Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Namah Shivaya Georgeson-ji and all, This story reminds me of something that happened with Amma many years ago. Please forgive me if I have posted this story here before. My husband and I were living in an apartment in San Francisco. We decided that we wanted to grow some flowers for our puja, so we planted a daisy bush in the back yard. Later, Mother was holding Darshan at a church in San Francisco, so I picked some daisies to give Her as an offering. By the time I went up for darshan the daisies were pretty sorry looking, totally wilted. I sheepishly handed them to Mother, and She acted as if I had given Her the most precious thing in the world. She admired them and seemed overjoyed to have them. A few days later I decided to donate some of my gold jewelry so it could be sold to support the orphanage - I think it was one of Mother's earlier charitable projects. With great ego I picked out the pieces to give - really things I hadn't worn in a long time. And with great pride I handed them to her in a baggie - of coarse She could see through the baggie and see the wonderful jewels I was handing Her. She took the baggie in rather a dismissive way and then gave me a blissful hug. I later realized the lesson in this. We had loved and tended the daisy bush as an offering. We watered it, shaped it, lovingly picked the flowers. I gave Her the jewelry filled with pride at my own (imagined) generosity and (imagined) sacrifice. She knew exactly where I was coming from, even though I didn't t the time. She would rather have wilted flowers lovingly given, than a baggie of old gold jewelry given with pride. Jai Ma! Prasadini GeorgeSon wrote: > DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS: > > The story below was found on a spiritual web > site. > > I cannot verify that it is accurate > on a word for word basis. However > I heard Amma tell this story at a San > Ramon Retreat. IMHO the account below > is extremely similar to the words I > heard translated from Her > nectarean lips at the Retreat. > > In Service: > > GEORGESON > > THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER by Sri > Mata Amritanandamayi Devi > > One day, an exasperated man fled from > a busy city and a hurried life to a > secluded wood to get away for a while. > > He was upset that his job interview > at an esteemed institution went horribly. > He plunked down on the soft earth > underneath the branches of a tree by > the river, and let out a huge sigh > of relief. His frustrated mind > distracted him from enjoying > the soft whispers of the > river, the cool breeze and gentle > sunlight coming through the trees. > > Finally, alone at last,” he remarked. > "I cannot believe how badly that > job interview went! With this sort > of luck, how am I going to survive? > This is the worst day of my life! > > And, as if to further ruin the day, > he spotted a small boy coming straight > his way. He grimaced in disdain. He > succeeded in avoiding eye contact, but > couldn’t help noticing that the frail > boy wearing tinted sun-glasses was > making a bee-line for him. In one > hand he held a small cane, and in > the other he clutched a flower. > The small boy drew nearer and > nearer, and finally cornered the > man who slouched against the tree > and frowned. He tried to dodge > the boy’s eyes and pretended as > though he was looking at the river. > But it was too late. > > “Oh great!” remarked the man, > trying to hide from the > approaching boy. > > “Look at what I found!”exclaimed > the boy. “Don’t you think it is > the most beautiful flower you > have ever seen?” > > “What a pitiful sight!” thought > the man, but to avoid further > conversation, the man answered > back, “Yes, sonny, that is a nice > flower indeed,”and gave an artificial > smile to the boy, cueing him > to leave. > > But instead of retreating, the boy > reached his pale hand towards the > man’s face and said, “You have to > smell it too! Isn’t it fragrant?” > > The man knew that the wilted flower > was devoid of fragrance, but in > order to satisfy the young boy, > he leaned forward, closed his > eyes, placed his nose on the flower, > and breathed deeply. “MMM. That > is such a special flower indeed! > What a nice smell,” exclaimed > the man to the boy, even though > he did not smell a thing. > > The boy said, “Gee Mister, you > really think so? Well this > flower is extra special, because > this flower is a special gift to you! > Don’t be sad, this flower will cheer you up!” > > As the man embraced the boy, he noticed > the distant eyes behind the tinted > glasses. He realized that the small, > frail boy was blind and could not see. > This shocked him, and made him wonder > why the boy was instantly friendly > towards him. He slowly understood > that the boy must have sensed the > sadness in his voice. And in an > effort to cheer him up, the boy > presented him with the flower, > beautified with his creative > imagination. He was deeply > touched by the young boy, who > instead of dwelling on his > physical limitations, showered > so much love and concern for > a complete stranger like > himself. > > “Thank you,” the man’s voice > quivered and tears rolled down his > cheeks, “for picking the most beautiful > flower in the world for me!” > > And the man sat in the peaceful > wood and cherished the little > flower that made his day full of > love and light. He smiled as he > watched the boy with another weed > in his hand about to change another... > > The young man’s teary face shone > in the sun. “I am dejected and > sad just because I failed a job > interview. That boy cannot even > see, yet he is so cheerful and > dedicated to making others happy, > he pondered. “Perhaps from his > heart, he has been blessed with > true sight,”the man thought. > > Amma teaches us a great truth > with this story. Through a small, > wilted flower, the beauty and fragrance > of the boy’s innocent heart brought > joy and happiness to a dejected, > young man. > > Amma gently reminds us that contentment > does not come from material objects > or worldly things. Happiness comes > from serving others. Our hearts must > flow with the selfless love towards > others and become a source of joy > to all like the little boy in this story > > END > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > ------ > > > * Visit your group "Ammachi > <Ammachi>" on the web. > * > Ammachi > <Ammachi?subject=Un> > * Terms of > Service <>. > > > ------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Ammachi, GeorgeSon <leokomor wrote: > from Amma Story : Amma gently reminds us that contentment does not come from material objects or worldly things. Happiness comes from serving others. Our hearts must flow with the selfless love towards others and become a source of joy to all like the little boy in this story. ~~~~~~~~~~~ May Amma Bless all of us with such joy and happiness. Amma's Blessings, amarnath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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