Seer or enjoyer!

 

As Durvāsa was speaking, a celestial chariot drawn by cranes appeared overhead & a messenger announced: O Mudgala! Your austerities have at last fructified & so you can ascend to heaven at once

 

However, Mudgal replied: Pls tell me what the residents of heaven are like? What is their goal of life? What kind of happiness does one enjoy in heaven & what are disadvantages of living there? I will only decide what to do after hearing answers to these questions

 

Messenger said: My dear Brāhmanā, you are certainly very childish, for after obtaining chance to enjoy celestial bliss, you’re deliberating whether to accept it or not. Only virtuous persons dwell in heaven, for no atheists or sinners are allowed there. In heaven, there is full facility for satisfying every conceivable desire, without encumbrances of hunger, thirst, fear, old age, disease, grief, the necessity for work, or any other such repugnant things

 

Residents of heaven have no perspiration or bodily odor, dirt does not soil their garments, and their garlands never fade. There are innumerable gardens & mountains of indescribable beauty that serve as playgrounds for denizens of heaven. Then, there are even higher regions, where the residents’ duration of life & quality of bliss are greater & greater, culminating in topmost planet of Lord Brahmā, where death takes place after an incalculable period of time

 

Of course, there are few disadvantages also. When one reaches heaven as a result of his previous pious work, he cannot perform any more pious acts there, but can only use up his earned merit by experiencing heavenly delights. Thus, as soon as his pious credits are nearly exhausted, he must fall back to earth

 

At the time when one is just about to fall from heaven, he becomes overwhelmed by fear & grief and his garlands begin to fade. Indeed, he practically loses consciousness. After being born on earth, he finds life very bitter, having enjoyed such a high standard of living in heaven. Such a fallen resident of heaven is given a human birth, and so he at least gets chance to act piously so that he can again return to abodes of demigods

 

Upon hearing this, Mudgala thought very deeply for a while. After bowing down to celestial messengers, he said: You may depart now, for I do not want to have anything to do with heaven, because of its defects. Instead I will search for the region where, having once gone, one never comes back to this miserable earth. If you can describe such a place, I shall be very grateful

 

Think Twice!

Being influenced by the strong irresistible desire for sense gratification, one may accept things which is then regretted in the larger scheme of things. Seers' see but enjoyers give in

 

Krsna says:

na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ

yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama

 

What we strive for?

Thoughts? #gameoflife