LIVE FOR OTHERS

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LIVE FOR OTHERS

Source:http://ramakrishnamath.com/

 

There was a place called Nagpura. It had no rain for many years and

consequently there was poverty and famine.

 

There lived a widow by name Kamala with her daughter Kannamma. They

had no means of livelihood.

 

One day the mother said to her daughter, `Kannamma, see how

unfortunate I am. I am not in a position to feed you even a mouthful

of rice. You look so weak and famished.'

 

Her daughter replied, `Mother, I am worried about you. It is so many

days since you ate a morsel of food. I will try to get some food

from somewhere.' Saying so, Kannamma went out.

 

After begging at several houses fruitlessly, she stood under a tree

totally exhausted. At a distance, she saw an old woman baking bread

under a tree. She went near and said, `Mother, I am dying of hunger.

Please give me a piece of bread.'

 

The old lady looked at Kannamma. She pitied her and said, `I can

offer you only one piece of bread, Take it.'

 

Kannamma accepted it gratefully and said again `Mother! My mother

has not had anything to eat for the past one week. If I can get her

also a piece of bread we will be grateful.' The old lady was kind.

She offered her one more piece of bread.

 

Kannamma was returning happily. On the way, she saw a dog looking

for food. She thought `what a pity! The dog, unlike me, does not

know how to beg from people. It only looks at people for food'.

 

Thinking thus, she lovingly offered to it one piece of bread out of

compassion. The dog ate it and went away. She returned home and told

her mother everything. Her mother was happy. She said, `You did the

right thing. We can beg at several places. But what can dumb animals

do? Let us share the remaining piece of bread.'

 

They were about to eat when they heard a voice at the door, `Mother,

I am dying of hunger. Please give me something.' They looked at each

other.

 

Mother said, `My dear daughter, this man seems very hungry. Give

away my share.' Kannamma felt that the hunger could not be appeased

with just half a piece of bread and so, she gave away her share as

well. The beggar went away satisfied.

 

Their hunger was unbearable. After sometime both of them swooned.

 

Mother had a dream in which the Lord appeared and said `Kamala! Even

though you and your daughter were in dire straits due to hunger,

both of you gladly gave away whatever you had to the hungry dog and

destitute beggar. It was I who appeared in these forms to test you.

I am pleased with your concern for others. May you get enough wealth

and live happily.'

 

When Kamala opened her eyes, she beheld a miracle. By the grace of

God, her hut had turned into a mansion filled with heaps of grain

and garments. They fed the whole village sumptuously. Their

meritorious act brought rain to the village. The famine disappeared

and there was abundance everywhere.

 

In this regard, we may recall Swami Vivekananda's utterings:

* " This life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but

they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than

alive. "

* " In this world always take the position of the giver. Give

everything and look for no return. Give love, give help, give

service, give any little thing you can, but keep out barter. "