Excellence in Seconds - 7

Every evening in Ramakrishna Math, Thanjavur a class will be held on the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. As the monk began to read the chapter from the book today, his gaze went a little farther. He trembled slightly. Why? A snake was crawling on the edge of the prayer hall.

Many devotees had gathered there. If someone had told them to beat the snake, everyone would be in a riot to kill the small creature. The snake, fearing for his life, would have created a ruckus. This would have disrupted the services of the Math.

The monk thought for a moment about whether the snake will raise its hood or not, the next moment he began to pray the Dhyana mantram to begin his lecture. Some of the devotees also notice the snake, but were keeping an eye on its movements, and also listening to the upanyasam.

"This is how a devotee should be in the world. You must listen to the good ones with interest. Also, you should be aware of what is happening around you. Now your focus is not to let the snake come near you. At the same time, the nectar from the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, are also in our mind, isn't it?” The monk went on saying that. Fear has been forgotten. 

It took 20 minutes to complete the class. The monk then noticed that the snake was slowly crawling out of the prayer hall. Then it crossed the road and disappeared into the bushes.

After the class, none of the devotees spoke about the snake. They had a joyful conversation about the joke that Sri Ramakrishna had done on that day. Would Sri Ramakrishna have preached something on that day, not only to humans but also to that snake!

The monk learned that day, “How a problem can be magnified or resolved peacefully, by the devotion with intelligence”.