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PRANKRISHNA: "Sir, what is the nature of the life after death?"
MASTER: "As long as a man remains ignorant, that is to say, as long as he has not realized God, so long will, he be born. But after attaining Knowledge he will not have to come back to this earth or to any other plane of existence. The potter puts his pots in the sun to dry. Haven't you noticed that among them there are both baked and unbaked ones? When a cow happens to walk over them, some of the pots get broken to pieces. The broken pots that are already baked, the potter throws away, since they are of no more use to him. But the soft ones, though broken, he gathers up. He makes them into a lump and out of this forms new pots. In the same way, so long as a man has not realized God, he will have to come back to the Potter's hand, that is, he will have to be born again and again."
by Mahendranath Gupta (M)
THE RECORDER OF THE GOSPEL
THE RECORDER OF THE GOSPEL
This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
“Jeremiah, go down to the potter’s house.
I will give you my message there.”
So I went down to the potter’s house
And saw him working with clay at the wheel.
He was making a pot from clay.
But there was something wrong with the pot.
So the potter used that clay to make another pot.
With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be.
When you have the noble desire to realize God and an opportunity to lead a good life, please use it wholeheartedly and attain the Truth. Hold tight to God firmly. Let the body go, but don’t give up. Have faith in yourself. “I am a human being, and I can do everything”−have this kind of faith and move forward. You will reach the goal. Your life will be meaningful. Coming and going are painful. Stop this dreadful cycle of reincarnation. Be the Lord’s eternal companion.
- Swami Brahmananda
The mind has to be made malleable like clay.
Just as clay sticks wherever you throw it,
So the mind must be made to dwell upon
Whatever object you concentrate it.
There was never a time when I was not,
Nor you, nor these others.
Nor will there ever be a time to come
When we shall cease.
As one passes in this body
Through childhood, youth and old age
Even so is the taking on of other bodies.
This does not trouble the wise.
Of the non-existent
There is no coming to be.
Of the existent
There is no ceasing to be.
That by which all this is pervaded
Cannot be destroyed.
As one casts off worn out clothes
And puts on others that are new
Even so the Self casts off worn out bodies
And assumes others that are new.
Weapons cannot cut this Self
Fire cannot burn it.
Water does not make it wet
Nor the wind, dry.
It is eternal
All-pervading
Changeless and
Unmoved.
It is the same forever
It is said to be unmanifest
Inconceivable, and
Without change.
Knowing it thus
You should not breathe.
