Today in satsang, Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar told a story that instantly reminded me of a powerful verse from Paradise Lost by John Milton – a poem we had in our English curriculum in college:

“The mind is its own place, and in itself. Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. ”

Guruji’s Story

In ancient Japan, there lived a samurai (a Rajput). Rajputs or samurais are known for their valor and pride, they never lose any battle. Though victorious in many battles, a deep question troubled the samurai: “What is heaven? What is hell?”

He was told that only a wise monk could give him the true answer. So, the samurai set out on a journey to find this teacher. When he finally met the monk, he asked the monk, “Can you tell me – what is heaven and what is hell?”

The monk looked at him, smiled… and then began to insult him. “You? A samurai? You are nothing but a coward. A disgrace. You’re weak. Clumsy. Pathetic.”

Hearing this, the samurai’s blood boiled. His pride shattered, his honor questioned, and that too in front of others – his anger surged. In a fit of rage, he drew his sword and raised it high, ready to strike the monk down.

The monk remained unmoved. Calmly, he looked at the warrior and said: “This… is hell. This state of your mind – this anger, this ego, this fury – is hell.”

In that moment, something shifted inside the samurai. He dropped the sword. He fell to his knees and bowed deeply to the monk out of realization. A deep peace settled over him. The monk smiled and said softly: “And this… is heaven.”

Essence of the Story:

Heaven and hell are not distant realms above or below.

They are states of consciousness – moment to moment, created within us.

In anger, pride, and ego – we descend into hell.

In awareness, humility, and surrender – we rise into heaven.