Who is Foolish?

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Who is Foolish? -Translated from a discourse given by Swami Shri LeelaShahji Maharaj

 

Question: How can a householder do spiritual practices and enhance his/her love for God?

Swamiji answering the question narrated a meaningful incidence:

Incidence: " There was a devotee named Gyana Chanda. He used to be

immersed in devotion for God always. He had a routine of practising

meditation, singing devotional songs and worshipping God every morning.

There after he used to go to his shop to work. He used to close his

shop at lunch time in the afternoon and did not open the shop after

that. He used to devote rest of the time in serving the saints, feeding

the poor, listening discourses of saints and in donating whatever he

could for good of others. He used to be satisfied with whatever he

earned from his business and used to devote his life for love of God.

Such behaviour of his used to surprise others and they thought of him

as a lunatic. People used to say:

'He is foolish. He spends all his earned money in donations. He opens

his shop just for a few hours. He wastes the precious morning time

meant for earning money in doing worship. He can earn twice as much if

he keeps the shop open the whole day. He is mad.'

 

Once the richest businessman of the village called him over to his

house. He had made a red colored hat. The rich man gave that hat to

Gyana Chanda and said:

'This hat is for fools. I have not seen a person more foolish than you

so I'm giving this hat to you for wearing. If you find anybody more

stupid than you, then you may give this hat to that person.'

 

Peacefully, Gyana Chanda took that hat and came back home. Once that

rich man became very sick. Gyana Chanda went to meet him and asked

about his health. The rich man said:

 

'Brother! I'm making preparations to go now.'

 

Gyana Chanda asked: 'Where are you planning to go? Did you send

somebody there to make preparations for your arrival or not? Are you

taking your wife, son, money, car, bungalow etc or not?'

 

'Brother! Who can accompany me there? No body can go with me. I will

have to go alone. I'll have to leave my family-relatives, money-bank

balances, bungalows-vehicles here. Nothing can stay together other than

Soul and God (Atman-Parmatman).'

 

After listening to the rich person's words Gyana chanda giving the hat

(which had been given to him by the rich man) to the rich man said:

'You only wear this hat.'

 

The rich person: 'Why?' Gyana Chanda: 'You are more foolish than me.

When you knew that every thing -bungalows, bank balances, family etc

will stay here, none of your friends will accompany you, there is no

true hope other than God, then why did you waste whole of your life in

acquiring only these things?

When one is rich and powerful then everybody flocks around for selfish

reasons. But nobody comes to help at times of trouble. Even after

knowing all this you developed attachment for things which will not

stay forever, stayed away from God and did not collect anything for

your future. Therefore in these circumstances who is more foolish than

you?

Now you cannot do anything. You yourself are observing that none of your loved ones is coming for help.'

 

Are they not the king of all fools who know the truth and still remain

entangled in the material world and stay away from God? While keeping

attachment towards worldly objects and relations, if time would have

been devoted towards remembering God, repeating the name of God,

meditation, staying in the company of the great saints and donating for

good, then there would have been no reason for repenting and feeling

sad. "

 

-- With Love,Ganesh BabaMy Group: Kriyababa_spiritualjourney- (Send a blank email)

Web: http://kriyababa.blogspot.com/