Moved by Love
Movido Por Amor--por Sri M
En los Himalayas, vivía un infame bandido llamado Sultana, que robaba a las caravanas de los peregrinos ricos y saqueaba los monasterios con muchos recursos. Se decía que la mera mención de Sultana, hacía temblar de miedo a los hombres fianciermente ricos. Su única técnica era que robaba a plena luz del día después de que les habia avisado que los iba a atacar.
Al parecer, una vez envió una carta a Baba Kalikambliwala que era el director de un monasterio llamado Swarg Ashram, en donde le decía que iba a descender sobre el la comunidad con su pandilla y que iban a saquear su tesoro a una hora determinada. Todos los miembros del monasterio tenían mucho miedo. Todos menos el Baba. Hizo un elaborado almuerzo para Sultana y su pandilla y lo esperó en la entrada de su cobertizo.
El bandido llegó con una pandilla de seis, todos armados con espadas y cañones. Cuando bajó de su caballo, Baba Kalikambliwala fue hacia él y le dio la bienvenida. Lo invitó a él y a su pandilla a sentarse en la entrada, a beber agua y a relajarse.
Luego le entregó las llaves del tesoro y le dijo: "Puedes tomar lo que quieras, pero no quiero violencia y ni derramamiento de sangre. Si se te dan ganas de matar a alguien, perdona a todos y, en lugar, mátame a mí. La vida y la muerte son lo mismo para mí. El jefe de la policía de esta región es un miembro de nuestra comunidad monástica, yo pude haber buscado su ayuda, pero entonces hubieras habido violencia y se habrían perdido vidas. No quiero nada de eso."
"Después de que hayas tomado todo lo que quieras del tesoro, no te vayas inmediatamente, que he organizado un banquete para ti. Tú y tus amigos deben disfrutar del almuerzo, descansar un rato si están cansados y luego si quieren, ya pueden continuar con su camino. No tengo ninguna animosidad en contra tuya o en contra de cualquier otra criatura viviente. Ahora, anda y haz lo que sientas que es lo mejor."
Se dice que, el bandido (que nunca había encontrado a un hombre así), se inclinó en reverencia, pidió disculpas y en lugar de saquear el tesoro, aportó una pequeña cantidad de monedas de oro y se fue, después de agradecer profusamente al director por el suntuoso almuerzo.
Preguntas para reflexionar: ¿Cómo te entiendes esta historia de responder a intenciones violentas con amor? ¿Puede compartir una experiencia personal en la que hayas visto que la violencia se desvaneciera frente al amor? ¿Qué te ayuda a permanecer enraizado en el amor ante la violencia?
Pasaje extraido del libro Aprendiz de un maestro de los Himalayas. por Sri M.
Excerpted from Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master by Sri M.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to this story of meeting violent intentions with love? Can you share a personal experience of a time you saw violence melt away in the face of love? What helps you stay rooted in love in the face of violence?
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15 Past Reflections
On Feb 12, 2021 Ayasha bhabhi wrote :
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On Mar 8, 2017 Suchitra wrote :
What a beautiful story. Compassion is the need of the hour. For a compassionate person it is in his nature to be so. But for a thief to show such courtesy in response is a heart warming gesture. Three cheers to the bandit. This is the best indication that the core of every human being is love and compassion and if kindled in the right way rises to great heights.
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On Mar 8, 2017 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
I was mugged by gunpoint in NYC summer of 2010. I reacted in compassion for the young men who felt so desperate they would make this choice. Rather than condemn them I asked for compassion for them. At the time the $80 they robbed from me were groceries for 2 weeks, but they must have needed that money more than I did. In the end, the $80 came back to me within 24 hours: $40 from a friend's mother and $40 from a check sent by a friend when she heard what happened. I think it is far more valuable to react in love and compassion for the human being and the heart. In our current political situation in the US< i have shared Free Hugs on election day and in front of the White House. I often share Free Hugs at protests too. It is always well received. here's to love!
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On Mar 7, 2017 Christine Lendorfer wrote :
A very good friend of mine came to her car one day, the windows were broken and all the bags, that she had left in the car without thinking had been stolen. We were all in agony for her, and regretted her big loss. She, on the other hand, felt sorry for the thief. "What a poor live he must have, if he needs to break into cars for a living. He actually took all the things that I had prepared to give away to an NGO for poor people. The thief might have felt that all of it was meant to be for him. I wish I could have given it to him as a gift, so the windows would not be broken."
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On Mar 7, 2017 Heidrun searles wrote :
My husband was a very violent man and he took every chance he could to hit me. I remember one time he was angry about the way his socks were folded and as he pulled his fist back to hit me I looked at him with as much love as I could muster I did not hold on to a single speck of fear. He backed off, got mad at himself and turned around. Yes, I paid dearly for that moment later on, but that is the one and only time he ever backed away from me. I know that there is only love and fear. Love is real. Fear is an illusion held by many that cannot see past the veil. Sometimes Love is difficult, but it is always easy.
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On Mar 7, 2017 Craig wrote :
A friend of mine recently told me a story of something similar happening in the USA, few decades ago. Joe Miller, a close friend of "Sufi Sam" Lewis, was at home while his home was being robbed. Instead of calling the police or confronting the thief, Miller instead started cooking breakfast, and as the thief passed the kitchen on his way out, he called to him, "Do you want toast or pancakes with your eggs?" The thief, dumbstruck, replied, "Pancakes." And sat down and chatted with Miller for the rest of the morning. After that encounter, the two became friends, and Joe helped him get out of his rut. I love these stories of kindness. Les Miserables tells a similar tale, does it not?
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On Mar 7, 2017 annie wrote :
love is letting everything be as it is and everyone be as they are including self. Love is the only language of the sacred space in which we all arise in consciousness - there was never ever anything to take or lose, but that is so hard, takes great courage, trust and acceptance of truth - a good test of walking your talk often comes with the biggest challenge in the darkest hours - that's when we really rock up to life and truth - great story and even that isn't true - thanks for sharing x
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On Mar 5, 2017 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
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On Mar 4, 2017 david doane wrote :
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On Mar 3, 2017 susan schaller wrote :
I am practicing (and failing) to listen deeply, especially with angry or disturbed people. I want to learn to hear the fear, anguish or pain behind the violent words or threat. Then I can respond to the need, the yearning and not the immediate insults, anger or threat. I would love to be able to "offer lunch" to someone hurting, instead of reacting, as I usually do, like a deer in headlights. Practice, practice, practice, and practice, again, this day and every day.
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