Goswami Tulsidas

If you surrender everything to God He will take care of you. You don't have to worry. Just leave everything to him.
Goswami Tulsidas used in stay in a small house in Varanasi. It was winter season and there was snowfall. During midnight all the people of that town were fast asleep. Due to winter there was nobody on the roads. Two thieves tried to enter the small house of Tulsidas thinking that they might get something from this house. As soon as the thieves tried to enter the main entrance, they saw that two young boys with bow and arrow were standing outside Tulsidas's house. They were not allowing the thieves to enter his house.

After sometime, the thieves tried again to enter the house, these young boys did not allow them to go. Three times they attempted and took rounds of the house, but these two boys foiled the attempt of the thieves to steal anything from Goswamiji's house.

Early morning when Tulsidasji woke up, he saw two men standing in front of his house. They bowed in front of Goswamiji and asked that whether he has kept two watchman to take care of his house. The thieves said that "we are thieves and wanted to steal something from your house but two young boys one dark complexed and one with a fair complexion with bow and arrow were standing in front of your house and not allowing us to get inside your house."

Hearing this Goswami Tulsidas started weeping bitterly. He said "oh! for this piece of paper and a pen, some books and some food to eat which I have kept in my house, my Lord Shri Ram and shri Ghanshyam had to keep a vigil and become watchman of my house." He threw everything and gave it to the thieves and said my Lord has to take so much trouble for me. He told thieves you are very lucky you saw the Lord but I did not get that opportunity also.

Hanuman and Arjun

There is a story of Hanuman and Arjun in Mahabharat. Both are true bhakts.
Once Arjun met Hanuman, the true bhakt of Shri Ram. Hanuman want on praising his Lord Shri Ram and did not give a chance to Arjun to talk about his Guru, Shri Krishna.

Arjun requested Hanuman to pause a little and give him a chance to say something about his Lord Krishna also. Hanuman said first hear about my Lord Shri Ram and then I will listen to you about your Lord Shri Krishna.

Arjun stopped Hanuman in between and said "I accept everything about your Lord Shri Ram .I also agree that he is the most powerful and the most revered Lord by all. Everybody has true shradha for him but tell me one thing about the setu(bridge)." He further asked Hanuman "why did Ram take help from Vaanar sena to built setu? why was setu built with stones? Hanuman replied "If setu would not have been built with vanaar sena help and without the stones, how would Lord Ram cross over the sea and reach Lanka." He asked Arjun "If you were there what would you have done? Arjun said "I would have made the setu(bridge) with the arrows. There was no need to cut huge trees and carry big and huge stones to make a bridge."

Hanum smiled and said "if you built the bridge with your arrows then how would you walk on it?
Such powerful people cannot walk on the bridge of arrows. Arrows will not able to take such heavy load. It cannot carry the load of Hanuman, how can it carry other heavy vannar sena and Lord Shri Ram."

He told Arjun "Now see there is a river in front of you, make setu(bridge ) of arrows on it." Arjun said I will make bridge with the arrows and you jump and climb on it. If the bridge breaks I challenge you I will not carry this bow and arrow in future." Arjun then made a bridge of arrows on the river. He requested Hanuman to climb over it. When Hanuman jumped over it, the bridge was intact, it did not shake a bit. Hanuman was surprised, he could not believe that the bridge made of arrows can be so strong.

He then remembered his Lord Shri Ram, prayed to him. Hanuman's body became strong as Shri Ram gave him the powers. After gaining this power, Hanuman jumped with full force, the bridge started shaking, it went down but it did not break. Again Hanuman closed his eyes and prayed.
He went under the bridge and came back. He said "Oh, Arjun, Dhananjay, you are great. Your bridge of arrows cannot take my weight. It is very powerful. Look your friend is carrying on his back the arrows. He is carrying the weight of arrows so that the bridge does not fall.
Hearing their conversation, Lord Krishna came up with the marks of arrows on his back.
Seeing his friend, Krishna taking so much pain because of him, Arjun felt very bad. He apologised to Lord and realised his mistake. Krishna did not want to put Arjun down. His false claim that he can built a bridge of arrow was also honoured by Lord. He kept his promise so that Arjun should not give up his talent of being expert arrow shooter. If you become God's, God will become yours. There will be feeling of oneness.

