Upakhyan (Anecdote)
A long while back, Vidarbha was struck with severe famine. No one had any food left and many people died of starvation. In a house, villagers found a dead farmer. They were even more surprised to find sufficient wheat securely kept in a container in the house. Every one wondered how could the farmer die of starvation when he had enough stored food. Then they found a note which said, "Let my grain be distributed to all villagers as seeds for sowing when the next rains come." Peoples' eyes were wet with tears to see the farmer's sacrifice. He knew it would be very difficult to get seeds in the next rainy season after famine and so he kept his grains for others to use as seeds. Rains came and the farmer's seeds bore beautiful crops in all the farms of the village. It felt as if the farmer did not die, he just transformed himself into millions of tiny plants and returned back to earth as the lush green crop.
True spirituality is indeed to look beyond the selfish narrow confines and be ready to sacrifice oneself for the needs of the times.
Hrudaysparshi Katha [Story, that touches our heart]
Price of Happiness
Swami Ramtirth went to America. His discourses had a profound influence upon the Americans. On one occasion after his discourse a lady came to meet him. She told Swamiji, "I have been very upset for the past few days. I had just one son and he died a few days back. I feel very lonely and I have nothing to look forward to. I cannot sleep well in the night. Please tell me a way that peace, happiness and meaning would return to my life."
"Why not?", said Swamiji, "But you should be willing to pay some price for happiness."
"Price? Just tell me how much? I shall immediately arrange for the same. If I have to give away all my wealth for some happiness, I am ready for it."
After a few days, Swamiji went to the lady's home with a young black child who was very poor and homeless. He said, "Mother, no amount of material wealth can buy you happiness. Adopt this child as your own son. Take care of him and bring him up."
The lady was shocked to imagine bringing up a black child as her own. She said, "Swamiji, how can this black child become a member of my family?"
Swamiji said, "If you think bringing up this child is a difficult task for you, then I can assure you that the task of attaining true happiness would be impossible for you."
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