A story about light

[Guest guest]

As we were discussing the offering of light during the puja this

story came to mind.It is a great story to share with family

and friends.

 

THE BUSINESSMAN'S SONS

Once upon a time there was a very wealthy business man

who had 3 sons. He thought, "If I divide my estate into 3 equal

portions, after some time equality will probably not remain.

One of the sons will become successful, another mediocre, and

still the third may find decrease in his wealth."

"Then surely jealousy will arise among the three, one

thinking his brothers got the better share, or the like, and it is

quite possible that after arguing over wealth, the boys will go

their own ways, and the unity of my family will dissolve. Let me

devise an examination by which I can see which is the most

clever of the three sons, and then I will make him the manager

of the entire estate on behalf of the family."

Reasoning thusly, he called his three young sons together

and said, "Boys, I am giving to each of you one dollar. I want you

to go to the market and purchase enough goods to fill up your

rooms from floor to the ceiling and out to the four walls. For one

dollar purchase whatever you like with which to fill your room."

Each taking his dollar, the three boys ran off in the direction

of the market.

That evening father came home, and immediately went to the

eldest son's room. "Well, what did you purchase?" he inquired.

"Father," replied the oldest son. "On the way to the market I

found a gardener with a truck full of grass. For one dollar he

brought the entire load here, and you see, I have filled my room

from the floor to the ceiling and out to the four walls with grass."

Opening the door to his room, father peered in to see that

the room was indeed f illed with grass. He thought for a moment,

and then said, "Perhaps we can get a goat or a cow to come

and eat all of that grass. I will reserve my decision until I see

what the other boys have brought."

He moved over towards the second son's room. "What did

you purchase?" he asked.

"Father," came the eager reply. "I went into the market place

and negotiated with the cotton seller and after an intense

negotiation I succeeded in purchasing an entire room full of

cotton. You see, Father, "he said opening up the door to his

room. "I have filled my room from floor to the ceiling and out to

the four walls with cotton."

Father thought for a moment and then said,

"We'll be able to make some pillows and new comforters, quilts

and mattresses. But let me reserve my decision until I see what

your other brother has brought."

So saying, he moved off to the youngest son's room."What

have you brought?" he asked.

"Father, " called the youngest son."Here is ninety cents, your

change, he said offering a fistful of coins to the amazement of

his elder.

Father looked at the shining coins in the palm of this hand

and again requested "How did you spend the money? What did

you buy?"

"Father," replied the youngest."I gave five cents for a small

clay bowl, two cents for a piece of string, and another three cents

for a little oil, and see, Father! I made a lamp, and filled my room

from the floor to the ceiling and out to the four walls with LIGHT!"

Opening up the door to the room, Father saw that his room

was most certainly filled with light, and with the greatest of joy

he hugged his youngest son and proclaimed him the w inner.

"Where there is light, there is wisdom as well. And with that

wisdom you will manage the wealth of the family."

And now each of us must decide what our Father will find

when he comes for our examination? What did we do with God's

"dollar?" Do we fill the room of our minds with the things of the

world, or do we maintain the light of wisdom burning brightly on

the altar of divine inspiration?

[Guest guest]

hm, good question, parv. something to ask every day. if wind blows

out our candle, or it flutters, we can relight it again and again.

 

steve

 

, "parvati_saraswati108"

<parvati_saraswati108> wrote:

> As we were discussing the offering of light during the puja this

> story came to mind.It is a great story to share with family

> and friends.

>

> THE BUSINESSMAN'S SONS

> Once upon a time there was a very wealthy business man

> who had 3 sons. He thought, "If I divide my estate into 3 equal

> portions, after some time equality will probably not remain.

> One of the sons will become successful, another mediocre, and

> still the third may find decrease in his wealth."

> "Then surely jealousy will arise among the three, one

> thinking his brothers got the better share, or the like, and it is

> quite possible that after arguing over wealth, the boys will go

> their own ways, and the unity of my family will dissolve. Let me

> devise an examination by which I can see which is the most

> clever of the three sons, and then I will make him the manager

> of the entire estate on behalf of the family."

> Reasoning thusly, he called his three young sons together

> and said, "Boys, I am giving to each of you one dollar. I want you

> to go to the market and purchase enough goods to fill up your

> rooms from floor to the ceiling and out to the four walls. For one

> dollar purchase whatever you like with which to fill your room."

> Each taking his dollar, the three boys ran off in the direction

> of the market.

> That evening father came home, and immediately went to the

> eldest son's room. "Well, what did you purchase?" he inquired.

> "Father," replied the oldest son. "On the way to the market

I

> found a gardener with a truck full of grass. For one dollar he

> brought the entire load here, and you see, I have filled my room

> from the floor to the ceiling and out to the four walls with grass."

> Opening the door to his room, father peered in to see that

> the room was indeed f illed with grass. He thought for a moment,

> and then said, "Perhaps we can get a goat or a cow to come

> and eat all of that grass. I will reserve my decision until I see

> what the other boys have brought."

> He moved over towards the second son's room. "What did

> you purchase?" he asked.

> "Father," came the eager reply. "I went into the market

place

> and negotiated with the cotton seller and after an intense

> negotiation I succeeded in purchasing an entire room full of

> cotton. You see, Father, "he said opening up the door to his

> room. "I have filled my room from floor to the ceiling and out to

> the four walls with cotton."

> Father thought for a moment and then said,

> "We'll be able to make some pillows and new comforters, quilts

> and mattresses. But let me reserve my decision until I see what

> your other brother has brought."

> So saying, he moved off to the youngest son's room."What

> have you brought?" he asked.

> "Father, " called the youngest son."Here is ninety cents,

your

> change, he said offering a fistful of coins to the amazement of

> his elder.

> Father looked at the shining coins in the palm of this hand

> and again requested "How did you spend the money? What did

> you buy?"

> "Father," replied the youngest."I gave five cents for a small

> clay bowl, two cents for a piece of string, and another three cents

> for a little oil, and see, Father! I made a lamp, and filled my

room

> from the floor to the ceiling and out to the four walls with LIGHT!"

> Opening up the door to the room, Father saw that his room

> was most certainly filled with light, and with the greatest of

joy

> he hugged his youngest son and proclaimed him the w inner.

> "Where there is light, there is wisdom as well. And with that

> wisdom you will manage the wealth of the family."

> And now each of us must decide what our Father will find

> when he comes for our examination? What did we do with God's

> "dollar?" Do we fill the room of our minds with the things of the

> world, or do we maintain the light of wisdom burning brightly on

> the altar of divine inspiration?