Sri Ramakrisna tells the story of a man who was about to cross a river, when master Bibhishana came over, wrote a name on a leaf, tied it to the man’s back, and said:
- Don’t be afraid. Your faith will help you walk on the waters. But the minute you lose faith, you will drown.
The man trusted Bibhishana, and began to walk on the waters, without any difficulty. At a certain point, he had an overwhelming desire to know what his master had written on the leaf tied to his back.
He took it and read what was written:
“Oh god Rama, help this man to cross the river.”
“Is that all?” thought the man. “And who is this god Rama, anyway?”
The moment this doubt became lodged in his mind, he was submerged and drowned in the strong current.
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It’s very common to think that our lives are largely controlled,ravished and enthralled by the supreme being,the God.But from another thought I can say,we human beings build the almighty and his greatness can also be equalized by our kindness;I know it is very surprising to believe but from a strategical angle it’s true;actually we make them and we are immortal not they;our deeds are immortal because we achieve those but their greatness is inborn.
extraordinaria historia con moraleja, el hombre sin fé es como aquel que busca una aguja en un pajar, son pocos los llamados a tener ese sentimiento de confianza extrema, sin importar nada, solo la esperanza mantiene el no sufrir decepción, pero con un instante de duda, acaba lo que todo un tiempo pueda consolidar, sin embargo cuando están unidos la fé y el amor, no hay miseria humana, desastre natural u obstáculo que pueda destruir…me hace recordar cierta narrativa escrita, de un sacerdote que logró ubicarse en un pueblo, después de culminar estudios de formación religiosa, en ese lugar le tocó levantar la iglesia, que se encontraba abandonada, sin techo y otros enseres propios, para cumplir con rutina diaria, sin embargo el empeño de acondicionar el lugar se hizó mayor, incluso contó con el apoyo de los moradores, en transformar aquel lugar, en el templo sagrado de Dios, quedando todo tan hermoso,y cercana la fecha de pascua, estaba todo listo y orgulloso del trabajo realizado. De pronto un terrible temblor sacudió el lugar, toda la iglesia se agrietó de tal manera, que el lugar especial para el sagrario, se abrió un hueco dificil de tapar, angustiado por aproximarse la navidad, decide nuevamente arreglar con ayuda de feligreses el altar, como minimo en su recorrido por el pueblo, encuentra una venta de utensilios usados, y compró una hermosa manta tejida, cuyo tamaño era ideal para tapar, semejante tronera en la pared y así colocar el cristo, en su trayecto a la iglesia, una mujer le ofrece la cola hasta su casa, él agradecido por la cola, invito a tomar un café, dentro de la iglesia, la mujer maravillada al observar singular tapiz, el cura le pregunta ¿sucede algo con el mantel?, de inmediato respondió: es extraño se parece a uno que tejí, hace muchos años para la mesa de mi casa, era la época más especial que disfrute con mi esposo, a quién no volví a ver jamás, ya que los militares nazis,se llevaron preso sin razón alguna, entraron lo sacaron además de destrozar mi casa, destrozaron mi vida, el padre enmudecido, le pregunto: ¿cuánto hace que no ves a tu esposo?, ella respondió: tengo 25 años buscando y esperando a mi amor, lo busqué por todo lugar, sin dar rastro, ni señales de existencia, pero parece extraño algo dentro de mi, me dice que está en algún lugar, pero como encontrarlo, el padre le pidió hacer una oración juntos, ella accedió gustosamente, el sacerdote aprovechó para invitarla a la misa de pascua, como se hizo de noche, el padre acompaño hasta su casa, ella agradeció gentilmente. Al poco tiempo, ya en misa de pascua uno de los feligreses, se acercó al padre y le preguntó, donde habia comprado ese tapete tejido, se parece a uno que su esposa, habia tejido hace muchos años, y recuerda con mucho celo, porque fué especial, era el mantel de la mesa para tomar café y el té, el padre le preguntó: ¿donde esta su esposa?, no lo sé, la perdí hace 25 años, los soldados nos separaron, a ella se la llevaron algún lugar, y fuí encarcelado durante muchos años, la busqué por todos los lugares conocidos, pero sin rastro y señales de existencia de ella,pero algo en mi corazón me dice, que mi amor esta bién, pero como encontrarla, el padre sorprendido, le pidió que lo esperara, iba a llevarlo a un sitio, que la daría respuesta a su búsqueda incesante durante años, el hombre sorprendido, aceptó… El lo llevó aquella casa, que dias atrás acompañó a la señora amable que le ofreció la cola hasta la iglesia y luego el acompaño hasta su residencia, el padre quizó describir las reacciones de aquellos dos enamorados, que la vida separó, que en el universo dejó abierto, la fé con el amor unidos, se mantuvieron sellados a pesar de las dificultades, hasta alcanzar su reencuentro, el padre orgulloso en misa expresó, que Dios tiene un plan para cada uno de nosotros en la tierra, algunos duros, otros fáciles, el mantener la esperanza, fé y amor, elementos claves para tan ahnelada felicidad…
Absolutely, if you have faith on hem, you will never loss…but 4 me it takes time to find that way out, and it feels great….Thanx 4 sharing wisdom and a good awakening 4 soul…
Everything what happen in our life have its meaning ,but sometimes we have doubts .Why if we not deserved that,how to reach the strength ,how to forgive that which is not fer .I prey for the justice,i prey for the love.
