Amma Story: Wilted Flower

[Guest guest]

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