The story clearly indicate that we should not live under false Ego. If we are true and loyal to God, even our tall and false claims Lord takes on himself. Under any circumstances God will never put you down. But troubling your loving Lord for no reason is not correct because it will pain you more. You will feel guilty that to keep your promise Lord has taken so much pain. Lord is our friend, our guide and is always with us. With strong Faith of the Almighty we can overcome all troubles and hardships in life.

Poverty to Greed

Once in Gurukul Diksha festival was going on. All rich people and their children had gathered over there and brought rich gifts as diksha for their Guru. Guru and his wife were sitting. There was arrangement for yagya. The Brahmin was chanting ved mantra and yagya was going on. There was one poor student also. He was crying and feeling ashamed that he has nothing to offer to his Guru.

Guru and wife noticed that their student is crying. They said "there is no difference in our Gurukul, rich and poor are same. You need not worry about gift. You have paid your Gurudakshina by doing service to us. You have done lot of service for the Gurukul, you have studied hard and you are a brilliant student. We have got your Gurudakshina in form of your love, your discipline, your respect for us. Nobody has offered this dakshina to us. This is my biggest and precious gift from you."

But the poor boy was not convinced with his Guru's explanation. He was stubborn and bent upon offering dakshna to his Guru. Then Guru and his wife asked him what do want to offer as Gurudakshina? The boy replied that when I return in your respected feet you should accept whatever I offer you." They blessed him and said "as you wish". The boy took leave from his Guru.

He went and stayed at his friend's house. He was feeling restless, he was not getting sleep. The friend asked him that why is he feeling so tensed and disturbed. The boy said that for twelve years he stayed at Gurukul, learnt so much from his Guru but he has nothing to offer him in Gurudakshina. So many rich boys offered gifts to Guru but I am so poor that I have nothing to offer him."

The friend consoled him and said "there is king staying in our area. He is very generous and whatever you demand, he will try to fulfill your wish." The boy was very happy. He immediately rushed to meet the king. He entered King's darbar. The king came down and observed him thoroughly.The boy explained to him the entire things about Gurudakshina.

The king said "put forward your demand but do not act stingy(kanjoos). Demand for big and I will offer you." The boy was very amused and excited. He thought he will ask for thousands of gold coins. The king said "till now nobody has come to demand anything from me. All the people in my area are happy. They have no demand. You are the first and probably the last person so put forth your demand so don't hesitate, you can ask for anything."

The boy was confused. He thought to himself that when King is ready to give me anything why not demand for lakhs of coins. He was nervous. The king said "think big and think again. You look very tensed. Relax and then come to me. I will just take a stroll around in my garden."

The boy thought why not ask for crores of rupees. Then he thought that he would demand for half of his empire, hal of king's property. Again king came back and asked "have you decided about what you want?" The boy was still hesitant and nervous. The king smiled and said "just relax think properly and take firm decision. I will definitely offer anything you demand." The king gave him time to think and went for another round in his garden.

After sometime the king came back and asked "what have you decided?" In a haste the boy said "I want your entire property, your empire."
The king immediately agreed and thanked gGod by saying "Oh! God, today what sort of person you have sent to me. I have become so old, my hair and beard have turned grey. My entire body has become weak and old. I have got cataract in my eyes. Nobody was willing to take care of this empire. Now I have found one. I am so happy and delighted. Atlast I have found somebody to take this crown, to look after my property. This worry and tension about my empire had made me feel old. Today somebody has come to takeover these worries. I am very relieved."

