During my exploration of divinity, I spent a lot of time with sages in Varanasi. I used to hate God because of whatever happened to me in my childhood as I have explained in about me. However, when I started learning this odd craft of dark magic, I started growing strong interest in spirituality and how spells are linked to religion, soul, evil & divine energy. Most of the lessons that I learned during this exploration period helped me immensely in my corporate career. I served top designations in some of the best companies in India, including foreign MNCs. These learning helped me in staying focused and disciplined, and ultimately returning more to my organization & people. I recently experienced a situation that reminded me of a tale from the Hindu epic ‘Ramayana‘. I had applied the learnings of this story in my businesses as well as in my corporate career plenty of times. I thought why not share it with everyone? It would not only help you in your profession, but it will help you in being a good leader regardless of what position you hold — even in your family or society! This story was told by one of my favorite and highly learned sage. Enjoy!
This story narrates the struggle of the divine prince of Kingdom Ayodhya, Sri Rama, to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king of Lanka – Ravana.
“Each serves according to their strength”
Long ago in ancient India a ten-headed monster called Ravana the Ravana kidnapped a king’s beloved wife. The king was named Sri (Lord) Rama and his queen was named Sita. Everyone loved the king and queen because their hearts were pure. Sri Rama set off to rescue his wife with the Prime Minister of the Monkey King, Sri Hanuman, leading an army of monkeys.
They traveled until they came to a vast sea that they would have to cross to reach Ravana’s kingdom. Sri Rama attempted to calm the raging ocean by shooting his magic arrows into the waves. But the King of the Sea rose up and said, “The seas cannot be overcome by force, but only by building a strong bridge.” So, Sri Rama ordered the monkeys to construct a stone bridge that could hold his entire invading army.
Monkey after monkey set to work carrying huge stones and enormous boulders to the seaside. Thousands of monkeys worked ceaselessly and Sri Rama was pleased. Then the king noticed that a small brown squirrel rushed up and down from the hills to the shore carrying little pebbles in her mouth. “What is that little creature doing?” he wondered.
The monkeys also saw the squirrel and grew angry. “Get out of our way,” they screeched. “You are too small. You are not needed.”
The little squirrel looked up and said, “I am helping to build the bridge to save Queen Sita.” All the monkeys began to laugh. They held their sides and roared and hopped and mocked the little squirrel. “We have never heard anything so foolish in our entire lives,” they said.
The squirrel answered, “I cannot carry rocks or stones. I can only lift small pebbles, but that is what I can do to help. My heart weeps for Sita and I want to be of assistance.”
The monkeys moved the squirrel away, but she continued to carry small pebbles and pile them up nearby. Finally, one monkey grew so irritated that he lifted the little animal and threw her into the air. The squirrel cried out, “Rama!” The lord lifted his hand and caught the squirrel safely in his palm.
It was just at that moment that the monkeys realized they needed the little pebbles to place between the larger stones to keep the bridge from falling.
Lord Rama said to them, “Monkeys, never despise the weak or the deeds of those that are not as strong as you. Each serves according to his strength and capacities and each is needed to make this bridge.” With three fingers, Sri Rama drew three lines down the squirrel’s back. “What truly matters is not the strength one has, but how great one’s love and devotion is.” From that day forth squirrels have had three pale stripes on their rich brown furry backs—marks of the great Sri Rama. And that is how the strongest bridge across the sea was built.
