Story of the week - Parable of the Vine Yard

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Story of the week

 

Parable of the Vine Yard

 

In one village a feud was going on for long between two groups of

people for one reason or another. One resident of that village who

had two acres of land was growing grapes and selling them for his

livelihood. He did not belong to either of these fighting groups.

But both the groups opposing each other came to this individual and

they started pressurising him to join their respective party. So,

under compulsion he joined the party which contained a larger number

of evil-minded people. Few months later, this honest fellow was

arrested by the police along with all the other members. As a result

there was no one to look after his grape garden. The vines having no

water for weeks shrivelled and began to wither away. There was no

fruit and, therefore, there was no income and enough food for his

wife and children at home.

 

In the jail, this man used to get one post card every week from his

wife. The rules and regulations of the jail were such that letters

received by the prisoners would not be censured while letters posted

by the prisoners would be censured. Once, his wife wrote to

him: "You seem to be well looked after in the prison but have you

thought of our miserable condition? Since you left home our grape

garden is dried up and there is no one to till the land and prepare

the land for the next crop. Nor have I any money to set the land

right. Even now, the children and I are half starved. So, if you

suggest some method by which I can get the dried up land soil

tilled, only then I and the children will have something to eat in

the near future at least. Please let me know."

 

As soon as he read the letter, he felt very sad. But he could hit

upon a plan. He wrote to his wife thus: "Do not worry, I have not

ever told you about a treasure trove, a vessel containing a lot of

gold coins which I had put down below in the rut in our garden. You

simply have to dig it up and make use of the coins". This letter had

to be censured and the jail superintendent read it. He did not post

the letter. He got together all the prisoners and told them to dig

up the whole grape garden with a view to find the treasure trove. In

a short time the entire garden was dug up. But they did not find any

treasure trove.

 

On the third day there was a heavy rain and that year (grapes) yield

was very good. The wife was very happy. She sold the grapes and got

plenty of money.

 

At the end of six months, the husband was released from prison. As

soon as he came home she eagerly questioned: "How did you manage to

send so many men to plough the land?" The wife had not received her

husband's letter, so she did not know about his plan. The husband

replied: "Yes, by the grace of God I could think of a plan and make

them believe about the treasure trove. Let us thank God."

 

What is the inner meaning of this story? This individual, this

cultivator had 2 acres of land. Man has two inches of heart. In our

heart there are two groups; the bad qualities and the good

qualities. These two groups are clashing with each other. In between

the Jiva, the householder and owner of the heart, the first was not

seduced by the two parties. But later he was pulled towards one

group. Jiva has a wife - she is Nivrithi and her children Pravirthi.

Because the Jiva joined one group he had to be in jail. That is

bondage. However, he realises that the field of heart had to be

cleansed (ploughed) to find the wisdom - gold. To get that wisdom

all the prisoners (those in bondage) have to dig the field of heart.

After the process of digging and cleansing one reaps the harvest of

bliss. So what is it that is essential? Purification of the field of

heart by means of prescribed sadhanas.

 

- Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Source: Chinna Katha II, 228

 

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