CHINNA KATHA FROM BHAGAVAN’S DISCOURSE. No. 3

[Guest guest]

3 - Feeling behind the act

 

Abdullah was sleeping in a corner of a mosque in Mecca, when he was awakened by

the conversation of two angels above his head. They were preparing a list of the

Blessed and one angel was telling the other that a certain Mahbub of Sikandar

City deserved to be ranked first, even though he has not come on pilgrimage to

the Holy City.

 

Hearing this, Abdullah went to Sikandar City and found out that he was a

cobbler, repairing the shoes of people. He was famished and poor; for, his

earnings barely sufficed to keep flesh and bone together. He had by severe

sacrifice piled up a few coppers during the course of years; one day, he spent

the entire treasure to prepare a special dish which he proposed to place before

his enceinte wife as a surprise gift.

When he was proceeding home with the gift he heard the cry of a starving beggar

who seemed to be in the throes of extreme hunger. Mahbub could not proceed

further; he gave the pot containing the costly delicacy to the man and sat by

his side, enjoying the blossoming of satisfaction on his haggard face.

 

The act gave him a place of honour in the register of the Blessed, a place which

pilgrims to Mecca who had spent millions of Dinars in charity could not secure.

The lord cares for the feeling behind the act, not the fanfare and the fuss.