Hearing the kings pray the boy felt that the king is dumping his tensions and worries upon me. It is like throwing a snake on me. He requested the king to take one more round of the garden so that he can think over again.
The king sternly said "No, now you have sit on this throne." The boy again told the king to take one more round and give him chance to think again. The king said"nothing doing as you are ready to take from me, you should be ready to give it to your Guru as dakshina."

The boy got scared and ran away fast from there without demanding anything.

The greed in us never allows us to sit in peace. The more we get the more we want. Always think and act peacefully otherwise you may miss golden opportunities from your life. Peace is a most precious ornament. Don't let it get stolen from your house. If once it goes, it becomes difficult to get it back. The Peace lies with God.

Peace (Shanti)

When man took leave from God's darbar, God was very happy and asked man to take whatever he wanted. Man being greedy by nature, spread his big sheet and told him to give everything that he has in his bag. He told God give me everything, don't keep anything with you. Man thought that he should become rich and lead a life of king.

God requested Laxmi Mata to handover his big bag. Laxmi brought his bag. God started removing his precious diamonds and other costly things one by one. He gave man the entire thing in his bag. He emptied his bag. But there was one small thing which was stuck with the bag. It could not be removed. God then kept the bag under his feet. He told man now you go back to earth with all these precious things. Man was very pleased and happy. He tied his big sheet with all the material things and without thanking God, without doing pranam to God marched forward.

He was so engrossed in these things that he forgot to say namaskar or thank to God. After sometime when Laxmiji removed the bag, she told Lord "what is this inside the bag." God said "keep quiet, let this man go to earth. Don't let man know about it otherwise he will grab this also without being thankful to me.. This is the most precious thing called PEACE(Shanti). This I have kept under my feet. When man will clear his sheet of money, property, wife, husband, family, children, bank balances, he will enjoy that for temporary period. He will not get Peace(Shanti). He has to come back to me to get Peace. So let him get involved, let him be busy with all the material things of earth. He will get frustrated, tired of materialistic things, he will think of me.
If he will sincerely and honestly agree that Peace is most precious, I will give it to him.

This pleased Mata Laxmi. She also agreed that Peace will be awarded to only one who values My Lord and not to the ones who give importance to worldly things which are not lasting. They will remain in earth after death. But Peace will be carried forward to man's future birth also. With peace man will get moksh. He will get God.

False Claims

Shivaji, the great leader was going to built a big fort. But his region was suddenly affected by famine. There was a situation of hunger and poverty. Thousands of people were working under him to built the fort. It came in Shivaji's mind that despite of famine, he is taking care of food and other things of thousands of people. He felt very happy and contented.

Shivaji used to believe in Guru Randas. His Guru was worried that my disciple should not get egoistic about being the caretaker of thousands of people. He should not get"harshounmad"
He wanted to test Shivaji. Shivaji went to his Guru and did did pranam and bowed in front of him. He was very happy to see his Guru Swami Ramdas. Swamiji called Shivaji and said"since you are going to built a fort, the stones are also laid, now do me favour take a big stone and take a hammer. He then told him to break this stone with a hammer into two pieces."

Shivaji Maharaj sincerely obeyed and did as his Guru had requested him to do. He broke the stone into two pieces. He saw a tiny insect with a bit of rice in his mouth and there was small gap from where the water was dripping.
The Guru asked Shivaji "Inside the stone there is water and bit of rice, have you sent it the insect? Have you made arrangement for this insects hunger and thirst satisfaction? Have you sent water and this bit for rice to the insect to survive on?

Shivaji bent in front of Guru. He understood that his Guru has come to test him. To control his ego and to make him realise that God makes arrangement everybody's food and water. Even a small insect cannot be ignored by God. He is also under his care. But we humans think and claim to look after others, be their caretakers. Sometimes we feel that our family cannot survive without us. We make such false claims. World can survive without strong leaders, saints and others. It is the Almighty who has made us. Why unnecessarily be under wrong impression that we take of others. Nobody is going to live permanently on this earth. Everybody has to meet an end.