I’m reminded of a passage from the bible, where the disciples are in a boat, and a gr8 storm arose on the sea of Galilee! Jesus who was on the mountain praying, He walks on the sea towards the boat.The disciples at this point are afraid, as they are not sure, as to who is walking on the water.Then Jesus, calls one of His disciple Peter, and asks him to walk on water towards Him.And Peter walked on water, looking at Jesus.But the moment, Peter looked down at the sea, he was scared and doubted whether he was really walking on water?! then he began to sink, but Jesus took him by hand and saved him.
The lesson that we learn here is that as long as we have our eyes fixed on Jesus, without looking to the left or right, we are going be fine.The moment we take our eyes of Him we begin to sink!!! And yes, its very true!.
Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death
the vice versa is the same
Feed your faith with doubts , your faith will starve to death…
just go ahead, dont turn back, strong trust!!
And the greatest of theses is Faith, in Love!
The true meaning of this story is the moment one starts doubting his abilities, he/she starts to fail.
Similarly, when the man in this story began to doubt his faith, he drowned.
I’m just 19 Paulo :D
means one should stay a fool? lol I did not except you to quote such stuff.
Lerning from this story: boat is better then faith…:-)
Dear Paul how much i wish what was written on the leaf was non decipherable to the man .
when you do not understand the new you continue to trust what you trust and go on.
….. the idea that boat is better again comes from faith (of course your faith in “boat”)!!!!
dear paul, so nice to learn you too are reading ramakrishna paramhansa. but i guess i am the lucky one, since i enjoy reading your works and am a disciple of ramakrishna and swami vivekananda. feels good to have a commonality with a writer of your standing sharing common interest with a common indian like me…regards
To what extent one has tested it? My experience raised this question. Not me. Because when we have already put 100% and there are no other ways left and nothing left to put in,still if you dont get any desired result, how one can trust. you may raise two questions:
1) How do you know that you have put 100%?
2) Have you waited till the result is out?
my answer for the first question is that i tried all the possible ways and some impossible too with a what so called’hope’.
up to what time one should wait? Till the end of his life. if he is not able to get the fruits of his deeds? what for he did? for others???????
that means though you hope or not the thing will happen what should and when it should!
So in this case how the man can accomplish what he desired for even with the infinite hope?
this is the doubt which may appear childish for all you scholars but i am stuck! can any one be able to clear it? can you de-root it? can some one can give such an answer logically with proper instances so that i can start putting hope on hope to keep hope???????
this is a big question for me? i want you to clear it!!!!!!!!!!!
just follow your heart brother
Perhaps it is one thing to hope, and another to move forward fearlessly no matter what obstacles are put in your path? So, hope gives us purpose and determination, but it requires courage to achieve fulfillment. Hope asks many questions: “I hope I succeed, I hope I’m good enough, I hope nothing bad happens, I hope this is the right direction.”
Courage asks for nothing but faith and action.
We can’t really understand God’s act, but if we have faith in God then we can experience “God” in our lives. That’s the lesson in this story, thanks to Mr. Paulo.
Thank you Paulo for sharing this. I just finished reading Gospel of Sri Ramkrishna!! It is so beautiful indeed for all and for a soul that longs to love God!!
When we love God intensely and without any condition, faith shines in our soul!!
Carissimo Paulo,
I think this is one more exemple of “curiosity killed the cat…” Did he really lose faith, or was really curious about the mysterious entity?
That’s great!!
I also noticed that we ‘ll loose our determination when someone gives stupid suggestion… like why don’t you do that instead of this…..
Please believe in your words and not some others stupid suggestions.. because they may corrupt our ideas..
absolutely true. “believe in yourself because no one else will..”
EN LA BUSQUEDA DE LA FE SE ENCUENTRA ELLA MISMA, EL CREER QUE ENCONTRAREMOS ALGO ES EN SI MISMO EL MILAGRO
The man was curious which is a vibrant energy : )
It makes life more positive (and bearable in the hard times) when we go forward with faith.
