The greatest sacrifice. A story by Swami

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Light and Love

 

Buddha used to keep with him always a rattle-drum. His disciples once asked

him: "Master!

Why are you always keeping this rattle-drum by your side?" Buddha replied:

"I shall play on thisdrum the day a person who has made the greatest sacrifice

approaches me." Everyone was eagerto know who this person would be. Wishing to

attain this distinction, a Maharaja loaded his elephants with considerable

treasure and went to Buddha. He hoped to offer the treasure to Buddha and earn

his praise. On the way, an old woman greeted the Maharaja and pleaded: "I am

hungry. Will you give me some food?" The Maharaja took out a pomegranate fruit

from his palanquin and gave it to the old woman. The old woman came to Buddha

with the fruit. By then, the Maharaja had also come to Buddha and was

eagerly waiting to see when Buddha would sound the rattle-drum. For a long time

Buddha did not use it. The Maharaja stayed on. The old woman approached Buddha

staggering on her legs, and offered him the pomegranate fruit. Buddha took it

immediately and sounded the little drum. The Maharaja asked Buddha: "I

offered so much wealth to you. You did not sound the drum. Butyou rattled it

after receiving a small fruit. Is this a great sacrifice. Buddha replied:

"Maharaja! In sacrifice, it is not quantity that counts. It is the quality of

sacrifice that matters. It is natural for a Maharaja to offer gold. But what

great sacrifice is made when a hungry old women offers the pomegranate fruit to

the Guru despite her hunger. She did not care even for her life and gave the

fruit. What greater sacrifice can there be? It is not sacrifice to offer what

is superfluous for you. True sacrifice means giving up that which is most dear

to you, that which you value most."(From Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 21. "True

Sacrifice," Chapter 16).

 

Namaste - Reet