DIVINE SMILE
There is a beautiful and peaceful ashram on the banks of a sarovaram (Lake). It is a center of excellent education and training for the seekers of spiritual knowledge. Gurudev of Ashram is a Brahma Rishi, Maha Jnani. He gives personal attention to the students and lays strong foundation for their total development.
On a full-moon day, Gurudev along with a group of students (Brahmacharis) sat under a tree on the banks of the Sarovaram, which is filled with beautiful kaluva flowers (White water lilies).
Master was answering their questions and clearing their doubts. He was debating with them and giving simple tests and puzzles.
Suddenly Gurudev looked at the group and asked them "What is today"? All said "Today is full moon day". Then he asked "What are there in the sarovar?".
One student answered "Master! These are kaluvas". THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM with his beautiful smile said "Yes! You are right. Can any one of you say the speciality of Kaluvas".
One student stood up and said, "Gurudev! They blossom only in the moonlight. It is believed that the moon is the Lord and Swamy of Kaluvas. They bloom only for the moon".
He smiled and said, "You said beautifully, but now there is no moon light. It is dark. But all kaluvas opened beautifully. What is the reason?"
All the disciples looked around. It was really dark because clouds covered the moon completely. For a moment they were confused and became silent. THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM was looking at them for an answer. One student said, "Master I can explain". THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM said, "Yes proceed".
"Master when clouds covered the moon completely, the flowers in the lake thought that their swami, the moon left them suddenly and were sad. They were about to close the petals in sorrow and disappointment. Exactly at that time our Swamy came to the sarovaram and sat here with the most beautiful and divine smile. The brightness of the smile of our Swamiji spread all over the sarovaram and touched the kaluvas. The flowers thought that their Swamy the moon came very close to them and touched them. They were very happy and in joy they opened petals more beautifully and started dancing to the tune of gentle breeze. Due to this reason in the darkness also they are beautifully opened".
THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM smiled more beautifully giving joy to his disciples and also to the flowers and said, "My child! Your answer is intelligent, though not correct. Your spontaneous and timely response impressed us".
He turned to his disciples and said, "Dear children, in our routine life we encounter such unexpected questions and incidents. You should be attentive and alert and should be able to respond spontaneously with intelligence."
He observed satisfaction and joy on the faces of students and said, "Children, it is already late. Let us stop our discussion for today". With a graceful smile he blessed the students and left.
Kaluvas were dancing with joy and spreading marvelous fragrance all over. Students walking towards ashram were talking among themselves, "The divine smile of our Gurudev not only makes kaluvas dance but also fascinates angels in the heaven to dance."
"Smile is the most powerful and beautiful weapon during war and peace."
OM NAMO LOKA PRIYA PREMA MURTHYNE NAMAHA