Farmer’s Well and Witty Birbal

 

Value: Right conduct

Sub value: honesty

Once a man sold his well to a farmer. Next day when a farmer went to draw the water from that well, the man did not allow him to draw the water from it. He said, “I have sold you the well, not the water, so you cannot draw the water from the well.”

The farmer became very sad and came to the Emperor’s court. He described everything to the Emperor and asked for the justice.

The Emperor called Birbal and handed over this case to him. Birbal called the man who sold the well to the farmer. Birbal asked, “Why don’t you let him use the water of the well. You have sold the well to the farmer.” The man replied, “Birbal, I have sold the well to the farmer, not the water. He has no right to draw the water from the well.”

Then Birbal smiled and said to him, “Good, but look, since you have sold the well to this farmer, and you claim that water is yours, then you have no right to keep your water in the farmer’s well. Either you pay rent to the farmer to keep your water in his well, or you take that out of his well immediately.”

The man understood, that his trick has failed. Birbal has outwitted him.

Learning:

Don’t Try to Cheat. You will end up paying for it regardless of how smart you think you are.

 

Adapted from moralstories.org

 

 

Sai Satcharitra – Chapter 27 – Faith and Surrender

 

 

 

Value: Truth

Subvalue: Faith, Surrender

 Story 1

Granting Consecrated Book 

Once, Kaka Mahajani came to Shirdi with a copy of Ekanathi Bhagwat. Shama took that book to read and taking it with him went to the Masjid. There Baba took it from him, touched it and turning some pages here and there gave it back to Shama and asked him to keep it with him. When Shama said that it belonged to Kaka and had to be returned to him. “No, no”, said Baba. “As I have given it to you, better keep it with you for safe custody; it will be of use to you.” In this way many books were entrusted to Shama. Kaka Mahajani after a some days came again with another copy of the same Bhagwat and gave it in Baba’s hand. Then Baba gave it back as Prasad and asked him to preserve it well and assured him that it would stand him in good stead. Kaka accepted it with a bow.

Story 2

Vitthal-Vision
One day, while Kakasaheb Dixit was in mediation after his morning bath in his Wada at Shirdi he saw a vision of Vitthal. When he went to see Baba afterwards, Baba asked him – “Did vitthal Patil come? did you not see Him? He is very elusive, hold Him fast, otherwise He will give you the slip and run away”. Then at noon a certain hawker came there, with 20 or 25 pictures of Vitthal of Pandharpur for sale. Mr. Dixit was surprised to see that the form of Vithal he saw in his mediation exactly tallied with that in the picture and he was also reminded of Baba’s words. He therefore, bought one picture most willingly and kept it in his shrine for worship.

Story 3

Geeta-Rahasya
Baba always loved those who studied Brahma-vidya (metaphysics) and encouraged them. To give an instance – Once Bapusaheb Jog received a post-parcel. It contained a copy of Geeta-Rahasya by Lokamanya Tilak. Taking it under his armpit he came to the Masjid and prostrated himself before Baba, when the parcel fell at Baba’s Feet. Baba enquired what it was. It was opened then and there and the book was placed in Baba’s hand. He turned some pages here and there for a few minutes and took out a rupee from His pocket placed it on the book and handed the same with the rupee to Jog and said to him – “Read this completely and you will be benefited”.

Essence:

When a man takes a plunge into the sea, he gets the merit of bathing in all the Tirthas and sacred rivers. Similarly when a man takes refuge at the feet of the Sad-guru, he gets the merit of bowing to the Trinity, i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and also Para-Brahma.    The best way, therefore, to get free from the shackles of Maya is our complete and whole-hearted surrender to Baba. The Vedas cannot take you across the ocean of Maya. It is only the Sad-guru, who can do so and make you, see the Lord in all creatures.

For Children:

Faith and Surrender are two qualities one should inculcate, when we possess these two qualities we can face difficult situation with confidence.  Facing difficult situation confidently helps us to be more positive and peaceful.

A story which describes faith and surrender is given below:

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/miracles-of-faith/

 

The Crooked Tree

Value: Truth

Sub value: Acceptance, Contentment

It was a dense forest. All trees were straight and tall.

Their trunks were broad and shapely. But, there was one tree which was having a crooked and shapeless trunk.

The crooked trunk tree was sad. He thought “How ugly I am! All others are straight and shapely. I alone have crooked trunk.”

