Parables of Rama
by Swami Rama Tirtha | 102,836 words
Stories in English used by Swami Rama to illustrate the highest teaching of Vedanta. The most difficult and intricate problems of philosophy and abstract truths, which may very well tax the brains of the most intellectual, are thus made not only simple and easy to understand but also brought home to us in a concrete form in such an interesting and ...
A boy was being brought-up in an orphanage of Scotland. Like any other boy, he loved to play and was also naughty. One day he ran away from the orphanage and reached London on foot. On the way, he somehow managed to satisfy his hunger by begging for bread, etc, At London he entered the garden of the richest man, Lord Mayor. While this boy was in the garden, he saw a cat and began to play with and talk to her. He was passing his hand over her back, and also pulling her tail in his boyish mood. Close by, a church bell was ringing. He asked the cat, "What is this mad bell saying?" He called the bell mad because generally the bell of the clock strikes four, eight or at the most twelve, but this bell was continuing to ring indiscriminately, as if it was mad. Poor cat could not say anything, but the boy himself was replying to his own question. This boy's name was Whittington.
He said, "Ton, Ton, Ton, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London".
Just reflect. This little boy, who has run away from an orphanage, is dreaming of becoming Lord Mayor of London. He hears in the “Ton, Ton, Ton” of the bell, the becoming of Whittington, Lard Mayor of London.
While the bell was still ringing, Lord Mayor also came walking in his garden. He saw the boy and said, "Who are you? What are you saying?". The boy in his care-free mood replied, "Lord Mayor of London, Lord Mayor of London". Lord Mayor was not annoyed at it. As a matter of fact, he was very much impressed by the boy. After all, who would not like to love care-free life? He enquired if the boy would like to be admitted to a school. The boy said, 'Why not? But only if the teacher does not beat". Accordingly, the boy was admitted to a school.
In the school, Whittington gradually passed all the classes and ultimately became a graduate with honours. By this time; Lord Mayor died. He had no issue. He had already assigned the great portion of his property to the boy who gradually added to the inherited estate and one day he, after all, rose to the status of Lord Mayor of London. You can find his name in the list of Lord Mayors.
There was a very poor student in China. He could not afford even oil for his lamp to study at night. He would collect fire-flies, keep them in little muslin bag and put it on his book to study at night with the help of their light. Somebody remarked "why do you work so hard? Do you want to become the Prime Minister of China"? He replied, "If God's laws concerning thought-force are correct. I must be the Prime Minister or China one day". If you see the history of China, you will find this boy as one of the Prime Ministers of China.
Note: from the above be visualise the importance of will force.