Life After Death, Part 5 - The Path to Hell
Deepak Chopra - October 24, 2006
“I wonder if Yama fools himself?” Ramana mused. “He certainly fools everyone else.”
“You talk as if he’s pulling some kind of trick,” Savitri said. It was wearing on her to be in the forest this long. She knew that very soon time would run out.
“Yama is pulling a trick,” Ramana agreed. “You wouldn’t have run away from him if you’d known.” Ramana stopped, as if he had pronounced something obvious.
“Show me how the trick works,” Savitri said.
“All right. I’ll tell you another story. There was a monkey who was shut inside a small room in a castle tower. Nothing was happening in the room, but the monkey wasn’t content to sit there.
“The monkey could only divert himself by going to the window and looking out at the world. This distracted him for a while, but then he started to think about his situation. How did he get in this tower? Who captured him and put him there? The monkey’s mood began to darken. There was nothing to do, no one to talk to. These thoughts made him more and more depressed. The room seemed to close in; the monkey started to sweat anxiously. No, he suddenly realized, I’m not in a room, I’m in hell. Quickly his depression grew into anguish and anguish into torment. The monkey saw demons all around inflicting every imaginable pain.
“This is it, the monkey thought. I am in eternal hell. And so the torment continued, getting worse and worse. The monkey saw no way out. But gradually it actually got used to torment, and then a bit bored. How much time had elapsed? Years, ages–the monkey couldn’t remember. But in his mind he saw images of the nice room he used to live in. It wasn’t such a bad room, not really. In fact, it was rather pleasant to be by oneself looking out the window at all the fascinating things going on outside.
“Bit by bit the demons stopped torturing the monkey and withdraw. He began to feel better, and soon the day came when he found himself back in the room as before, only now he was feeling optimistic. Life was free of pain, which is enjoyable in itself. The moneky grew more cheerful, and then . . .”
Ramana broke off. “You no doubt know where this parable is headed.”
Savitri nodded. “The monkey is going to heaven.”
“Exactly. He starts to feel better and better, until he imagines himself in Paradise, and instead of being punished by demons he is being soothed by angels. Ah, the monkey thinks, I am in eternal bliss.”
”Until he gets bored again,” Savitri remarked.
Ramana nodded. “The monkey is the mind, sitting alone in the tower of the head. As the mind expands with pleasure and contracts with pain, it creates every possible world, constantly falling for its own creations. The moneky will believe in heaven for a while, but then boredom will set in, and being the seed of discontent, boredom will pull him out of heaven and back down to hell.”
Savitri felt despondent. “So we’re all trapped. That’s horrible.”
“Only if you agree to be trapped. I didn’t say the tower was locked,” said Ramana. “There is an infinite domain outside the castle walls. Take your mind outside the walls. There is freedom outside, and having achieved it, you will never be forced to go to heaven or hell again.”
Note: While writing a new book on the afterlife, Life After Death: The Burden of Proof
In this case the hero is a woman named Savitri, and the enemy she must defeat is Yama, the lord of death. Yama shows up in her front yard one day, waiting to take away her husband the moment he returns from his work as a woodcutter. Will she succeed? What strategy can possibly turn Death away from his inexorable mission?
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Posted by Deepak Chopra at October 24, 2006 10:26 AM
Comments
1. Posted by
David
![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.intentblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
on
October 24, 2006 10:47 AM
Hope you had a great birthday, Deepak, or are still having,
but time I know, doesn't exist,
I was drinking on another Blog, eventhough,
because, I knew that there was something,
out there, to,
Love, or celebrate, passion,
2. Posted by
marek dariusz podsiadlo
on
October 24, 2006 11:03 AM
Deepak: That's right; 10-22 isn't it?!
Happy B-day---Thanks for reminding us, Marek!!!!
So much for keeping "on topic," with this one! Dave
3. Posted by
David
on
October 24, 2006 11:06 AM
Dear Deepak, the book has arrived, and it's even more amazing than this story of Savitri. After every sentence I feel that you've said it all. But no, there's always more. It will probably take me a few years to read it, as I'm vanishing all the time (so many words open the door to the gap). It's funny that I even find my way back to the book. And, lol... this person is really busy in the world of time, but here she sits, smiling with a book in her lap. I guess time will stand still until she's finished reading.
4. Posted by
Aurora Carlson
on
October 24, 2006 12:45 PM
Deepak,
I hope you are enjoying an exceptional birth week, or fortnight, or however long you have decided to extend the joy of it.
