Page 292 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

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286 Mystic pathways through the bible
There is an episode from Indian history about a simple boy who grew to be a powerful seventeenth century Maharasthran king named Shivaji. In the beginning he was a disciple of Sage Samathram Das, who helped him to become a brave and heroic man who subjugated evil forces that threatened society. However, after becoming a king he lost that inner relaxation and began to develop stress in his daily life. He continually thought of the treasury and other royal preoccupations. One day when he was in a miserable state of mind, his Guru noticed him and said, “Let us go for a walk.” During the walk his Guru pointed to a rock and said, “Shivaji, pick up that rock and break it open.” He did so and a frog that had been hibernating inside the rock emerged. The Guru said, “Look, Shivaji. Who takes care of that frog? Do you?”
The idea behind the anecdote is that even within the most remote and hidden crevasses of the earth, the Divine Hand reaches out and sustains all. So why should you subject yourself to constant stress in life, thinking that you are so important in getting things done? Your ego may react to this, asserting, “If I do not do things, how can faith make them happen?” The fact is that faith does not contradict your self-effort. Complete your responsibilities while promoting happiness, harmony and prosperity—but without stress. If you do so, your self-effort becomes