BEING TRULY RICH

[Guest guest]

Once a sanyasi (ascetic) came to rest under a tree near a village. He

started to contemplate on the glory of God revealed in the nature

around him and God's peace within himself when suddenly a man from

the village ran up to him and began to plead with him in a frantic

way: " Give me the stone, give me the stone! " The man was very excited

and his voice trembled as he spoke. The sanyasi did not lose his calm

demeanour and somewhat bemused asked him, " What stone? "

 

" Swami, I have been worshipping Lord Shiva all my life. I look to Him

for all my joy in life and I regularly offer some of my earnings to

feed the poor in His name. Last night Lord Shiva came in my dream

saying He wanted to reward me for my devotion. He said that a sanyasi

would come near the village who possessed a stone that would make me

rich beyond measure for all my life. Sir, I am a man of moderate

income with a large family and so I am asking you for this stone

which will solve all our material worries. "

 

The sanyasi searched his bag and took out a large diamond with a big

smile on his face. " Oh, you must mean this stone. It seems Lord Shiva

wishes to give you riches beyond all worldly dreams. I found this in

the forest yesterday and felt that God may have a secret purpose in a

humble sanyasi finding it - as obviously I am beyond any material

attraction for it. So I have been waiting to discern His will and now

you have come along! My boy, I am so happy you have come and now I

can hand it over to you. Go and make your life prosperous and give

joy to all those who you will help with your wealth! "

 

So saying, the sanyasi blessed him and beckoned him to leave without

more ado. The man was moved beyond all measure and bowing low to the

holy monk turned away with his mind racing. `What am I to do with the

diamond?' `How can I sell it?' `Would anyone try and rob me?' `How

can I please Lord Shiva with the money?' `How could the monk give

away the diamond so easily?' All these thoughts were bothering him

for the rest of the day.

 

He hid the diamond in his belt without telling his wife or family and

spent the night without a wink of sleep. The image of the calm and

serene sanyasi returned to his mind again and again and he resolved

to visit him the next morning as a balm for his fevered mind.

 

So, early in the morning, feeling exhilarated but also confused at

the gift he had received he approached the sanyasi and after touching

his feet said,

 

" Oh revered master, I have not slept all night worrying about the

wealth that the Lord has bestowed upon me. After being given this

huge diamond I have become very anxious. "

 

After a pause to take a deep breath, he continued with his voice

soaked in emotion, " Please sir, what I really want is to have the

love and detachment that makes it possible for you to give this stone

away. Then I will be truly rich! "

 

The sanyasi smiled and seemed to pass into ecstasy. He was feeling

supreme joy at the man having passed the test that the Lord had given

him.

 

" My son, you have earned the grace of Lord Shiva. Henceforth God

Himself will foster you and bestow His grace upon you. You will

always feel His divine presence and will rejoice in His love and

protection. "

 

With that the sanyasi disappeared and in his place was the radiant

form of Lord Shiva, raising His hand in blessing.

 

The man was stunned. In the last few hours he had been through a

tremendous divine test and now he was blessed with the Darshan of the

living Lord. What could be more precious than this? He marvelled at

the ways of God and how he blesses the devotees which He is pleased

with. " Is there no end to His mercy and compassion? " he wondered.

 

On his return home he arranged to sell the diamond and organised all

the money in a trust for charitable projects, run by trusted staff.

The man would spend all day in devotion to Lord Shiva and take great

joy in serving Him in the poor who came to receive the various

services from the trust. He knew that it was all God's mysterious

plan – he was simply the Lord's humble instrument.

 

Adapted From East And West, May 2007

Illustrations: Sai Krishna, SSSU

 

- Heart2Heart Team

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan

rgcjp