An old farmer lived on his farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning he got up early, sat at the kitchen table, and read His Bhagavad-gita. His grandson wanted to be just like his grandfather, so tried to emulate him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the Bhagavad-gita just like you do, but I don’t understand most of it, and whatever I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. So what good is it doing me to read the Bhagavad-gita?”
The grandfather, who was putting coal on the fire, quietly turned and said, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”The boy did as he was told, but the water leaked out before he could get the basket home.
The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move a little faster next time,” and he sent the boy back to the river to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket emptied before he was able to return home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get the bucket. But the old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You are just not trying hard enough.” He stepped out the door to watch the boy try for the third time.
At this point the boy knew what he was trying to accomplish was impossible, so he decided to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house.
The boy dipped the basket into river and ran as hard as he could. When he reached his grandfather the basket was empty. He gasped, “See grandpa? It is useless !”
“So you think it is useless?” the old man asked. “Then look at the basket.” The boy looked and saw for the first time that the basket was different. It had been washed clean of the dirty coal stains and was now clean inside and out.
What is the moral of this event ?
The grandfather replied :
01) “Grandson, that is what happens when you read the Bhagavad-gita.
02) You might not understand or remember everything you read, but the words will change you inside and out.
03) That is the work of Lord Krishna in our lives.”
How can we apply this in our own lives ?
01) We should cultivate the required inquisitiveness, like the boy in this story, to know the things and also sincerely strive for it.
02) To understand the things in the right perspective and to progress in our devotional life, we must be submissive to our own authorities – just like the grandson was submissive and followed exactly as the grandfather has instructed him although he was not convinced to get a basket of water. That submissiveness alone has brought him the right realization in the last.
03) Like the grandfather, we need to be regular in our spiritual practices like chanting and reading the scriptures etc – on daily basis.
04) We must have genuine appreciation for the sincere questions that neophytes ask us.
05) We must have genuine sympathy for the ignorance of the neophyte devotees.
06) We must strive our best to answer all their genuine questions as simply as possible and in the language in which they can understand – just like the grandfather did in this story.
07) We need to recognize and openly acknowledge that whatever good that happens, it is nothing but the causeless mercy of Krishna in our life – as was recognized by the grandfather in this story.
08) Sincerely pass on all the credit to our own Guru and Krishna for all Their blessings and mercy – as was done by the grandfather in this story.
My humble request to you, please !
Dear Prabhu Jee/Maathaa Jee,
Hare Krishna !
If you find this useful, please circulate it to as many people as possible.
Also, share these wonderful stores with little children so that it would have deep impact on them all through their lives.
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