It is good to take care of others. You are not doing anything wrong. God has bleesed you and given you good health and enough of wealth as well as strength to take good care of those under you. Just thank him for that and remember that it is with His blessings we are enjoying this life. You should feel happy but don't get involved and stake claim that you are the owner. You do your job and thank the owner.

King Yayati

There is a story of King Yayati in Mahabharat. He went to Heaven with his body( Sadeh swarag).
He had done many good jobs on earth. He did lot of Yaghya, Havan, helped people in their need, lot of donation, tapasaya and sadhana. So he was allowed to go to Heaven along with his body. He was given half of Devraj Indra's throne. From there also he was free to move to Brahmlok and Indralok.

Devraj Indra and other devtaas could not stand this. They wanted him to go back to Prithvilok(Earth). They then knew one weakness of his. So one day when Yayati was seated on Devraj Indra's throne, the devtaas asked him about what all good things he did. How he got such a high post. They said that he is sitting next to Indra, it is a great achievement. Please tell us what yagna, tapasay you have done that you have reached swarag lok along with your body.

Yayati got flattered. He felt very important. He explained to them he has done so much daan, punya, so much sadhana and tapasay. God is so pleased with my good work that he has given me such a high post. The devtaas were very smart. They wanted to hear from his mouth about his good deeds. They went on flattering and Yayati did not realise this. He went on praising himself about his daan, tapasay etc. Till now whatever he said was true. But after that he went on boasting to the extent that he has done such good deed that nobody has ever done such tapasya before him on this earth and in future also nobody can claim to be equal to his good work.
On saying that nobody can be equal to him in daan, tapasya, sadhana on this earth, he had actually insulted the respected Saints,Rishis, Munis and Mahatmas who have done more than him on this earth. After continuously talking about his good deeds and comparing himself with other highly respected saint, Devraj Indra told him to stop. He said "Yayati by disclosing your good deeds to others, you have lost all punya work you gained. All your good work has become nil. Now you have to return to earth.

If you have Gyan, daan, tap, knowledge whatever good things in you, you should not get lost in them. You should not make show of it to others. You should feel happy about your good deeds and good qualities but you should not show of it(Harshounmad). Don't get lost in it.

When Yayati was thrown out of Swarglok, he realised his mistake. He felt very disappointed and felt that we should remain calm and quiet about whatever we achieve. You must hide these qualities, somebody else will take advantage of your habit of talking and boasting. Anyway it was time for Yayati to return back to earth as he had lost all the punya by narrating it to devtaas. He apologised for his mistake and requested them to send him on earth to a place where there are saints and true bhakt of God, where there is satsang. Devtaas agreed and sent him to a place where true satsang was being done.

The Mahatmas picked him up in their arms. They told Yayati that now we will prepare you again for your good deeds. You should become fearless and should not bloat out your qualities to others. Do not bloat up like a balloon. Keep calm. This way Yayati again got place in swarag lok.

This is a story to make us feel and realise that we should not leak out our good qualities to others, it can have negative impact. Save your good deeds to get better and more interest by the Almighty. Our Lord knows better and through his blessings only we are able to achieve good work and do good things on this earth. Count on his blessings and not about what you have done

A true gyani Bhakt is always happy. Under any circumstances he smiles. He has No Ego or any desires. Even if he gets anything he does not get lost in them. He knows that things which he possess today are temporary. Nothing is going to remain permanent with me so why get attached to them. Just enjoy and lead a normal. Do not get anxious and worried about future or regret for past. Everybody has to pass through upheavals of life.

In Japan there used to be a saint(fakir) named Rinjhai. He has written in his autobiography that first time when I met my Guru(teacher) he was sitting near the bank of a river. As I saw him from far, I felt as though some magnetic power is there in him. He was getting attracted towards him like an iron getting attracted to magnet.

Rinjhai has said that when I bowed in front of mu Teacher's feet, I felt I have achieved some supreme power. I was speechless. All my desires and wishes came under control. Everything was very peaceful. I felt very light like a paper which would fly. I was away from the world.

