Seven Great Questions and Great Reply
Seven questions of Garuda and Kakabusundi's replies to them:
Garuda asked:
- Which form of all is the most difficult to obtain?
- Which is the greatest misery?
- Which is the highest pleasure?
- What are the innate disposition of, or the essential characteristics of the saints and of the evil-minded?
- Which is the highest religious merit made known in the Vedas?
- Which is the most terrible sin?
- What is the disease of the mind?
Kakabusundi replied:
1. There is no other form as good as the human body: every living creature ? whether animate or inanimate - crave for it. It is the ladder that takes the soul either to hell or to heaven and again to final beatitude, and is the bestower of blessings in the form of wisdom, dispassion and devotion. Men who fail to adore Sri Hari even after obtaining this body, and wallow in the basest pleasures of the senses, throw away the philosopher's stone from the palm of their hand and take bits of glass in exchange for the same.
2. There is no misery in this world as terrible as poverty.
3. There is no blessing as great as communion with saints.
4. Beneficence in thought, word and deed is the innate disposition of saints. The saints undergo suffering in the interest of others while impious wretches do so with a view to tormenting others. Tender hearted saints, like the birch tree, submit to the greatest torture (even allow their skin to be peeled off) for the good of others; while the wicked, like the hemp, have their skin flayed off and perish in agony in order to be able to bind others (in the form of cords). Like the rat and the serpent, the wicked injure others without any gain to themselves. Having destroyed others' prosperity they perish themselves, even as the hail dissolves after destroying the crops. The elevation of the wicked, like the rising of the comet- which is a detestable heavenly body- is a source of calamity to the world. The advancement of a saint, on the other hand, is ever conducive to joy, even as the rising of the sun and the moon brings delight to the whole universe.
5. A vow of non-violence is the highest religious merit known to the Vedas.
6. There is no sin as grievous as speaking ill of others.
7. Note now the diseases of the mind, from which everyone suffers. Infatuation is the root of all ailments and from these again arise many other troubles. Lust is a counterpart of wind and inordinate greed corresponds to an abundance of phlegm; while anger represents bile, which constantly burns the breast. Should all these three combine, there results what is known as Sannipata (a derangement of the aforesaid three humours of the body, causing dangerous type of fever ). The cravings for the manifold pleasures of the sense, so difficult to realise, are the various distempers, which are too numerous to name
The feeling of mineness corresponds to ring-worms, envy represents itches, while joy and grief correspond to a disease of the throat marked by an excessive enlargement of the glands (goiter). Grudging contemplation of others' happiness represents consumption; while wickedness and perversity of soul correspond to leprosy. Egotism is the counterpart of the most painful gout; while hypocrisy, deceit, arrogance and pride correspond to the disease known as Dracontiasis (which is marked by the presence in the body of a parasite known as the guinea-worm). Thirst for enjoyment represents the most advanced type of dropsy; while the three types of craving (those for progeny, riches and honour) correspond to the violent quartan ague. Jealousy and thoughtlessness are the two types of fever. There are many more fell diseases, too numerous to mention.
People die even of one disease; while I have spoken of many incurable diseases which constantly torment the soul. How then can it find peace? There are sacred vows and religious observances and practices, austere penance, spiritual wisdom, sacrifices, Japa (recitation of prayers), charity and myriad of other remedies too; but the maladies just enumerated do not yield to these.
Thus every creature in this world is ailing and is further afflicted with grief and joy, fear, love and desolation. I have mentioned only a few diseases of the mind; although everyone is suffering from them, few are able to detect them. These wretches, the plague of mankind, diminish to a certain extent on being detected, but are not completely destroyed. Fed by the unwholesome diet of sensuality they sprout even in the mind of sages, to say nothing of poor mortals. All these ailments can no doubt be eradicated if by Sri Rama's grace the following factors combine.
There must be faith in the words of the physician in the form of a true preceptor; and the regimen is indifference to the pleasure of the senses. Devotion to the Lord of the Raghus (Sri Rama) is the life giving herb; while a devout mind serves as the vehicle in which it is taken. By this process the ailments can certainly be eradicated; otherwise all our efforts will fail to get rid of them. The mind should be accounted as cured only when the heart gathers strength in the form of dispassion, appetite in the shape of good resolutions grows stronger and stronger every day and weakness in the form of sensual appetite goes. (Being thus rid of all diseases) when the soul bathes in the pure water of wisdom, the heart is saturated with Devotion to Sri Rama.
It would be easier for the hair to grow on the shell of a tortoise, or for the progeny of a barren woman to slay anyone or for flowers of every description to appear in the air than for any creature to be happy even though hostile to Sri Hari. Sooner shall thirst be slaked by drinking of a mirage or horns sprout on a hare's head or darkness efface the sun than a creature who has turned his face against Sri Rama find happiness. Sooner shall fire appear out of ice than an enemy of Sri Rama enjoy happiness. Sooner shall butter be churned out of water or oil be extracted from sand than the ocean of worldly existence be crossed without adoring Sri Hari: this is a conclusion which cannot be set aside. The Lord can exalt a mosquito to the position of Brahma (the Creator) and degrade Brahma to a position lower than that of a mosquito. Realising this, the wise discard all doubt and worship Sri Rama.
I have told you my considered views and my words can never be untrue; Men who worship Sri Rama are able to cross the most turbulent ocean of mundane existence.
From The Tulasi Ramayana, Uttara-Kanda, Chopai 120:
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