Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms…Sorrow or Celebration?

Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms…Sorrow or Celebration?

She lit the evening lamp,
Watching the rays of the Sun bid adieu and disappear,
Dusk pirouetted to the fore from the rear,
Deep was her contemplation on the events of the past year,
A colossal ‘why’ and many, many , many ‘why nots’,
In the mind did churn and appear…
With open eyes she saw that Effulgent Form,
The mist lifted even as the heart did mourn,
With delight she looked upon Him,
Moist eyes in which teardrops did brim,
Upon a closer look she couldn’t stifle a loud gasp,
She ran over and the Beloved One’s hand she did clasp,
Agony stabbed her aching heart,
Her voice was a hoarse and painful rasp –
‘My Lord, Beloved Mother, Oh! Baba, Baba…’
Was all she could muster,
Mind reeling, senses not at par,
As grief did her nerves scar,
And the flow of words completely debar…
Up close,
She saw that His frame was entirely covered with arrows…
Slowly the meaning did unfold.

Every thought, word and deed which was not in sync, that was negative, harmful in intent, thoughtless, uncaring, acutely insensitive, horrifyingly arrogant, cruel and abusive to any living being or the minutest part of creation, was indeed an arrow; each thought and word wrongly intended brought on a torrent of chain reaction in rapid succession.

Every lackadaisical attitude, each action that reeked of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya was an arrow, a dart, a shaft, a missile, embedded in the lotus like frame of Beloved Bhagawan.

Each arrow had a name on it. Countless arrows  pierced His gentle frame through the flaming orange robe. Arrows that came from all over the globe.

Each and everyone was responsible for having pierced with toxic arrows and shafts, the Benevolent, Magnificent and Supreme Frame of God.

Let us read excerpts from ‘Prasnottara Vahini’ by Beloved Bhagawan to get a clearer picture about these venomous and destructive weapons which lie either subtly, overtly or downright blatantly in every human persona.

Q – Swami! What are the traits of character that we have to avoid, that is to say, which are the obstacles in the path of one who seeks liberation from the cycle of Birth and Death?

Ans – The six, the Ari-shadvarga: Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsarya; these are to be avoided.

Q – What exactly is Kama?

Ans – Desire for riches, property, honour, status, fame, children; why list the lot? Attachment to all things of this sensory world – this false, temporary, impure world.

Q – Krodha?

Ans – Yearning to harm others and cause ruin to them.

Q – And Lobha?

Ans – Determination that no one else should partake of even a small fraction of what one has earned or what one has; also, that even in times of distress, one’s possessions should not be diminished by use.

Q – What is the meaning of Moha?

Ans – The delusion that some people are nearer to one than others and the desire to please them more than others, leading to exertions for earning and accumulating for their sake.

Q – Mada?

Ans – Mada means the swagger that develops when one feels that he has either scholarship or strength or riches or fame, more than others. Even when one has not got these, Mada makes men move about without reverence for elders and consideration for others’ feelings and craving only for one’s own comfort and security. Mada is extreme egoism.

Q – The last that You mentioned is Matsarya. What does that mean, Swami?

Ans – When others are as happy as yourself, Matsarya makes one miserable; one cannot tolerate it.

Such lucid explanations about the excess baggage that we carry, weapons of self as well as social destruction in the psyche of each individual. Yet, we point fingers at disgruntled neighbours, street fights, terrorists and warring nations.

Each arrow that falls off due to virtuous, ethical behavior continuously gets replaced when the worst in us gets the better of us.
But these attempts at self transformation needs a Cosmic Boost, intense endeavour and an absolute one-pointed focus. The arrows on that Cherished Form have to be removed. They have to fall off, disintegrate, vanish, crumble.

Since those arrows belong to us all, the remedy too lies with us. We need to replace those arrows cautiously, skillfully, carefully, being ever dexterous and vigilant so that they do not surface ever. These poisonous arrows need to be wiped out, their repeated recurrence barred.  And for this we need ‘zoomed in’ determination, a soul centered obsession with the Ultimate Goal, a burning passion for purification, a supreme will and complete absorption in the gigantic task at hand – unfurling and manifesting our inherent, latent divinity.

If these words have touched your hearts, dear brothers and sisters, if they have created ripples of impression upon a mind ever ready to please the Beloved One, if they have evoked feelings of harmony and linked our thoughts…then we must not remain sanguine, nor must we procrastinate. Nothing else matters, no other call is more urgent, no trivial distraction need attract our attention.

Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms – A Sacred Lesson On Words, Thoughts, And Inner Purity

Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms is a meaningful spiritual theme that reminds us of the power carried by our thoughts, words, and actions. Every day, we send something into the world. Sometimes it may be pain through harsh speech, anger, and criticism. At other times, it may be fragrance through kindness, encouragement, forgiveness, and love.

Words are powerful. A single careless sentence can wound a heart like an arrow. A single gentle word can bring comfort like a flower. Many people forget that speech is not only sound; it carries emotion, intention, and energy. Therefore, a spiritual seeker must learn to speak with awareness and compassion.

Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms teaches that the tongue can become either an instrument of harm or an instrument of healing. When words are filled with anger, jealousy, insult, pride, or sarcasm, they become poisoned arrows. When words are filled with truth, love, patience, and encouragement, they become scented blossoms.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often emphasized purity of thought, word, and deed. This purity begins inside the mind. If thoughts are full of bitterness, speech will also become bitter. If the heart is filled with love, words naturally become gentle. Therefore, before controlling speech, we must purify the heart.

Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms becomes meaningful when we examine our daily conversations. Do our words bring peace or disturbance? Do we encourage others or weaken them? Do we speak truth with kindness, or use truth as a weapon? Do we enjoy gossip and criticism, or do we try to protect harmony?

A poisoned arrow may be released in one moment, but its wound may remain for a long time. In the same way, harsh words spoken in anger may continue to hurt someone’s heart even after we forget them. This is why careful speech is an important part of spiritual discipline.

Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms also reminds us that silence is sometimes better than speech. If words will only increase anger, insult someone, or spread negativity, silence can become a blessing. Silence does not mean weakness. It can show wisdom, patience, and self-control. A controlled tongue protects both the speaker and the listener.

Scented blossoms represent loving words and noble actions. A kind greeting, a sincere apology, a word of appreciation, a patient reply, or a prayerful blessing can change someone’s day. We may not know how much another person is suffering silently. A gentle word may become God’s comfort for that heart.

Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms finally teaches that our actions also carry fragrance or poison. Helping someone, serving without pride, forgiving sincerely, and showing respect are fragrant actions. Hurting, ignoring, mocking, and acting selfishly are painful actions. Life becomes sacred when our presence brings peace to others.

The mind must be trained through prayer, namasmarana, meditation, bhajan, and self-examination. These practices reduce anger and soften the heart. When the divine name is remembered often, the tongue becomes less eager to hurt. When the heart feels God’s presence, speech becomes more careful and loving.

A devotee should not use honesty as an excuse for cruelty. Truth must be spoken, but it should be spoken with compassion and right timing. A bitter truth thrown harshly can break a person. A loving truth offered wisely can guide and heal. Spiritual speech is both truthful and kind.

Every person has a choice each day. We can spread fear, complaint, and criticism, or we can spread hope, love, and peace. Even in difficult situations, we can choose words that reduce pain instead of increasing it. This choice is part of our sadhana.

In the end, Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms is a sacred reminder to watch what we send into the world. Thoughts, words, and actions are never empty; they carry power. When we choose kindness over anger, truth over gossip, silence over insult, and love over hatred, our life becomes fragrant with divine grace.

Parthi Prays…