My teacher kept his hand of mercy on me, he patted me. When I opened my eyes, they were moist. With heavy heart, I told my Guru that I have come to become your disciple, kindly accept me.
My Guru said one sentence "Are you fully prepared" Do you have full faith?" I replied immediately and without hesitation "Yes, there is full faith and I am fully prepared."

My Guru said "I accept you Rinjhai as my disciple"

After three days Rinjhai took a notebook and a pencil. He told his Guru to tell me what is right and what is wrong, I will note down in my notebook. Whatever is right I will accept and learn and anything that is wrong I will leave it, I will discard it from my life.

Rinjhai says "My Guru smiled. He said "Oh! Rinjhai throw this notebook and pencil. You stay with me. Observe me and see how I eat, how I drink, how I wake up, how I walk, how I sleep. Hear my voice, my talking style, my behaviour, notice my day to day action and behaviour. Observe me deeply from outside and from within."

The Guru further said with confidence "whatever I do in my routine work is Right and what I don't do is Wrong." Only a true bhakt or saint can say such words.

Rinjhai has written that I was very surprised with my Guru's words. I bowed in front of my Guru and politely asked him "Gurudev, you don't make any mistake, you don't make any error?"
The Guru answered "Rinjhai, I am not that I. I am totally immersed in my Lord. There is no question of I. I have no desires. They are all dead. There is no anger, no greed, no attachment, no Ego. I am fully immersed in my Almighty. I have nothing of these things because these desires of anger, hatred, greed, Ego, attachment only make mistakes. When there is nothing of that sort and when there is no gap of "I and You" between me and my Lord than the question of making mistakes and errors does not arise. Your Ego is the barrier which does not allow you to do right and it does not permit you to say with confidence that whatever you do or act from outside and from within is Right. The thing which instigates you to make mistakes have been erased from my mind and body."

Rinjhai found a true Guru and he himself attained the position of his teacher. The true bhakt is not carried away by money, he does not demand any respect or importance. He is contented.

Desire dont leave us, we have to stop them

A sufi fakir was lying under the shade of a tree. Peacefully sitting and relaxing. A billionaire man passed by. He stopped his car and kept ten thousand golden coins in front of him. The saint got up looked at that man. He asked him that what are these coins for.

The rich man said "please accept this gift from me, I shall be highly obliged. The fakir replied "this is not a small gift. It is very big because there is a tag of Ego attached with it. My dear friend please take back these gold coins immediately. I don't accept gifts from beggars and poor people."

The man said " does a poor man have ten thousand gold coins? A Poor man may not have ever seen or ever dream of so many coins. He may not have seen in your hands also"

The saint(fakir) politely said "Friend, do not tell lies. In fakir's darbar you are telling lies."
The man said that he is not telling lies. He is telling the truth. He is not poor.

The fakir then said "tell me one thing. Whatever money you have accumulated now and whatever luxuries and comforts you have now, would you like to have more. Do you have the desire to get more." The man honestly replied "Yes, I do have."

The fakir replied "then what does it mean to be poor. You want more and more. That means there is no difference between you and a beggar, a poor man. You are like them. They also want more and you are also doing the same thing. You are not satisfied with your earnings.

Desire means Not satisfied

Desire means I am not satisfied with what I am. I want more. The demand to have more is never ending. This body will decay but the demands don't end. It means that whatever qualities and specialties I have, I am not aware of it. The God (atma-Paramatma) who is residing within me, I have No knowledge about him. I am only looking for satisfaction from outside the world. But unfortunately these desires don't allow me look within. We have forgotten our qualities or intentionally we are not interested in knowing them. There should be a well wisher to remind us about good qualities within us.

There is a bird named Maina. The child of Maina is crying. The mother asks the baby maina that why is he crying. The baby replies "Mother, see there on the stem of the tree a peacock's baby is sitting, how beautiful he looks. He has beautiful and colourful feathers. Why I am not like him. why I did not get those looks?"

