Life's lessons - a little lengthy !

[R V Rao]

One day, waking up early in the morning in the middle of nature, I noticed something surprising. Dozens of ants had fallen into a five-liter water bottle I had left open the night before. They were wriggling chaotically in the clear water, as if each one was fighting for its life.

At first, I thought they were drowning each other, trying to save themselves at the cost of the others’ lives.

That thought repulsed me, and I turned away, deciding not to intervene.

However, after two hours, curiosity got the better of me. I went back to check the bottle.

My astonishment was limitless: the ants were still alive! Even more, they had formed a living island, a kind of pyramid, where some supported the others, holding themselves together at the surface, like a united colony.

I held my breath and began to observe. Those at the bottom were indeed submerged, but not permanently. After a while, they were replaced by those from the upper layer, who voluntarily went down.

The most tired ones calmly came back up, without rush or pushing.

No one was trying to save themselves first. On the contrary, each seemed to strive to go where it was the hardest. This coordinated system of mutual aid touched me deeply.

I couldn’t resist. I found a spoon thin enough to pass through the neck of the bottle, and I gently inserted it inside. Seeing salvation, the ants began to climb out one by one, without agitation, without panic.

Everything was going well until one of them, weakened, fell back into the water, unable to reach the edge.

And then, something happened that I will never forget.

The last ant, almost out, suddenly turned back. It went down again, as if to say: “Hold on, my brother, I won’t leave you.”

It dove back in, clung tightly to the struggling ant, but couldn’t save it alone.

I couldn’t help but intervene: I brought the spoon closer, and together they were able to get out—alive, side by side.

This episode moved me more than any film or book about friendship and sacrifice.

I felt a storm of emotions: first, shame for having thought those ants were insensitive; then, amazement at their resilience; admiration for their discipline and courage… and finally, a deep shame.

Shame for us, humans. Because of our indifference, because of the way we lose one another in the pursuit of gain, because of how rare it is for someone to turn back to save the weakest.

We build walls where we should be creating living bridges.

If ants—these tiny creatures—are capable of such coordination and altruism, why are we so often deaf to the suffering of others?

That day, I understood something essential: true strength lies in unity.

And if someone still doesn’t know how to live well… they should take example from the ants. 

[k.venkatramani Ramani]

Rao Sir,

Yr this mail / msg to  our group is a very good awakening / lesson   to all   human beings  to help each one another without seeing  caste or creed.

Pl try to EMULATE  even in a small way .

This , no doubt gives an immense joy. 

BEST  WISHES. 

K.Venkatramani 

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[Rajaram Krishnamurthy]

I see such write-ups all over the media, especially FB and WA. Suppose one ant had died drowning? I would have either thrown the water out or saved the ants on seeing it at the moment. Every object delivers something every minute to us which we bypass or observe or learn or ignore according to our convenience. Suppose had he seen in a big jar of water or oil Vrischika or rats in bulk what would have been his reactions? Right from Rig veda the oldest literature advocated qualities of sattva guna only; but we failed to read them; unity was advocated well; unity was also killed for dharma reason. Suppose the rats were killed while B G is adopted. Prakrithi do contain the birth and death wantonly or unwillingly. Our actions are different at different places. Could we adopt the unity with Pakistan as they are also ants? ACTIONS ARE PREDETERMINED; WE TRY TO BECOME WISE WHEN WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE; WE HAVE PROPERTIES SO WE WANT TO BE ALOOF PROTECTING US; mgr, vIJAYAKANT vIJAY STALIN SO MANY ENTERED POLITICS NOT TO SERVE PEOPLE BUT TO PROTECT THE VOLUMINOUS WEALTH. ANTS DO NOT HAVE ANY SUCH EXCEPT THE CRUMBLES. Yes united we gain but we are the culprits from remaining united because,"don't we have the feelings of he is ours so remin united as groupism only"?  There is only an ant group without possession. There are hundreds of groups with self-preservation. K R IRS 81025

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[Dr Sundar]

fantastic an amazing ant story shri rao

 we human have to feel really put our heads down in shame for all our existence and  selfish survival instincts.

the smallest tiny creatures has made the day for me  day the  teaching of coexistence and co living 

God's limitless intelligence is  to be worshipped.

thanks sir

namaskaram

"KNOW THYSELF .

SELF KNOWLEDGE IS REAL KNOWLEDGE.

ALL OTHER KNOWLEDGE IS IGNORANCE AND THEY ARE NO  KNOWLEDGE  "   

~~~ Bhagavan Ramana

     

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[Seshadri Vellimedu]

Ants are very organized and disciplined.

So also Bees.

Also, birds living in clusters.

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