Understanding comes to different people through different routes. With some it scores a direct hit with wisdom; with others it seeps in almost innocuously through the subtle layers of wit, anecdotes and teaching stories. No one knows just when it will strike and how.Take quintessential wisdom for example.Ramana Maharshi says, "All that needs to be said ha been said in Verse 170 of Acharya Shankaracharya's Vivekachudamani:In the dream state, even though there is no contact with the outside world, the mind alone projects the entire dream-universe of enjoyer etc. Similarly, the waking state is no different. All this [world of pluralistic phenomena] is but a projection of the mind.And then there is the story about Responsibility.Bill was in the habit of saying "It could have been worse" whenever he was told of any incident. One day his friend John came to him, very agitated. "Bill, you know what happened last evening? Tom came home early from office and found his wife in bed with Dick; he shot and killed them both, and then he went to the police station and surrendered. How horrible!"After he had heard the whole thing Bill, as usual, said: "It could have been worse." John was furious, "How can you repeat your stupid remark even in these terrible circumstances?!""Well," said Bill, "This happened last evening. Had it happened the previous evening I would have been dead."Come, celebrate the wit and wisdom brought to you by one of the finest Spiritual Masters of our time. Read and reflect. Relax and enjoy.
