Path to God

Once a King(samraat) invited to his palace the heads of all religion prevailing at that time. He called each one them in his palace and wanted to know what their God or devta(in whom they believe) has to say. What are their preaching. What do their religion teach. How do they pray and whom do they pray.

Everybody gave their viewpoints. They explained to him about what their religion is about and what message does it convey. Each one stressed their opinion.

The King was not convinced with any of the religion. He was not contented, satisfied. He wanted perfection.

After sometime a saint had come to his palace as a guest. The king expressed his worry. His discomfort towards different religion. He asked him to solve his problem about a particular teaching which would give him peace. He wanted to know Which is the best knowledge.

The saint requested to meet him the next day in his ashram. The king immediately went to meet him. The saint took him near a river bank. There the saint told the king to get the best boat so that he and the king could reach the other side of the river. The king ordered his men to get the best boat to cross river.

The saint was not happy with it. He said "no this is studded with silver. I want something more.
Then the king asked for another boat. Again the saint rejected by saying "Oh, this is studded with diamond. Please get another." This way one by one the saint went on rejecting boats by finding some fault or other. This way the saint did not agree for any boat. He was looking out for a perfect boat to pass the river.

The king showed the saint best possible boats, but saint refused all. Finally, he requested saint by saying " I am sorry I showed you all the boat. But one thing you tell me that the river is so small and we have to reach the other side of the river, then any boat will do. Why so much of a fuss?" Why you to create so much displeasure or find faults with the boats?"

The saint smiled and said "Yes, this is what I wanted to tell you. Life is so short, so pleasant like river water, why you need any special religion(like a special boat). You take any path honestly you will reach your destination. To reach God you don't need perfection or beauty. You need simple and honest path that leads you there. Where we are standing is river bank is Earth, the boat is your Belief(Religious views) and to reach the other side is God's Path. Why so much of a fuss over religion. All the religion finally lead you to the same path. There should not be any force or compulsion. Stick to your Belief and path. Be firm in what you believe.