The Monk's Vision

[Guest guest]

My acknowledgement and thanks to Lawrence Le Shan, More Sower's

Seeds

 

=======================================

An old monk prayed many years for a vision from God to strengthen

his faith, but it never came. He had almost given up hope when, one

day, a vision appeared. The old monk was overjoyed. But then, right

in the middle of the vision, the monastery bell rang. The ringing of

the bell meant it was time to feed the poor who gathered daily at

the monastery gate. And it was the old monk's turn to feed them. If

he failed to show up with food, the poor people would leave quietly,

thinking the monastery had nothing to give them that day.

 

The old monk was torn between his earthly duty and his heavenly

vision. However, before the bell stopped tolling, the monk had made

his decision. With a heavy heart, he turned his back on the vision

and went off to feed the poor. Nearly an hour later, the old monk

returned to his room. When he opened the door, he could hardly

believe his eyes. There in the room was the vision, waiting for him.

As the monk dropped to is kness in thanksgiving, the vision said to

him, "My son, had you not gone off to feed the poor, I would not

have stayed."

 

The best way to serve God is to reach out in service to our brothers

and sisters, especially those less gifted than ourselves.

[Guest guest]

That's really beautiful.

 

Karma yoga is the highest practice. Some, like Mother Theresa, serve

the poor and dying, devoting themselves to the physical care of

others. Some serve through passing on their spiritual attainment to

others, lifting up the devotees, purifying, testing, loving, mostly

alone and in secret.

These are appreciated fully only by those few who are able to grasp

tightly the glowing embers of their feet, and withstand, even learn to

bask in, the fire of their tapas.

 

May I be such a one...

 

Chris

 

 

, "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote:

>

> My acknowledgement and thanks to Lawrence Le Shan, More Sower's

> Seeds

>

> =======================================

> An old monk prayed many years for a vision from God to strengthen

> his faith, but it never came. He had almost given up hope when, one

> day, a vision appeared. The old monk was overjoyed. But then, right

> in the middle of the vision, the monastery bell rang. The ringing of

> the bell meant it was time to feed the poor who gathered daily at

> the monastery gate. And it was the old monk's turn to feed them. If

> he failed to show up with food, the poor people would leave quietly,

> thinking the monastery had nothing to give them that day.

>

> The old monk was torn between his earthly duty and his heavenly

> vision. However, before the bell stopped tolling, the monk had made

> his decision. With a heavy heart, he turned his back on the vision

> and went off to feed the poor. Nearly an hour later, the old monk

> returned to his room. When he opened the door, he could hardly

> believe his eyes. There in the room was the vision, waiting for him.

> As the monk dropped to is kness in thanksgiving, the vision said to

> him, "My son, had you not gone off to feed the poor, I would not

> have stayed."

>

> The best way to serve God is to reach out in service to our brothers

> and sisters, especially those less gifted than ourselves.