Saintly or Sinful Act???
Today (07.11.2012) at my work premises, I have seen one butterfly stuck in a big cobweb. Seeing the pitiful condition of the butterfly and its struggle for life; I have released the butterfly from the cobweb by removing the cobweb around the butterfly with the aid of a stick. As the butterfly was hanging to the stick, I have placed the butterfly on the ground by putting the stick on the floor.
After my above act, it suddenly stroke my mind whether had I done a saintly act by saving the life of a butterfly or had I done a sinful act by spoiling the prey of the spider; as the spider has formed the cobweb with very great difficulty by putting its efforts for hours together for catching its prey???
After few seconds, I noticed that the butterfly is lying upside down and is unable to get up and fly as its wings were arrested with the cobwebs.
I tried to help the butterfly to release its wings from the cobweb and make the butterfly to fly. In my four to five attempts, the butterfly tried to hold the stick and sit in its normal position; but trying, trying, it fell into a nearby soap solution (chemical used to lubricate the conveyor chains).
I realized that had the butterfly been left in the cobweb to its fate; it would have survived at least till the time the spider comes and enjoys its prey. But due to my foolish act; this butterfly has fell into the soap solution; where its death is immediate and is dying without of any use to any one (if the butterfly dies in the cobweb, at least; its life would be useful as a food to the spider and I would not be having any role in this butterfly’s death. But in this case, I am personally responsible for this butterfly’s untimely & useless death.
With very disappointment; I suffered mentally for few seconds of my act. However, not delaying further; I immediately took one piece of paper and removed the butterfly from the soap solution and kept the butterfly on the grass under the warmth sun light.
With the causeless mercy of the God; after few minutes; butterfly could able to release its wings from the cobwebs (as the butterfly fell into the soap solution and later got dried in the sunlight) and started flying from one plant to another.
On one hand, I felt very happy that I had done a saintly act by saving one life, but on the other hand, I felt whether had I done a sinful act by spoiling the prey of the spider and I may be directly or indirectly responsible for the death of the spider due to hunger (in case the spider does not get any other prey today or for a longer period).
Learnings from the Incident:
1) Before helping others; we should also see whether our help to someone will cause any harm to others and to what degree it harms others. We should able to judge as who is in more needy and suffering situation.
2) We should take all necessary care and precautions before helping others; so that our help will not bounce back on us – as in the case of butterfly fell in the soap solution and prone to immediate death.
3) We should never feel that we are the doers; but should rather realize and relinquish that we are the instruments in the hands of God.
4) Before doing any act; we should immensely pray to God to help us to make our endeavors – whether big or small to be successful – without facing any hindrances – as in the case of butterfly falling in soap solution and luckily regaining its life.
5) At times, God puts us in very tough and difficult situations like the butterfly caught in the cobweb and later fell into the soap solution. During these times, we should not lose our faith in God, but should rather increase our firm and unflinching faith, belief and confidence in God and take HIS shelter and pray to HIM like Draupadi and Gajendra did during their dire crisis and got rescued by the God.
6) And the final learning is that if we do not constantly keep remembering the God, if we are not thankful to God and if we are not engaged in HIS devotional Service, one day, we also will get stuck the MAYA’s cobweb and fall prey to it and have the untimely and useless death – not utilizing our human birth for self-realization and God-realization.
Thanks & Regards
KVS
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