The rent collector

Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahmin who lived by taking alms from people. Though he was unable to find a profitable occupation for himself, he lived a life of self-discipline and integrity. He woke up before the sun did each day and had the food that he got only after a bath and after giving the first handful to the crows.

He would wait patiently for the crows to come and have the first peck at the grains before he ate the food. His simple nature and humble ways made him likeable and the villagers were eager to offer him whatever he asked for.

The Brahmin was neither too happy when he got tasty food, nor was he too sad when he did not get any. He took whatever was given to him with prayers on his lips and contentment in his heart. Before food he would visit the nearby temple to offer his prayers to God and gave away whatever was excess with him to people who were poorer than him.

One day a few tourists visited the village and decided to chat up with a few people.They came to know about the poor Brahmin and the life that he led.

Upon hearing about his life, the tourists were very critical and felt that he should try and get himself a work that would give him more money. They decided to meet the Brahmin and talk him into doing something better. Feeding crows every day from food got through alms is no charity, they argued.

They tried telling him that what he distributed by earning for himself is real philanthropy. All that the Brahmin did was to listen to them patiently. After a while the Brahmin started speaking. He decided to ask a few questions and the visitors began answering his questions.

The Brahmin wanted to know if they made rice flakes at home and what they do when they dry the flakes. The crowd laughed and said that they would spread it on the terrace of the house and allow it to dry. The Brahmin asked how many of them would keep watch over the drying food with a stick in their hands and all of them replied that they all would do it to shoo away the crows. 

The Brahmin smiled and told them that the terrace and the open space belonged to the crows. While using the space we shoo them away. So all that he was doing was collecting rent on behalf of the crows and other birds in the form of alms. 

"Therefore", he continued, "I fed the crows with what rightfully belonged to them!"

Bhargava and the scorpion

 Once upon a time, along the banks of the Sarayu River, there was an ashram where the great guru Yogananda lived. He had many disciples living with him and learning various skills from the renowned guru.

Among the disciples there was a rather different boy by the name Bhargava. He always listened intently to the guru’s words and was a very obedient student. One evening as the guru was strolling by the banks of the rivier. Just then a huge storm hit the village and the water was lashing with all its fury. The guru was about to trace his steps back to the ashram when he saw Bhargava squatting on the banks of the river trying to pull something out of the water.  Curious to know what it was, the guru went close to Bhargava, only to find that he was trying to save a scorpion from the furious current of the water. As soon as Bhargava took the tiny little creature out, it stung him and ran away.

The boy gave out a scream and fainted. Luckily the guru who was near him took him to the ashram and treated him with herbs and medicine. Very soon Bhargava was fine and sat up bright.

The Guru called all his disciples and narrated the story to his students. He then asked them if Bhargava was right in saving the scorpion. Some of them said yes and some said no.

The guru turned around to Bhargava and asked him the same question. But this time he framed it differently. He asked Bhargava what he would do if he ever saw a scorpion struggling in water again.

Bhargava, without any hesitation said that he would once again save the scorpion. There was an audible gasp from the rest of his ashram mates. They could not believe what they had heard. Some of them shouted at him while the others said he would be called a mad man if ever he did it again.

The guru gestured his students to remain silent. He then looked at Bhargava and asked him to explain why he would do it. Bhargava said that it was his innate nature to help people or animals that are in trouble. But, said the guru, the scorpion did not realise that you have helped him. Bhargava looked earnestly at his guru and said, “Guruji, it is the innate nature of the scorpion to sting. I cannot change my nature and therefore cannot expect the scorpion to change his nature too!”

While it is difficult to change ourselves, it is impossible for us to change others.

Trust is God

  Once there a lived a little boy who lived in a village called Gopalpur. Kittu was the only child to his parents and therefore they decided to educate him with all their might. Though his parents were poor farmers they believed that God will give them enough to educate their son. Kittu went to a nearby school.

The nearest school itself was about seven kilometres from their house. Kittu had to partly cover the distance through a forest. Many days his father used to press his legs in the night as he went to sleep. One day as his father was pressing his legs, Kittu told his father that he did not want to go to school as he was afraid was crossing the forest path alone.

His father thought for some time and then told Kittu that he was not alone and his elder brother Gopala is watching over him. All Kittu had to do, was keep chanting the name of Gopala and cross the forest path.

From the next day Kittu did exactly as his father had told him. After a few days Kittu began to wonder if there was an elder brother and if there was one he wished to see him in person. So the next day as he was chanting he started talking to Gopala and asked him a lot of questions. If Gopala did accompany him to school as his father had promised he would answer the questions that Kittu asked. Kittu began by asking Gopala where he lived. Instantly he heard a reply, “In the forest, of course!”

On hearing these words Kittu’s happiness knew no bounds. He would ask a lot of questions and Gopala would keep answering them. One day Kittu wanted to see Gopala in person and Gopala readily obliged. From that day onwards Kittu and Gopala would cross the forest asking questions and answering them. Once the forest ended Gopala would go back to his house and Kittu would go to school.

