THE POWER OF GRATITUDE

This is a story of Narada, the great Indian mystic, who is going to see God. Playing on his veena*, he passes a forest, and comes across a very old sage sitting under a tree.

The old sage says to Narada, “You are going to God, please ask one question from me. I have been making all kinds of efforts for three lives, now how much more is needed? How much longer do I have to wait? When is my liberation going to happen? You just ask him!”

Narada laughed and said, “Okay.”

As he progressed, just by the side, under another tree, a young man was dancing with his lute, singing, dancing – very young, maybe only thirty. Jokingly, Narada asked the young man, “Would you also like any question to be asked of God – I am going. The old man, your neighbour, has asked.”

The young man did not reply. He continued his dance – as if he had not listened at all, as if he was not there at all.

After a few days, Narada came back. He told the old man, “I asked God. He said three lives more.”

The old man was doing recitations on his beads. He threw the beads. He was in a rage. He threw the scriptures that he was keeping with him, and he said, “This is absolutely unjust! Three lives more?!”

Narada moved to the young man who was again dancing, and he said, “Although you had not answered, and you had not asked, just by the way, I asked God about you too. But now I am afraid whether to tell it to you or not. Seeing the rage of the old man, I am hesitating.”

But the young man did not say anything; he continued to dance. Narada told him: “When I asked, God said, ‘Tell the young man that he will have to be born AS many times as there are leaves on the tree under which he is dancing.'”

And the young man started dancing even more ecstatically, and he said, “So fast?! There are so many trees in the world and so many leaves … only this much? Only these leaves? Only this many lives? I have already attained! When you go next, thank Him.”

And it is said the man became liberated that very moment. That very moment he became liberated! If there is such test, such totality of trust, time is not needed. If there is no trust, then even three lives are not enough. And my feeling is that the old man cannot have become liberated yet. Even three lives won’t do. Such a mind can’t become liberated.

*musical instrument of indian tradition
Source: oshostories.wordpress.com

THE STORY OF THE HOLY SHADOW

There once lived a saint so good that the angels came from heaven to see how a man could be so godly. This saint went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without being aware of it. His day could be summed up by two words – he gave, he forgave – yet these words never passed his lips. They were expressed in his ready smile, his kindness, forbearance, and charity.
The angels said to God, “Lord, grant him the gift of miracles.”

God replied, “Ask what it is that he wishes.”

They said to the saint, “Would you like the touch of your hands to heal the sick?”

“No,” answered the saint. “I would rather God do that.”

“Would you like to convert guilty souls and bring back wandering hearts to the right path?”

“No, that is the angels’ mission. It is not for me to convert.”

“Would you like to become a model of patience, attracting men by the luster of your virtues, and thus glorifying God?”

“No,” replied the saint. “If men should be attracted to me, they would become estranged from God.” “What is it that you desire, then?” asked the angels.

“What can I wish for?” asked the saint smiling. “That God gives me his grace; with that would I not have everything?”

The angels said, “You must ask for a miracle, or one will be forced upon you.”

“Very well,” said the saint. “That I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it.”

The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: every time the saint’s shadow fell behind him or to either side, so that he could not see it, it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow.

When the saint walked along, his shadow, thrown on the ground on either side or behind him, made arid paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried-up brooks, fresh colour to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women.

The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without being aware of it. The people, respecting his humility, followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name and called him “The Holy Shadow.”

Source: kindspring.org