God Is Forgotten When Self-Interest Reigns
A parrot taught to utter Rama Rama Rama was caught by a cat. However, when the cat dug its teeth into the bird, it forgot to call for Rama Rama Rama; it screeched like any other parrot in great pain. So too, all talk of the unity of mankind, of the immanence of God, and the pervasiveness of the Divine is forgotten when self-interest reigns!
There was a sultan who had a daughter always immersed in the meditation of God. She was so pious and pure that the father was determined to give her in marriage only to a person who was equally busy in spiritual activities and study, and equally determined in spiritual practices. The prince of the neighboring state asked for her hand and pleaded for it so tenaciously that the decision regarding her marriage had to be resolved sooner rather than later.
While searching for a suitable groom, one evening the sultan happened to come across a young fakir [holy man, usually living in poverty], lost in meditation, in a corner of the mosque, his face lit with the glow of inexpressible inward joy. He watched him silently for hours until the saintly man became aware and conscious of his surroundings. The Sultan asked him whether he was married, and when he heard that he was not, he was greatly pleased. He introduced himself and offered his daughter to him.
The fakir argued that he was far too poor to maintain a princess as his wife, but when the sultan described her devotion and sadhana [spiritual discipline], his mind was put to rest on that score. The fakir agreed on the condition that the sultan was to spend for the wedding ceremony only three paise [pennies], one for betel-nut, one for jaggery [raw sugar], and one for incense. The conditions were accepted and the princess was sent to live with him in the caravanserai.
A few days later, she discovered tied in a corner of her husband’s garment a small piece of bread. She asked him how it happened to be there. He replied, “I saved it for the morning.” The princess said that by this act, he had declared himself to be an unworthy fakir, to be a non-believer. For he had by that act doubted God’s love and God’s capacity to feed His children. He had no confidence in God and His Mercy.
So saying, she returned to her father and continued her spiritual practices undisturbed. He who has planted the tender seedling will fulfill his responsibility and water it into a sturdy plant. Have faith; do not simply profess and deny in practice.
