Caterpillar

56 Caterpillar

There is a story of a boy who had a good heart. Once this boy saw a caterpillar in his garden. He began to carefully observe it. He found that the caterpillar was in a difficult situation. It was bound by a cocoon and was struggling to release itself from this cocoon. It strove very hard to come out of it. But try as it may, it was not able to come out of it even by a centimeter. But it never gave up its efforts. It tried and tried.

This boy was moved by the effort of the caterpillar and, having a heart filled with compassion, decided to help the caterpillar in its suffering. He ran inside his house and got a pair of scissors and slowly and carefully cut the cocoon of the caterpillar and released it.

What did he see when he cut the cocoon? He saw that the caterpillar was actually developing wings to become a butterfly. And because he had cut the cocoon before time, the wings of the caterpillar were very weak. They did not have the strength to handle the weight of the caterpillar and so the caterpillar could not fly.

Similarly, sometimes when we struggle in our lives, it may seem painful to someone who is watching. But those very struggles actually make us strong and powerful. Many people ask, “Why does God allow us to suffer?” We can learn from this boy; if he had allowed the caterpillar to suffer a little more, then it would have soared to the sky, flown from one flower to another and been appreciated by the world for its colors and beauty.

– Radhanath Swami

By RNS Articles

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47 comments

  1. It is wonderful explanation. Again through this we must have to accept that whatever god has planed for us must be best plan for us. We can’t have idea what is better for us, but Lord knows it very well and he provides whatever we required to continue our service to the Lord. Even difficulties in our life helps us to increase our faith and make us more determined for our objectives of life. We must have to learn to accept the God’s plan even if it is difficult situation.

  2. Thank you so much HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj Ji for wonderful article..

  3. Thank you Radhanath swami for the perfect blog and response to – why do bad things happen to good people

  4. Absolutely stunning. This teaches us to not see things only from our persepctive and come to a judgement and interfere. We should see things from the perspective of the higher authorities like the scriptures, bonafide people who are practising the scriptures. Only then we can understand the truth of our lives and the lives of others.

  5. What beautiful use of analogy of caterpillar by swamiji….thanks for your guidance…….

  6. Amazing post. There is a saying “I asked god for strength and he gave me tough situations to fight. I did not got what i wanted but i got what i needed.”
    The all powerful and loving god know what we really need.

  7. Very wonderful story lesson derived is simply great ,thanks Radhanath Swami for the enlightenment

  8. Thank you very much Radhanath Swami for teaching us such an important lesson as to how we should not be dejected in life when suffering comes rather see it as God’s blessings in order to make us more strong.
    Hare Krishna !

  9. Radhanth swami’s examples are always full of wisdom and explain the philosophical point so nicely and easily.

  10. Very nice analogy by HH Radhanath Swami to make us understand the real plan of God behind giving us difficulties.

  11. A very nice lesson to learn from this beautiful story. “Trust” in God’s arrangement and “Patience” to tolerate any situation is required.

  12. Life has in store for us all varieties of growing pains, but these pains lead to a stronger mind and intelligence. Thank you for this beautiful article.

  13. All glories to Swami Radhanath for this amazing and wonderful analogy of the caterpillar

  14. Very inspiring and instructive! Thank you Maharaj for explaining such deep concepts in a very simple yet beautiful way!

  15. so true. really amazing article. Bcoz of our limited vision we see those struggles as miseries & feel God is not merciful.

  16. Such a amazing story……..Very inspiring. I am eaternally greatful to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja.

  17. A poignant reminder to the statement “There is no gain without pain!”

  18. just as raw metal is moulded to form beautiful sculpture similarly our consciousness must be moulded through difficulties. Enlightening. thanks for sharing

  19. Similarly, sometimes when we struggle in our lives, it may seem painful to someone who is watching. But those very struggles actually make us strong and powerful.

    Amazing lessons. thank you very much

  20. Very nice example.Reading which one would understand how to comprehend someones sufferings.Thank You Radhanath Maharaj !

  21. Thank you Radhanath swami for this heart touching example for revealing us the truth that God gives us suffering to make us strong.

  22. good lesson to learn, We should learn to see the hand of God in our lives, in all situations. Nothing happens in our life without the knowledge of God. Since God alone is our real well-wishing friend, He arranges everything in our life for our ultimate good.

  23. Beautiful Story!Its true what ever hitches or snags we undergo,it ultimately makes us strong and we realize this only once we are out of that situation.

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