Upakhyan (Anecdote)
A saint was sitting with his disciples discussing the ideal code of conduct. A visitor came to meet the saint and brought with him some sweets. Interestingly the saint picked up the sweets and quickly ate them all alone. After sometime another visitor came who got some dry fruits. The saint picked up the tray and threw the dry fruits away and then started talking to him sweetly and asked about his welfare and his family's. The man sat for a while disinterestedly and then went away. A few minutes later a third person came with some fruits. The saint accepted the same and lovingly distributed them to all including the person. Apart from treating their gifts differently he talked to all the three visitors in the same pleasing and affectionate manner.
A few hours later he sent three disciples to the three visitor's homes to find out their reactions about saint's behaviour. All three returned after sometime. The first disciple said, "Sir, the first person was upset with you and called you greedy and selfish." The second disciple said, "Sir, the second was very upset and called you a sweet tongued spiteful and arrogant man." The third said, "The third person was very pleased and called you a benevolent saint who distributed all he got to others with affection." The saint then said, "Dear students, the best code of conduct in the world is to distribute fairly among all whatever God has given you and adopt a pleasing personality."
Hrudaysparshi Katha [Story, that touches our heart]
The Essence of Yoga
This is another incident in the life of King Suradhu of Hemjata clan after he returned back to his kingdom (see year 2008, edition 11 of Pragya Sandesh). King Paridh of Parseek was a spiritual seeker. He went from place to place in search for self-realization and he met numerous masters. His sadhana elevated his being to very high levels. Yet he felt incompleteness. His mind was still not at complete peace and he yearned to know why.
His long sojourns brought him to Sage Mandavya, who advised him to go to King Suradhu to learn the ultimate yoga that would satiate him completely. The great seeker moved on to Kailash to meet Suradhu. When he reached the capital he was surprised to learn from the chief minister, "Our king goes out in disguise everyday to apprise himself of the woes and sufferings of his subjects. This time he has gone away for more than a week and everyone is worried. Our Queen is handling the affairs of the state in his absence. You may meet her instead." Paridh quietly moved on and decided to see the kingdom till he learns that Suradhu has returned. He reached a village in the evening and decided to stay on for the night. In the village he saw a house where an old women lived. She was ill for more than a week and her son was away for work. Only a stranger was taking complete care of her from washing her dirty clothes to cleaning the hut. Paridh could see an unmistakable spiritual glow emanating from the stranger. Just when the stranger had offered the final medicine for the day to the women and put her to sleep, a voice called out to the stranger, "O King! It is seven days since you returned to the palace, every one is getting worried."
The stranger was none other Suradhu himself. His selfless service had induced in him perfect peace and somberness of self-realization. He calmly replied, "My duty binds me to serve every person in my kingdom. I will have to wait till this woman attains good health. Please tell the queen to not to worry about me and continue her good work."
Paridh was overcome with joy. He had understood the real essence of all yogic sadhanas. He paid his obeisance to King Suradhu and returned.
|