I always enjoy reading what you have written, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us.
Love,
Jori
5. Posted by
Jori
on
October 24, 2006 01:41 PM
Happy Belated Birthday, Deepak!
I am enjoying the story, nevermind all my questions.
If I knew all the answers to Life,
I would probably be bored teaching my other selves
how to be humble when throwing Wisdom around.
Be patient with us, please. Thank you ahead of Time!
.
Cunning, full of mischief, a trickster and total kidder
is the Monkey God inside my head.
Outside my head, in the external world,
that is where I gather the fodder to feed His boredom.
His huge appetite for critical judgement and condemnation
can only be appeased by mingling in the crowds.
He doesn't like it when I sit in a
dark closet and stare Him down.
Only then does He seem to be at a loss for words.
I would kick Him out, ya know...
but I've grown fond of His fury
and wouldn't dare hurt His feelings.
Monkeys are people, too! Me2
6. Posted by
Keith
on
October 24, 2006 03:13 PM
Deepak,
This post speaks as have all the others in this series. It doesn't tell a story. It transubstantiates.
7. Posted by
LPB
on
October 24, 2006 03:17 PM
Dear Dr. Chopra,
Happy birthday, belatedly!
You are ten years younger (in earth years) than Lilian, my mom :))))!
Regards..
8. Posted by
Ron Saywack
on
October 24, 2006 03:33 PM
The Dark Night of the Soul.......
is it a year already since your last birthday?...that means that my site www.drdeepchop.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk is a year old also as I first named it that to present you with your online Birthday presentation kast year and have been presnting birthday presentations ever since along with christmas presentations.
how time does fly when you are having fun
Happy Birthday my Brother, Father of great understanding and beloved friend.
Love SImon xx
9. Posted by
Simon_Freejohn
on
October 24, 2006 05:29 PM
Dear Deepak,
in celebration of your Birthday I have written a simple birthday wish on behalf of all of us here on Intentblog......
I hope it truely reflects in it's simple words our true appreciation of a wise and wonderful mentor and inspiration you are to us all whom visit this site.
I hope you all like it
click my name below or visit www.drdeepchop.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
it is rather fitting as I said above the first presentation I posted on this site was for Deepaks Birthday a year ago.
Love Simon xx
10. Posted by
Simon_Freejohn
on
October 24, 2006 05:59 PM
I want to wish you happy birthday Deepak!
The body of hell and heaven
---------------------------
The story of the monkey and his jail is very inspiring.
Deepak, what is the reason why we are here with a body? Could it be possible that the body is a tool to experience a manifestaded life of our choice?
Is this body has to come to an end when the transformation come? Is there another body that is waiting, so we do not have to hold on this one so much? What is the real purpose of the body? Is it programmed to help for the transformation? Programmed to be transformed and disappear (caterpillar to butterfly)?
How can you explain, that only Jesus as been able to disappear after his death? Why do the body of Jesus disappear? His resurected body was not the same right? Why?
Domains of manifestations without spirit domain bring heaven and hell. What about the domains of manifestations linked with spirit domain? What kind of life this create?
with love,
Jean
11. Posted by
Jean-Francois
on
October 24, 2006 06:44 PM
Happy Birthday, dear Deepak
I hope you have had a fun weekend of celebration.
To hell with the years! :)
Its the freedom that comes from living a full life, that brings you presents (ce) to realize how awesome the Present Moment can be.
With love,
~ Kate
hey Simon,
thanks for sharing the card you make for Deepak!
I know of pastels and oil paints
I play with mind like the controlled saints
I sketch all night of the stunning locks
And bring to life the tides from waves and rocks
so many a things have been done through me....
Only Art is that can Now set me FREE!- TD
Mind has always been a great Player and keeps us Busy in this World of MAYA..the world of Enactment and PLAY.... It's Only when the brain learns to Control the rest of us....that is to say..... Our top Power becomes the INTELLECT and the mind it's Slave.... We stop about in this rollercoaster and prioritise our LIFE... thus making it organized and simpler.... then only we are able to enjoy our lives and realise the potential from within... every individual has a Unique self existing healing power which relieves the inner tension.... for me it is ART... and when one gives all their problems to this power of theirs they are at that moment in direct conversation with the SUPREME and the mind becomes calm and the problems just seem to have vanished and Life looks like that room again...but just more peaceful and beautiful!
..............
so lets keep thinking!
be well
TD
13. Posted by
TechD
on
October 24, 2006 06:58 PM
Happy 59th Birthday Deepak. God bless.