After a few months Kittu’s father asked him if he was scared of the forest any longer and Kittu told him that as long as Gopala was there he was not scared. Kittu’s father then gently told him that now that he was out of his fears he need not keep chanting Gopala’s name. His father explained to him that it was to expel his fears that he had told him about Gopala. 

Kittu laughed at his father and told him that Gopala was a real person who walks him till the edge of the forest every day. Kittu’s father was worried.

He wished to see Gopala in person if he did exist. So the next day Kittu promised to bring Gopala home and introduce him to his father. The next day Kittu explained his position to Gopala who initially refused to go. But Kittu began to cry. Gopala explained to Kittu that he was only visible to people who had absolute trust in him. But Kittu was insistent.

Finally Gopala agreed to go but on one condition. Kittu was not to look back and had to keep going ahead and Gopala would follow him. Kittu agreed and the two began to walk. As they reached the village Kittu saw a few curious villagers who were standing along with his father. On seeing them Kittu became very nervous. He turned his head slightly to look if Gopala was following him. He did not want to make a fool of himself in front of the crowd.

At the same time the villagers reached the spot. But alas, Kittu had broken the promise he had made. All that he and the villagers saw was the statue of Gopala.

Kittu realised that God was with him all these days and his faith made him see God. One moment’s mistrust had turned him into a statue.

From that day on wards Kittu worshiped the statue of Gopala with utmost devotion and trust.

Old habits die hard!

In the village of Ramnagara, there lived two women who used to travel together to the market at the same time every day.Tara was the woman who sold flowers and Maya sold fish in the market. After they finished selling their goods the two women walked back home discussing the day’s happenings with each other. They would then take a nap under the tree and then walk back home.

Tara often took pity on Maya because even the 15 minute nap everyday would be a trouble for her with the stink of the fish lingering from the fish basket. She would ask Maya to replace the basket while she slept but Maya would dismiss it with a smile.

But this thought made Tara uncomfortable and she decided that she had to help her friend. She knew her friend would not listen to her and therefore decided to help her without her knowledge.

Every night she started exchanging her fish basket with a new basket. Before dawn she would replace the fish basket again. This went on for some time and Tara was very happy with herself. But ironically Maya’s condition did not become better. She started looking very tired and pale. Dark circles became apparent under her eyes and often her eyes were swollen.

Tara wondered what was wrong with Maya and one day asked what the matter was. Tara did not know what to say. She just told her friend that she could not sleep well and that was affecting her. Tara was curious to know more. She asked her if there was any problem. Maya told her that she felt a bit strange and her sleep was getting disturbed too often and that she herself did not know what the problem was.

As fresh thoughts about her friend’s condition started plaguing her mind, Tara forgot to replace the baskets for a few a days. In the meantime Maya started sleeping well and the few days that the baskets were not exchanged, Maya was herself once again and she thanked Tara for patiently listening to her. Tara now understood the reason for Maya’s sleeplessness and felt very guilty. She instantly understood that people grow used to their situations and derive a sense of security when they are in their comfort zone.

She felt stupid because though she had thought of helping her friend, she had actually caused her trouble. Tara learnt two important lessons that day. Accepting people as they are without trying to change them is the essence of friendship! Trying to help people based on your judgement of their situation can be counterproductive!

Winning arguments is not real victory

This story happens to be the best that I have heard so far. I have heard my father narrate this story when I was a kid, and then when my children were kids!

Once upon a time there was a sparrow. The sparrow was pecking through dirt when he suddenly hit upon a gold coin. He was very thrilled and went straight to the king with the coin. For the little sparrow the gold coin was a huge wealth and he thought he had become richer than the king!

"I have a gold coin, do you have one?"

He went to the court room where the king was seated on his throne. He called out to the king and when the king looked at him, he went on chanting with a dance, “I have a gold coin, do you have one?” The King was silent for a few minutes, but soon he got angered and ordered the guards to snatch the gold coin from the sparrow.

Instantly the guards caught hold of the bird and took the gold coin from the beak of the dancing bird. The bird was silent for some time and then again started dancing, this time chanting, “The King does not have a gold coin so he snatched the one from my beak!” Now the king was really angry and screamed at the guards to throw the coin back at the bird. Obeying the kings’ orders, the guards threw the gold coin back at the bird.

The King almost heaved a sigh of relief, when the bird started dancing again. This time he paused and ensured that all eyes in the king’s court were on him. Once he had the court’s attention on him, he started mocking the king saying, “The king is so scared of me that he gave the coin back to me.”

The bird was so elated with his own wit and went on dancing and making fun of the king. The king could contain himself no longer. As he rose from his throne in rage, one of his ministers, who had beaten the odds of life through his wisdom, walked up to the king.He whispered something gently into the king’s ears. After the minister took his seat, the king clapped and told all his men to clap for the lovely bird for entertaining the court. The King then aptly rewarded the bird with another gold coin. His ego badly bruised, the bird left the court without another word. 

When the court met all of them were curious to know what the minister had told the king. Soon, the King addressed the court. He thanked the old minister for his timely advice. The minister had told the King that winning arguments was not real victory!

Winning arguments is not real victory!