than 50 years have passed and I now remember only the last stanza of the poetry –“ there is one truth in life,That one day thou shalt dieRest all are lies”In the same book, there was also a story written by her, depicting the thoughts of a young girl (perhaps herself) who lived with her parents in a small house close to a town railway station. In the evening, when the little girl was free, she used to look through the window of her house eagerly at the railway station at a passenger train which used to arrive at the station every evening and stop for a few minutes.  The engine driver announced the train’s arrival by blowing the whistle from such a distance. The train chugged in amidst some puffs of smoke from the engine chimney. There was quite an activity on the platform during the train’s short stay. Passengers were seen running about with their baggage to embark or disembark. The porters in their red shirts running around and hawkers selling snacks, tea and cigarettes remained busy selling their stuff. Sometime later, the driver came again and blew the whistle and the train rolled out of the station puffing out ashen smoke and gradually moved away from the little girl’s view. What remained is a trail of smoke as a reminder of the train. Our little girl looked quietly as the activity of the station ceased and the old calm was restored. Is this what human life is all about - arrival, a burst of activities and then the departure? Our mystified little girl pondered.Each one of us wonders like the little Uma when we face so many births and deaths that is a regular process of our lives. “Yes there is one truth in life that one day thou shalt die. Rest all are lies.” This is in reality the law of Prakriti or Nature and all that we see, hear, feel and think of – they all vanish sometimes. And that is what Prakriti’s Maya is all about – unreal, illusive and imaginary.The great Lord Gautam Buddha after his enlightenment and days of deep meditation under the famous Bodhi Tree of Bodhgaya came to the same conclusion as little Uma that the only truth in life is death. Rest all are unreal. His five famous dictums to the Bhikshus said –1.    One is born as per the Karma of one’s life in the previous life. Good Karma results in good results and bad Karma fetches bad results.2.    One gradually loses all that one loves3.    One grows old progressively4.    One day one becomes very sick5.    Finally one day thou shalt dieHence O Bhikshus – Buddham Sharanam Gachchami (Surrender yourself to the Lord)King Yudhishthira called Dharmaraj was once asked “What is the most wonderful thing in Life?” The King replied “Everyday every moment one is faced with death and yet one is so eagerly clinging to life as if it was the most precious thing one has.” This is Maya and this is Prakriti’s Law.Similarly, Sri Ramakrishna had one day told Narendranath (Swami Vivekananda) Look at our Goddess Kali standing dark with her tongue. Does she look beautiful? No, you know why? Inside her, if you can see, she is gloriously beautiful, kind and forgiving. She has covered herself with a veil of Maya and is therefore called Mahamaya. To see her real self you have to put your heart and soul to her and pray. She will remove her veil only for a true devotee.Sri Krishna had also told Arjuna in the Kurukshetra battlefield “The Prakriti comprising of earth, sky, water, vayu and agni is actually my body. One sees feels and lives in it, but still does not see me. You know why? Because I cover myself with a shawl of Maya called Yogmaya. You can see my real form by following any Yoga – Karma Bhakti or Gyan or Rajayoga.Therefore in conclusion, one should try to be a Yogi even while performing ones normal duties of life.

Lovingly
Speaking Tree & Gunjan