AMMA SAYS - STORIES & JOKES

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OM AMRITESWARYAI NAMAH

 

AMMA SAYS - STORY

 

Pure Devotion

 

In a village there were two couples that had each been married for

10 years. Neither couple had any children. One couple felt so sad

about this that they started praying to God. They prayed every day

for a child. Then one night the husband had a dream. A divine being

appeared to him and asked, "If you are given a child, will you feel

satisfied?" He replied,"Without a child, I will never be happy. If

only I had a child, I would always be contented." The divine being

blessed him and disappeared. Soon after, his wife became pregnant.

They both were overjoyed. But their happiness didn't last long, for

they worried about their unborn child. Their constant thoughts

were, "Will the baby's limbs and organs be intact? Will our child be

healthy? Will he or she be handsome?" Earlier they had prayed to God

out of their desire to have a child, but now they didn't have a

spare moment to think of God. Their thoughts were only on the child

about to be born. They didn't experience a moment of peace.

 

The baby arrived. It was a healthy boy and the parents were very

happy. They began saving money for their son's education. As the boy

grew older he started school. Each morning, when the boy set off for

school, the parents would worry about him. Would anyone hurt him?

What if he fell somewhere? They couldn't relax until their son

returned home. As the child grew up, he became obstinate and

mischievous. He refused to obey his parents and paid no attention to

his lessons. Now the mother's and father's only concerns were for

their son's future. But as the boy grew older, his bad habits

intensified. Everyone complained about his behaviour. When the boy

reached college, he started drinking. He was constantly pestering

his parents for money. This became a daily habit. He didn't hesitate

to verbally abuse and even beat them. The parents now feared the

time reach day when he returned home. The son sold his parents'

belongings, one by one. One day when they refused to give him any

money, he threatened them with a knife. Fearing for their lives,

they borrowed money for everything he wanted, as all they had owned

was now lost. When they were unable to pay their debts, the local

people turned against them and stopped lending them any money.

 

Finally, when his parents were no longer of any use to him, he left

them and they never saw him again. They had lived only for their

son, and now he was gone; their neighbours hated them and they had

lost everything. They could only weep. There was nothing but despair

left in their lives.

 

If it is only worldly happiness we want, we should also be prepared

to bear the sorrows that come with it.

 

The other couple had also prayed to God, but not for a child. They

prayed for God alone. Their devotion was based on true love for God.

The fact that they didn't have a child never bothered them. Their

prayer was: "We have no children. Therefore, God, make us look upon

everyone as Your child!" "We will have children if it is God's

will. Why worry about it?

 

Devotion for God is what we should pray for." That was this couple's

attitude. They had a real understanding of spirituality. They were

aware of that which is eternal and of the purpose of life. They

chanted their mantras constantly, and during their spare time they

joyfully recounted stories about God and sang devotional songs with

their friends and family. Each day they prayed that they would be

able to love and serve everyone. They also gave a portion of their

income to the poor. God was pleased with their selfless devotion.

And even though they didn't pray for it, they were blessed with a

son. Their devotion continued unabated after the child was born.

Although grateful and happy, they didn't feel excessive joy at the

birth of their son. They continued to lead a life that was dedicated

to God. They told their son spiritual stories and taught him to pray

and sing devotional songs at a young age. Consequently, the boy

became good-natured and was dear to everyone. The parents were very

loving towards their child but weren't excessively attached to him.

They held fast to God. As they approached old age, they didn't

expect companionship from anyone. God was the centre of their lives.

But many people came to the couple and served them with reverence

and love, for they were attracted to the couple's innocent devotion

and their selfless love for all.

 

Because of their selflessness, they enjoyed a happy life. They were

joyful both before and after the birth of their child. And because

they prayed, "God, make us see everyone as Your child." they were

given much more than a son; they were given many people who loved

them and served them.

 

Both couples had bhakthi [devotion], but one couple's devotion was

Kamya Bhakti [devotion driven by desire], while the other couple's

bhakti was unmotivated devotion - love for love's sake alone.

 

To the first couple, their son was everything. They thought he would

be with them forever. To them, God was no more than a tool to fulfil

their desires. As soon as they got what they wanted, they forgot

about God. And when their son left them, they were overcome with

despair.

 

But the second couple understood that only God is true and eternal

in this illusory world. They knew that no one loves anyone above his

or her own happiness. They also knew that neither a child, a spouse,

wealth, nor anything else would come with them at the time of death.

Therefore, their only goal was to realize the Self, which alone is

everlasting. And they lived in tune with that goal. Their devotion

was rooted in tattva [the true spiritual principle]. They did not

grieve if anyone turned against them. They loved even those who

resented them. Because they had surrendered their lives to God, they

were happy.

::

AMMA SHARANAM