One day a wood-cutter came there. He looked around and said “I will cut all trees here, except that crooked tree. That is of no use to me”.

He cut away all other trees.

Now, the crooked tree was happy for its crookedness.

Learning:

Each one is different and therefore We must accept  what we are blessed with. Thereby we will be happy with what we have.

 

 

 

 

 

Sai Satcharitra – Chapter 26 – Faith and determination

 

Value: Truth

Sub value: Faith, determination

 Story 1

Mr. Ambadekar
Mr. Gopal Narayan Ambadekar of Poona was a devotee of Baba. He served for ten years in the Abkari department in the Thana District and in Javhar state, from where he had to retire. He tried to get some other job, but he did not succeed. He was overtaken by other calamities and his condition grew from bad to worse. He passed 7 years in this condition, visiting Shirdi every year and placing his grievance before Baba. In 1916 his plight became worst and be decided to commit suicide in Shirdi. So he came there with his wife and stayed for two months. One night while sitting in a bullock cart in front of Dixit’s Wada, he resolved to end his life by throwing himself into a well close by. He proposed to do one way but Baba wished to do something else. A few paces from this place, there was a hotel and its proprietor Mr. Sagun, a devotee of Baba, came out and accosted him thus – “Did you ever read this Akkalkot Maharaja’s life?” Ambadekar took that book from Sagun and began to read it. Casually, or we may say providentially he came across a story which was to this effect. – During the life time of Akkalkotkar Maharaj a certain devotee suffered very much from an incurble disease and when he could endure the agony and pain no longer, be became desperate and to end his miseries threw himself one night into a well. Immediately the Maharaj came there and took him out with his own hands and advised him thus – “You must enjoy the fruit – good or bad – of your past actions; if the enjoyment be incomplete, suicide won’t help you. You have to take another birth and suffer again; so instead of killing yourself, why not suffer for some time and finish up your store of the fruit of your past deeds and be done with it once and for all?”

Reading this appropriate and timely story, Ambadekar was much surprised, and moved. Had he not got Baba’s hint through the story, he would have been no more. On seeing Baba’s all-prevasiveness and benevolence, his faith in Him was confirmed, and he became a staunch devotee. His father was a devotee of Akkalkotkar Maharaj and Sai Baba wanted him to walk into his father’s footsteps and continue his devotion to Him. He then got Sai Baba’s blessings and his prospects began to improve. He studied astrology and gained proficiency in it and thereby improved his lot. He was able to earn sufficient money and passed his after-life in ease and comfort.

Essence:

This story depicts the omniscience of Baba. We always see the phenomena, i.e. things as they outwardly appear, and not the Noumenon which underlies all the visible things. It is only the Sad-guru that opens the eyes of our understanding and enables us to see things in their true light and not as they appear.

For Children:

We must not arrive at react spontaneously, we must think twice before we act. We must move forward with faith and determination.

 

A story which reinforces this message;

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/category/faith/page/2/

 

 

 

 

How to Free your Mind!

 

Value: Truth

Sub value: Wisdom, detachment

A nice story of Adi Shankaracharya teaching his students how to empty and free their mind:

“Adi Shankara was walking through the market place with his disciples.

They saw a man dragging a cow by a rope.

Shankara told the man to wait and asked his disciples to surround them.

“I am going to teach you something” and continued…

“Tell me who is bound to whom? Is the cow bound to this man or the man is bound to the cow?”

The disciples said without hesitation “Of course the cow is bound to the man! The man is the master. He is holding the rope. The cow has to follow him wherever he goes. The man is the master and the cow is the slave.”

“Now watch this”, said Shankara and took a pair of scissors from his bag and cut the rope.

The cow ran away from the master and the man ran after his cow. “Look, what is happening”, said Shankara

“Do you see who the Master is? The cow is not at all interested in this man. The cow in fact, is trying to escape from this man.

This is the case with our MIND.

Like the cow, all the non-sense that we carry inside is not interested in us. WE ARE INTERESTED IN IT, we are keeping it together somehow or the other. We are going crazy trying to keep it all together under our control.

The moment we lose interest in all the garbage filled in our head, and the moment we understand the futility of it, it will start to disappear. Like the cow, it will escape and disappear.”

Feeling Free and Relaxed is a Choice!

Learning:

We must do our duties without any attachment to the deed performed. When we use our wisdom and cultivate the habit of detachment we will observe that we will be more peaceful.