Love
Breda
Lo importante en la vida es la fe que tu le pongas a las cosas y dejar todo en manos de dios todo poderoso y el se encargara d bendecir todo lo que te trate de destruir y te ayudara a cumplir tus metas solo confia en el.
Faith is beautiful, so hold on to it!
I have read all the comments of the readers regarding this story.In this story the faith was not on religion but on the master or Guru.Bibhishana told him to walk on the water and you will not drown. With the faith on his Guru he walked, his Guru’s faith was on God Rama whom he prayed and requested to help this man.He was a true saint,and God always listens His devotee. The other man lost his faith and had doubt so he drowned.Look in your daily life a small child has full faith on his parents that they will protect him from all the dangers,he will cling with them, and they protect him similarly God does only if you have faith.
So true Kuldeep. I have also gone through all. I think ur small child example sums it up even better. Guru is an epitome of trust faith confidence and the victory of these elements. same is abt god. somehow u r so near to the truth and ur words are more practical than wat he wrote. if there is no quest for knowledge then whats the use of life. Its our quest for things which made progress possible. and God has made us only for this purpose. I think ur an honest straight forward gal so it makes ur ideas more closer to truth. Is it? nice to exchange words. regards Kush
@Kuldeep Kaur: That was beautifully put :-)
Its beautiful as all your teachings are. I wonder when do and how can we start believing in ourselves again and re awaken our faith.
Gracias por compartir, que bello mensaje de FE, si lo aplicamos a nuestra vida diaria, que ha caminado con fe en por los valles, montañas, atajos, etc. lo mismo puede caminar sobre el mar. rios, playas, oceanos. Tambien al leerlo recorde una frase de BRECHT, que me inspiraba mi maestro PABLO, un caminante de tierra y agua+++Hay hombres que luchan un día y son buenos. Hay otros que luchan un año y son mejores. Hay quienes luchan muchos años y son muy buenos. Pero hay los que luchan toda la vida, ESOS SON LOS IMPRESINDIBLES.
AMOR, FE, ESPERANZA Y VERDAD.
It is about me, and my abandoment on our power, that requires no effort, just to believe in Me; and God, specially when been warn of the consequences of doubt. You may doubt everthing except the Power within.
I’ve been trying to write this comment many times because it has been related so much even at the previous posts but I always got interrupted so I decided to delete it, or it just got deleted before I could finish it. But now I insist because the post is just perfect and so inspiring…
Last week me and my family where invited to Padova, in Italy to visit a friend. For me it was a great opportunity to change air, travel and free soul…
At the beginning of the trip I had this desire to see my angel. To see HER/His face, his image and although this seemed impossible to me it was so strong that I couldn’t question it.
There I came to know that Padova is the city of a Saint who has helped us very much, Saint Anthony, who was Portuguese.
Because this saint had helped me so much I once wished I could meet him in flesh, not just by spirit, which was impossible to me…
There where many churches in that city in his honor but there was a bigger one which we decided to visit the day we was there. We was visiting other cities in the meantime…
I knew NOTHING about that church, but I was very curious and wanted to see each piece of it, but in the other hand we had no much time, and we all had to rush.
I immediately got lost in there, by the atmosphere and I felt home. I was just hoping to not see any priest around…
During the visit I saw statues of marble, altars and in one place there was some kind of tomb of marble, but I thought it probably was any symbolic thing which who knows what was representing, but it was so inviting, so warm. As if a great soul had opened his arms welcoming everyone as a big father.
I was curious to give it a closer look but in my thoughts I had no time to waste on statues and stuff like that, so better move on. My imagination could wait!
After that I arrived to a place with some big pots and objects of gold, but there was a long queue ahead and although my great desire to be next to all that gold and the things which could be there, I just thought I had no time to waste on other object and that I could say a prayer and live.
I had a sad empty ugly feeling inside and it was of gray color and tasted as bitterness. A very familiar one to me.
When I came out of the church, happy that I had finally met somehow with the saint I sat down smiling at the sky, although inside I wasn’t entirely happy… It was there when I came to know from some other people that those pots and objects where personal objects of the saint and was the containers of some of his organs.
GOSH I CAN BE SO BLIND!
I immediately started to console myself but I couldn’t lie to myself I had LOST my opportunity and it was probably unique.
It was there when this saint had given me another lesson and answer to my prayers, together with my angel, about the secret of being happy and be thankful for being alive:
DO NOT BE MEAN TO YOUR WISHES/DESIRES!
