Saint and Thief

A thief once unknowingly entered a saint's house to steal something. When he entered he could not find anything. There was nothing left in his room or kitchen.
The saint was busy in his prayers. He could sense that a thief has entered his house. He politely called him and said "please wait, I know you have come in search of something. I am a simple man I don't keep anything with me. But since you have come to my house I will not allow you to go empty handed."
Hearing this the thief got scared and started running. The saint ran after him and told him to wait. The saint caught hold of the thief and brought him to his house. He explained to him by saying"if you wanted something you should have told me in advance. I could have brought something from market and kept it for you. I don't allow anyone to go empty handed from my house. I offer something to an animal also. You are a man, God's creation. How can I allow you to go empty handed." He offered him a new shawl which he was wearing. It was gifted to the saint by one of his disciple.

After taking the shawl the thief left from saint's house. The thief decided that in future he will not steal. On the way a policeman saw him and suspected him to be a thief. He asked him that from where he got this expensive shawl. The thief told him about the saint who offered him as a gift. The policeman did not believe him. He dragged him to the police station. There the Chief of the police station asked him about the shawl. The thief again gave him the same answer that saint has given him the shawl.

The Chief of Police station was a disciple of the saint. He took the thief to the saint and asked him whether he has given him this expensive shawl. The saint recognized him and said "yes, this shawl has been gifted to him. Leave him. He is not a thief. He is a poor man and wanted some help from me so I gave him this shawl to remove all previous sins he has committed. Now he is my disciple and I will take care of him."
The Chief of the police touched saints feet and left. The thief cried bitterly and sat under saint's feet. He did pranaam to saint and promised in future he will never involve in anti social work. He will dedicate rest of his life in his service.

The story signified that in the company of good people bad people can also change. The shawl given by saint to the thief changed his life. The saints are like flowers spreading their fragrance to whom so ever they touch. Blessed are the ones who come in contact with saints whose divine touch and fragrance brings magic in their life.

Control over Eating Habit

In Maharashtra there has been a famous personality named Mahadev Gobind Ranade. Once he was busy writing something in his notebook. His friend had sent sweet mangoes for him. His wife Ramabai, washed the mangoes peeled them for him. She kept small pieces of mango for him on the table. He started eating one piece, then another piece by saying "I have never eaten such sweet mangoes, they are very tasty." He offered some pieces to his wife and said "distribute it to the neighbours and all the workers in our house."

His wife Ramabai said "since you like mangoes so much why did you take only two pieces. You could have eaten more. Take more and finish this mango." He politely smiled at her and said "it is not necessary that what you like most you must eat more. There should be some control over your tongue, your taste buds"

Ramabai could not sense what was her husband hinting at. He then explained to her that some years back while he was studying in Mumbai , there used to be a lady, his neighbour. She was very rich and had ten servants at her service. Her dining table used to be full with variety of food items. After some years her husband faced some loss in his business. Their financial condition was deteriorating. They removed their servants and would cook only simple food to fill their stomach. Once being so rich they had no control over their tongue. They used to eat sweets and very rich food, but later they had to eat only dal and rice. Looking at their pathetic condition, I had promised and decided that in future I will keep a control over my tongue. Eat within limits so that in future my standard of living does not suffer.

To maintain stability in our financial conditions we should have some control over our spendthrift habits so that in future we and our children should not suffer.