14. Posted by
geetajayaram
on
October 24, 2006 07:59 PM
Simon, Nice tribute card to Deepak! (posted on OT) Listen, learn, understand and everyone can become one anothers' friend ~
Geeta, Glad to read you!
U nited
N ations
D eepak
E veryone
R elationship
S pirit
T ogether
A LWAYS
N othing
D eepak
I nfinite
N amaste
G OD
15. Posted by
Donna Young
on
October 25, 2006 07:07 AM
Happy belated birthday Deepak, hereunder a quote:
"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest."
--Larry Lorenzoni
:)
16. Posted by
mieke
on
October 25, 2006 07:11 AM
Nothing like waking up from a bad dream is there?
Or even better becoming lucid in the dream state, and taking control.
Waking up in a void is nice and peaceful but soon gets boring. But boring is good because it gives birth to CHANGE.
Okay so for your birthday Deepak I am giving you three wishes. You still have two that you never used from year one and two. Just look up into the expanse of the infinite universe and make them.
Whenever I get three wishes, my first one is always for the wisdom to choose the other two.
I wonder if Savitri couldn't manage to get some wishes from Yama, that she might do somthing clever with them to save her husband from character termination.
I wonder if death isn't what happens when we realize we don't need to remember our life anymore, or perhaps we just want to create a new collection.
17. Posted by
Richard Thomas
on
October 25, 2006 08:01 AM
Dear Deepak,
Thanks for your story of monkey encaged in a castle room.
As we learn from this our mind replicates monkey in assuming positive and negative positions via thought process.To get rid of both situations our ancient sages and present spiritual masters emphasize one thing very strongly to mould yourself to be aloof of what is happening around you.
How does that translate to our actions which we are free to perform without expecting results? This is a dilemma. Should the mind stop thinking and acting leaving every thing to God? No action No consequence !!!
18. Posted by
avm
on
October 25, 2006 09:05 AM
Thank you Kate,
I am glad you liked it.
Donna Young,
Thanks it was simple and quick but I hope it gets the message accross.....
don't forget it is you next!....you still have not sent me your picture girl!..... hurry up not long until you are the birthday girl...so get that Camera out and start posing! nothing to rude you understand..well... you know what I mean?.... Dont want anybody getting to excited watching your birthday pressy!
:-)
Love Simon xx
19. Posted by
Simon_Freejohn
on
October 25, 2006 11:42 AM
In one of Deepak Chopra's books, he tells a story of a young boy who changed the structure of his own DNA (I believe the story went that the boy did it in response to his mother's urging him to become well, to recover from disease.)
Which book was that story in? I'm desperately trying to find out! Thank you!
20. Posted by
Chopra_Reader
on
October 25, 2006 12:32 PM
Dear Deepak,
Happy Belated Birthday
Love,
Donatella
21. Posted by
Donatella
on
October 25, 2006 06:30 PM
Happy Birthday Deepak..
(Mind can be a curse or a blessing.. the mind
itself is a trap!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for expanding the story love it.
“Only if you agree to be trapped. I didn’t say the tower was locked,” said Ramana. “There is an infinite domain outside the castle walls. Take your mind outside the walls. There is freedom outside, and having achieved it, you will never be forced to go to heaven or hell again.”
peace
ashie
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Recent Comments
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Ashie commented on Life After Death, Part 5 - The Path to Hell
Happy Birthday Deepak..
(Mind can be a
-
Donatella commented on Life After Death, Part 5 - The Path to Hell
Dear Deepak,
Happy Belated Birthday
-
Chopra_Reader commented on Life After Death, Part 5 - The Path to Hell
In one of Deepak Chopra's books, he tells a sto
-
Simon_Freejohn commented on Life After Death, Part 5 - The Path to Hell
Thank you Kate,
I am glad you liked it.
-
avm commented on Life After Death, Part 5 - The Path to Hell
Dear Deepak,
Thanks for your story of mon
Deepak: For those of us in the Western world who are so unfamiliar with the vast resevoir that is the ancient body of knowledge from the Asian subcontinent......well, this is very cool--I hope these kinds of installments will continue on until you've exhausted them all!!!
Since I've bored myself with "monkey-mind" so often, so long, and so unnecessarily, except to learn it's unnecessary to be bored and depressed, and then depressed about being depressed--and simple as that: To image forth--and hold it until one feels it to be true, with the details of the inner senses seeing and feeling "that reality," until it overtakes this one, and becomes "this one!"
Very fun stuff, Deepak!--Thank You, Dave