It was there when I recalled Paulo’s words AGAIN. “If you have a dream don’t waste your energies explaining why.”
I felt hurt but at least now things tasted different and I wanted to have a new opportunity to make things right, although I didn’t know if it’d be possible.
But it happened. In a perfect day, Sunday. There were much more people but I had much more time this time to see thing with more calm.
I immediately hit in a long queue of people but again I didn’t realize the point of it. Where was it going to send me. I wanted to follow that queue without knowing why but since I couldn’t understand the meaning of it, I got out of there. After a little I saw that was going to direct me into that king of tomb of marble. The warm feeling again! What was going on? Someone said that it was the tomb of Saint Anthony and I wondered if there was his body was there for real. (Please be patient I can’t help being so blind sometimes. My brain gets paralyzed. :P)
Although my senseless doubts I didn’t want to make the same mistake again and go there no matter what.
While I was coming closer I was realizing how silly my doubts where and when I touched his tomb I felt the energy coming out of there, almost like wanting me to stay there and I was feeling so good there that I didn’t want to go away. FINALLY! I HAD MET WITH HIM AS I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE.
So I did with the rest and gave thanks to him for he had made me a new present.
My search is in my heart and the less I question it, the more beautiful and lively colors I see…
At least that was the only way I could finally see my angel. Well I see HER/Him each time I look at the blue and cloudy sky and LOVE the sun with all my heart. It is then when I see my angel and how I see it, but Her/his detailed image will come out of my heart through my hands in a beautiful picture which I intend to make soon, and I’ll know which is the image, the human image of my beautiful angel.
Love
Olta
Beautiful Olta, looking forward to the picture! Straight to the heart, so touching, thankyou. Thankyou Paulo xo
Beautiful.Thank you Olta.
LA FE…( de luz) hay una Fe.. propia.. una ajena.. y la de Dios en nosotros.. son corrientes de amor… y de desilusión en algún momento que hace que se corte esa fuerza que para los que la han sentido.. es la ternura en su máximo exponente…podría describirla enumerando… indefinidamente pero creo que eso la puede definir.Cuando uno siente ternura se abren primero el canal de la confianza ¿verdad?.. partiendo de ello …hasta lograr cariño ,amor… y el milagro de la Fe.Esta nos sostiene en un vínculo sutil.. con Dios.y también en los seres que nos rodean.. sin Fe… nos volvemos seres oscuros.. y caemos irremediablemente ahogándonos en el desamor por supuesto q hay seres que tienen fe en objetivos oscuros.. y esa corriente genera.. lo inverso.. soy Cristiana x herencia..y no quería saber nada de religión … en mi caso.. Dios tenía o tiene Fe en mí (no se x qué)y ha ido generando llamados de los que en muchas ocasiones me hago la tonta..soy testaruda y me pasa como el del cuento.. q se hunde … y le he dado muchísimo trabajo a mí ángel de la guarda..(que hasta hace poco ni sabía que realmente existía..) pero parece que Dios tiene un proyecto y en eso estoy … espero que los que lean esto no sean tan testarudos o tontos …como yo.. y puedan transitar mejor un camino … hacia la luz que no tiene fin …besos
I Was kidding , I mean : unsuccessful instead of succeeded .
It,s story of two religious and sage men .Molana Jajaladdin Mohammad Roomi Balkhi who was henchman of SHAMS ( Tabrizian Sheikh ) : SHAMS had told Molana : “Repeat : Ya SHAMS ” (Hey SHAMS)and pass roaring river . Molana examined it and succeed all the time but ,someday , doubted and thought ALLAH IS THE BEST SUPPORTER ,so, he repeat YA ALLAH and went into the river and get drown Unaware of whether SHAMS was a connection between ALLAH & HIM and closer to ALLAH THAN Molana .YOUR beautiful story , remembered me this story.Impossibles can be possible in the condition that being believes , Otherwise , whole the world press you on succeeded billboard !!!!.Thank you dear COELHO .
A very timely message, thank you Paulo.
“Belief can move mountains”
Thanks for this story…
is to ask and questioning all the time, i don’t think God want us to believe without asking questions, and then if you punish the bad( to be curious and to doubt..) i have done with the bad where is the difference between You and me ???
The story reminds me of Lot and his wife when she turned behind her to see what was happening,even though she was warned not to do so, in the bible story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Trusting is what is involved here. We don’t trust others,but most important we do not trust ourselves, our judgement, choices, and our faith. Is it because of fear?
We can only anwer
Dear Paulo, Im a great fan of ur’s and I don’t miss reading any of your articles.
This is really such a beautiful short story. Reminds me that our whole existence is based on Faith. But still, we live everyday we our doubts!!!
