Satya Sai's Chinna Katahlu - I don't belong to any place

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Source: Chinna Katha

http://www.saibaba.ws/stories/storiesparables.htm

 

I don't belong to any place

 

One day in the sacred shrine of lord Viswanath at Kasi, all the

devotees and temple priests were immersed in singing hymns and

reciting chants. All of a sudden, they heard a metallic sound. When

they turned their heads in that direction they saw a shining gold

plate on the floor of the shrine. It must have fallen through an

open space in the center of the hall from the sky leading to the

sanctum sanctorum. All of them gathered round with wonder, while the

chief temple priest went close to examine it. He found some letters

inscribed on it. " This belongs to my dear devotee " . The priest read

the inscription loudly. All the temple priests vied with one another

to snatch the plate with the feeling, " Who could be a greater

devotee than myself. I spend my time, talent and strength only to

offer worship to the Lord Viswanath. " But the plate changed into an

earthen one the moment they touched it one after another. News

spread like wild fire about the golden plate. Several scholars,

singers, poets and preachers came and tried their luck but in vain.

Days, weeks and months rolled on but the plate remained there

without a claimant.

 

One day, a stranger came to the temple. He stood at the entrance and

tears gathered in his eyes when he saw beggars, blind, dumb and lame

pitiously pleading for alms. He felt ashamed of his inability to

relieve them of their hunger and agony. He wanted to pray to the

Lord and so stepped into the temple. He saw people gathered round

and discussing something. He tried to squeeze himself into the crowd

to find out why they were standing there. He saw a golden plate in

the center of that enclosure. He enquired and was told about the

episode of the golden plate. He was rather surprised and sad at the

attitude of the people and the priests. Instead of praying to the

Lord of the Universe and trying to possess Him, they were eager to

possess the golden plate. Observing his non-chalant attitude, the

high priest requested him to try his hand. The stranger replied: " Oh

Revered one! I do not care for either gold or silver, what I long

for is God's Grace. " The priest's esteem for that man increased. So

he once again pressed him, " At least to satisfy us, please try your

hand. " The stranger touched the plate without a trace of attachment.

Lo! It shone forth with redoubled effulgence. All the priests

gathered round and queried: " Sir, where do you come from? What are

your qualifications? What are the branches of learning you have

mastered? How many years did you do penance? " The stranger replied

calmly: " I don't belong to any place. I just manage to earn my bread

by hard labor. The only sadhana I do is Namasmaran [repeating the

name of the Lord]. This has perhaps rendered my heart pure and

filled it with love and compassion. It has enabled me to control my

mind and the senses. I have not read any book or mastered any

science. The only art I know of is chanting the Name Divine. The

only act I do is to be kind to the poor. "

 

So, the only qualification to become dear to the Lord is to acquire

a compassionate heart and sense control. These two can be acquired

through Namasmaran with full faith in the Lord.