Story of the week - Parable of the Vine Yard

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Parable of the Vine Yard

In one village a feud was going on for long between two groups of people for one

reason or another. One resident of that village who had two acres of land was

growing grapes and selling them for his livelihood. He did not belong to either

of these fighting groups. But both the groups opposing each other came to this

individual and they started pressurising him to join their respective party.

So, under compulsion he joined the party which contained a larger number of

evil-minded people. Few months later, this honest fellow was arrested by the

police along with all the other members. As a result there was no one to look

after his grape garden. The vines having no water for weeks shrivelled and

began to wither away. There was no fruit and, therefore, there was no income

and enough food for his wife and children at home.

In the jail, this man used to get one post card every week from his wife. The

rules and regulations of the jail were such that letters received by the

prisoners would not be censured while letters posted by the prisoners would be

censured. Once, his wife wrote to him: "You seem to be well looked after in the

prison but have you thought of our miserable condition? Since you left home our

grape garden is dried up and there is no one to till the land and prepare the

land for the next crop. Nor have I any money to set the land right. Even now,

the children and I are half starved. So, if you suggest some method by which I

can get the dried up land soil tilled, only then I and the children will have

something to eat in the near future at least. Please let me know."

As soon as he read the letter, he felt very sad. But he could hit upon a plan.

He wrote to his wife thus: "Do not worry, I have not ever told you about a

treasure trove, a vessel containing a lot of gold coins which I had put down

below in the rut in our garden. You simply have to dig it up and make use of

the coins". This letter had to be censured and the jail superintendent read it.

He did not post the letter. He got together all the prisoners and told them to

dig up the whole grape garden with a view to find the treasure trove. In a

short time the entire garden was dug up. But they did not find any treasure

trove.

On the third day there was a heavy rain and that year (grapes) yield was very

good. The wife was very happy. She sold the grapes and got plenty of money.

At the end of six months, the husband was released from prison. As soon as he

came home she eagerly questioned: "How did you manage to send so many men to

plough the land?" The wife had not received her husband's letter, so she did

not know about his plan. The husband replied: "Yes, by the grace of God I could

think of a plan and make them believe about the treasure trove. Let us thank

God."

What is the inner meaning of this story? This individual, this cultivator had 2

acres of land. Man has two inches of heart. In our heart there are two groups;

the bad qualities and the good qualities. These two groups are clashing with

each other. In between the Jiva, the householder and owner of the heart, the

first was not seduced by the two parties. But later he was pulled towards one

group. Jiva has a wife - she is Nivrithi and her children Pravirthi. Because

the Jiva joined one group he had to be in jail. That is bondage. However, he

realises that the field of heart had to be cleansed (ploughed) to find the

wisdom - gold. To get that wisdom all the prisoners (those in bondage) have to

dig the field of heart. After the process of digging and cleansing one reaps

the harvest of bliss. So what is it that is essential? Purification of the

field of heart by means of prescribed sadhanas.

— Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Source: Chinna Katha II, 228http://beaskund.helloyou.ws/askbaba/stories/s1035.html