Story on Discipleship

[Guest guest]

Jai Shiva to All,

 

Here is a story that comes from a monastic tradition but applies to

all; not only monks, but nuns, devotees, every disciple of a revered

teacher.

 

I hope you find it as inspiring as I have.

 

With Love,

Kumari

 

 

Story on Discipleship

 

It happened once that in an eastern monastery, the brethren had become

troubled in mind. And, it came to pass one evening after vespers,

that several of the brothers came together to approach their adored

abbot and spiritual teacher, for clarity and relief from a darkness

that was troubling their minds and adversely affecting their spiritual

practice.

 

One monk stood forward speaking for all and said: "Revered Sir, we

have served both God and yourself for many years. In fact, we have

grown old in our devoted service."

 

The Abbot replied: "My child, this is true indeed beyond a doubt."

 

The brother continued: "And yet, we see, daily, that you lavish your

affection and time upon a young novice who only recently renounced the

world of illusion and whom you've assigned the beginner task of a

scribe, merely copying the scriptures. This boy has not perfected

himself in prayer and contemplation nor has he spent years in severe

austerities as we have. Yet it seems that you are always with him

speaking and teaching, while we rarely see you except on formal

occasions."

 

The Abbot replied: "I see now what is troubling you. Let us go to

his cell where he works. Perhaps through God's grace, we will shed

some light on this matter."

 

So the brethren led by the Abbot made their way through the thickening

dust up the narrow path to this tiny stone cell where the novice lived

and worked.

 

When they arrived at the wooden door of the cell, the Abbott gave a

single knock and almost before the sound had faded into the still

night air, the door had opened and the young monk fell at his beloved

teacher's feet. The Abbot smiled and blessed the boy. Then, beckoning

to the brothers, he said, "let us go and examine his work."

 

The Abbot led the others to the open parchment where the new ink was

glistening on the white page. There he pointed with his finger to the

last unfinished word the young monk had scripted; "My children; see

here. Not only did he not finish the word that he was in the act of

writing, but he did not even wait to complete the circle of the letter

O that he was writing when he heard my knock at the door. It is

devotion and one pointed dedication like this which calls forth all of

my love and simply forces me to reveal all the spiritual love and

wisdom that God has seen fit to bless me with."

 

And, so, with clarity and peace of mind restored, the elderly monks

departed beneath the bright Mediterranean moonlight, each winding his

way back to his small hut or cell, there to spend the remainder of the

night praising God for the wondrous lesson they had received, and in

prayer and contemplation.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/3/05 1:16:02 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time, ds.james (AT) comcast (DOT) net writes:

Jai Shiva to All,Here is a story that comes from a monastic tradition

but applies toall; not only monks, but nuns, devotees, every disciple

of a reveredteacher.I hope you find it as inspiring as I have.With

Love,Kumari

Namaste Kumari,

Very inspiring.

Om Namah Sivaya

Kanda