~Walter
Illumination wipes out all doubts, when all is truthful and doubts are none there is complete faith.
Don’t try to FIND the light, but LET THE LIGHT FIND YOU.
Hence to allow the illumination come to you for once you have to have faith that it is there and that it will come.
Faith is necessary, but so are doubts to reinforce the faith.
Beautiful story!
First there has to be a search… and doubts fuel the search!
Then one drops the search… and to drop a search, there has to be a search in the first place!
When the search is dropped… then one stops arguing with life… there is total acceptance of what is!
A demonstration of total acceptance is walking on water!
Love
I like the simple way you responded. First there is the search, then there is no search, then there is. But without the intent to blossom, blossom, what then is the search for?
I do believe complete faith in yourself and almighty do bring about miracles. But to have that kind of faith is the difficult part. Man by nature is very curious and doubtful. There is always a kernel of doubt in our mind. That man might have been curious to know what Bibhishana had written and was skeptical whether his god would really help him.I do think he didn’t even believe in himself either.Sometimes believing in higher powers gives us the strength and hope that dreams do come true .
Верю тебе так,что если застану в постели с другой,не поверю своим глазам.(ВЕРА ПАВЛОВА)
Dear Paulo, Dear all,
I am full of faith that we have the right reasons to walk on our water, but when the whole world is against you i think faith only will not help.
Pray for my country, the most peaceful place in the world.
lama
“Do not question the search” — seems to me is like dont think about how is thing going whether you should go on whats infront of you…like how and what religion doing just follow it…so do work only…
Thanks,
Deb
I am from India and i am a great follower of you. I really feel glad for sharing this story which has its root from our culture. I really had nostalgic memories of my childhood days after reading this post.Thanks sire..
hai,,,
i dont know whether i can make a comment on these topics ,,, i have heard this story long back as a kid like many other stories in puranas ,, i loved it in those times cuz it was very short and interesting. but now for me these stories tell different meaning .. especially d one in which boy go to meet the god of death and his 3 well formed blessings….
Very true…very very true..I’ve drowned a few times myself…maybe this is the optimist in me but maybe the currents brought him to shore and Rama revived him there. It could happen right?
i have heard this story long back when i was a kid ,,, every time read this story (all the purana stories) its meaning felt different to me. Hope one day i will understand the meaning of bagavath gita also……
One thing that is hard for any director to depict is the authors intent and perspective. It is actually impossible to physically embrace every single thought that the artist may have held during his or her inspiration. Unless there is one who can click into others minds. A contradiction perhaps! Ben Franklin believed.
In science, and a examination of the brain, synapse is the technical definition of what actually occuring while I am writing.
Now in relation to the story, capricious moments shape reality.
In remembering , one realizes that the time it takes to do this action, it shapes the present. Are we wasting time when performing this action? Is this a conflict that humans participate in on a daily basis? Are the decisions that I currently make hailing from decisions that I have made before, past and present, thus creating commonplace? It all reflects into reality…From me just going back over the story to ensure that I am responding to the hopeful author intent, to me just finishing this statement, all while bringing it back to, I am currently in reality and “It all reflects into reality.”
Your most humble servant.
Jonathan O. Barnes
M.A. Curriculum and Instruction
Tennessee Tech University
Wish I had an editor…
When u believe, there is miracle.
T_T
@SAVITA VEGA:
If want to grow spiritually, first respect the religions, whatever is the medium which u r travelling, ultimately one has to grow as a Humanbeing, and that can happen only when u start respecting GOD. In Hinuism DEVI resembles the power SHAKTI…The nature itslef is hold by that SHAKTI…Understand the essence of what religions are saying, rather than humiliating and hurting others beliefs.
I am a Hindu, and i read bible and i listen to quran sayings also, If you believe in god, u will feel all are one, or atleast if you cant feel that all are one, atleast dont humilate with such unethical jokes. Please try to grow and try to remove your ignorance….
If you are reading paulo cohelos blogs, atleast by now ur thinking should have changed. Hope you will understand.
The story is about faith..!..whoever or what evr form god takes, all dat one needs in divine Faith.
@ Prathima…
Yes u r right, I completely agree with you!
Hello,
I love ure comment. I also read bible, and read qouran. And I believe that spiritually shouldn’t be categorized.
Our faith, and hope are always directed to GOD. Which is one, and like u say whatever form, shape he may take.
Thank you,
Have a pleasent weekend!
Selva E.
Nuestra Fe nos salvara de las aguas turbulentas, si no hay fe no hay esperanza y sin esperanzas no nos queda mas que sucumbir……….si crees seras salvado.
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