Upakhyan (Anecdote)
Hatimtai was famous in Arabia for his benevolence and generosity. He used to distribute his wealth with a large heart. Everyone admired him. Once he planned to host a feast. He called everyone without any discrimination. He decided to personally invite a few special guests. On his way to the house of one such guest, he saw a wood-cutter who was tying together a lot of firewood to take home. He had collected and meticulously chopped the firewood to even size. The wood-cutter was sweating profusely in the hot sun. Hatimtai felt pity on him and called out, "O brother! Hatimtai is hosting a feast. Why are you working so hard, go to Hatimtai and he will help you and give you all you want. You can enjoy the feast also, he has called everyone." The wood-cutter looked at him and replied, "One who earns his own bread does not need generosity of Hatimtai." Hatimtai was amazed at the self-respect and self-reliance of the poor woodcutter.
Hrudaysparshi Katha [Story, that touches our heart]
The Art of Living
"I shall fill this beautiful world with such a fragrance that everyone would be filled with joy and delight", exclaimed a tiny seed of a flowering plant as it lay beneath a heavy load of soil. The soil heard this oath and cruelly laughed, "Foolish seed, put reins on your wild day dreams. Don't you feel lucky that you have not got completely crushed under my weight?" The seed smiled and waited. Seasons changed and drops of rain water wetted the soil and trickled down to reach him. The soul of the seed awakened from sleep and gradually dispelling the load of soil burst forth as a sprout.
Soon enough two tiny leaves spread out to greet the world outside. The winds cautioned the baby plant, "O ignorant baby plant, never come in my way. You do not know of my immense strength. When I show my powers, storms rage in the seas, mountains give way and mighty trees get uprooted. Beware of me." The tiny plant understood. It became extremely humble and polite. It bent left, it bent right, and swaying in the winds became its delight. Its humility had an amazing strength that helped it weather many a storms. Many mighty trees fell to the ground and yet it grew higher and higher.
The thorny bushes that were all around it grew jealous of its zeal and growth. They began to attack it from everywhere, their thorns began to cut through its leaves and stems, and their roots left no space for its roots to spread. The plant got hurt several times but its intense desire to fulfill its oath did not subside. The caretaker of the garden recognized the flowering plant and cleared all the thorny bushes around it.
Its next test was taken by the sun. The plant willingly bore the sun's strong heat and this penance infused in it immense life force and evolved its consciousness. The first bud of flower appeared in due time, and then in a few days the entire plant was enveloped with beautiful flowers whose fragrance permeated the entire garden. Despite severe odds, the strong will power of the tiny seed helped it fulfill its oath.
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