The baby maina's mother carried him to the other side of the tree. The baby maina saw that the baby peacock was crying. The mother asked the baby peacock that why is he crying. He said "Look Mother, on the stem of the other tree Maina's child is sitting, he has got melodious voice, he sings so beautifully. Why don't I have this beautiful voice?"

See the Maina's baby does not have knowledge about its beautiful voice so he is not happy. He want to look like peacock. Same way the peacock baby does not know the value of it's beautiful body so he is not happy and wants to have beautiful voice like Maina.

We are all like that. Not happy with ourselves. Want to copy others or feel jealous. Same way those others may not be contented with themselves. They also must be feeling jealous and want to look like us. But the true beauty lies within where we don't want to tread. Satisfaction is the true beauty of life.

Do your Job but Remeber your creator

God says do all your routine jobs systematically. There is no harm in working hard and making money. Close your eyes for a second and talk to God by saying "I am going to work, please accompany me." This way you will enjoy doing your work and you will feel that you are not Alone, The Almighty is with you.

Then while having your meals, just for a second Thank to God for the good meal you had. There is no harm in eating in hotels or eating outside food. Just say that "I am eating with you." The food will taste delicious and your stomach will not get upset because Almighty has eaten with you.

When you finish all your regular chores and retire to bed, just close your eyes and say "Today I had a good day, I am going to sleep, my Lord. I am sleeping in your lap, wake me up if you so wish.

Next day morning when you wake up thank him for sound sleep he gave you and for the beautiful day ahead. This way you will always be with God.

A bhakt does not have unnecessary desires. He is contented with whatever little he earns. But the desire to be with and near God should always be there.
Once a King went abroad. He had four queens. He told his wives to write and tell him whatever they wanted so that he could buy for them from abroad.
All the wives gave their demands in writing. One of the queen just wrote one simple word and gave him.
When he returned he brought things for the queens and sent them to their respective rooms. Then he entered the room of his first wife who had written only one word for him. He said I could not understand what you wanted so I have come personally to ask you. She smiled and said "I have got what I wanted. I wanted you, my husband, the King to be with me. I don't need anything else. You have come that is enough for me."
Same way if we demand only God, then everything of his is ours. Like how Arjun wanted only Krishna. He did not demand for weapons or big army, nothing of that sort. Only Lord Krishna, the true friend, true guide was enough to win over Kauravas.

Master and Servant

We are also God's servant. We cannot question him. Bhakti means God's Yes is also my Yes. I cannot say No to God. If everything is going smoothly in life, we forget about God. But when something goes wrong we start getting angry with him. We stop going to temple, stop doing our
pooja and aarti. But will that serve our purpose. If anytime such hatred feeling comes in our mind, we should beg sorry from God. Apologize for your mistakes. We should be satisfied with whatever he gives us. We should accept the reality of life and say "whatever you make me wear I will wear, whatever you make me eat, I will eat, wherever you make me sleep I will sleep. Whatever you tell me to do I will do. There will be Nothing like No in between Yours and My relationship. I am your dedicated Servant. You are my Master, my guide and my true friend.
Just plain feeling of satisfaction makes your life easy to sail.

Once a businessman wanted a servant. He had advertised for the same. Many poor boys came for that post.
One by one he started calling them for interview. As soon as any boy would enter, he would first ask him to fetch him a glass of water.

The boy would bring him a glass of water. Then he would tell him to throw the water. The boy would obediently throw the water. Then he would ask him "Why did you throw away the water?" The boy would say you told me to throw so I threw it. He did not like such boys who give him flat answer. This way he rejected many boys.

Then after many days one boy came. The businessman ordered the boy to get him a glass of water. He obediently filled the glass of water and handed over to him. Before taking the glass in his hand he told him to throw away the water. The boy politely threw the water.

After sometime he asked him that why did he threw the water from glass. The boy replied "I did it by mistake. I apologize for the same." He was very pleased with him and kept him as his servant.