 

 

Sai Satcharitra – Chapter 25 – Faith, Surrender

 

Value: Faith

Sub value: Surrender

Sai Baba is always full of mercy. What is wanted on our part is whole-hearted devotion to Him. When a devotee has got firm faith and devotion, his wishes are soon fulfilled.

The story of Damodar Savalaram Resane, alias Damu Anna illustrating the above statement, is given below.

Damu Anna 
The readers are aware that a mention of this gentleman was made in the 6th Chapter, regarding the celebration of Rama-Navami festival in Shirdi. He went to Shirdi about the year 1895, when the Rama-Navami Utsava-celebration began and from that time he has been providing an ornamental flag for that occasion every year. He also feeds the poor and the fakirs that come there for the festival.

His Speculations: (1) Cotton A Bombay friend of Damu Anna wrote to him, that they should do some cotton-speculation business in partnership which would bring them about two lacs of rupees as profit. (Damu Anna says in his statement made about the year 1936 to Mr. B.V.Narasimha Swami that the proposal about speculating at Bombay in cotton was from a broker who was not to be a partner, and that he (Damu Anna) was to be the sole adventurer: – vide P.75 of the Devotees’ Experiences Part II). The broker wrote that the business was good and involved no risks and that the opportunity should not be lost. Damu Anna was oscillating in his mind. He could not at once determine to venture in the speculation. He thought about this and as he was a devotee of Baba, he wrote a detailed letter to Shama giving all the facts and requested him to consult Baba and take His advice in the matter. Shama got the letter next day and when he came with it at noon to the Masjid and placed it before Baba. He asked Shama what the matter was, and what the paper (letter) was about. He replied that Damu Anna of Nagar wanted to consult Him about something. Then Baba said – “What does he write, and what does he plan? It seems that he wants to catch the sky and that he is not content with what God has given him; read his letter”. Shama than said, “The letter contains what you have just said now. Oh, Deva you sit here calm and composed and agitate the devotees and when they get restless, you draw them here, some in person and others through letters. If you know the contents of the latter, why do you then press me to read it?” Baba said – “Oh Shama, read it please. I speak at random and who believes Me.”

Then Shama read the letter and Baba heard it attentively and said feelingly – “The Shet (Damu Anna) has gone mad; write to him in reply that nothing is wanting in his house. Let him be content with the half loaf (bread) he has now and let him not bother himself about lacs.” Shama sent the reply which Damu Anna was anxiously waiting for. Reading it, he found that all his hopes and prospects about lacs of rupees as profit were dashed to the ground. He thought that he had done a mistake in consulting Baba. But as Shama had hinted in the reply that there was always much difference in seeing and hearing and that, therefore, he should come to Shirdi personally and see Baba. He thought it advisable to go to Shirdi and consult Baba personally about the affair. So he went to Shirdi, saw Baba, prostrated himself before Him and sat shampooing His legs. He had no courage to ask Baba openly about the speculation, but he thought in his mind, that it would be better if some share in the business should be assigned to Baba and said in his mind, that if Baba were to help him in this transaction, he would surrender some share of profits to Him. Damu Anna was thus thinking secretly in his mind, but nothing was veiled from Baba; everything past, present and future were clear to Him as an Amalaka fruit in hand. A child wants sweets, but its mother gives bitter pills; the former spoil its health, while the latter improve it. So the mother looking to the welfare of her infant, coaxes it and gives it bitter pills. Baba, kind mother as He was, knew the present and future prospects of His devotees, and therefore reading Damu Anna’s mind, He openly spoke to him – “Bapu, I do not want to be entangled in any such wordly things (sharing profits).” Seeing Baba’s disapproval Damu Anna dropped the enterprise.

(2) Grain-Dealing : Then he thought of trading in grain, rice, wheat and other groceries. Baba read also this thought and said to him, “You will be buying at five seers and selling at seven seers a rupee”. So this business was also given up. The rice in the prices of grains was kept up for some time, and Baba’s prophecy seemed to be falsified, but in a month or two there was abundant rain everywhere and the prices suddenly fell down; and, therefore, those who stored grains suffered a severe loss. Damu Anna was saved from this fate. Needless to say that the cotton speculation which was conducted by the broker with the help of another merchant also collapsed with a severe loss to the adventurers. After seeing that Baba had saved him from two severe losses in cotton and grain speculations, Damu Anna’s faith in Baba grew strong and he remained a true devotee of Baba till His passing away and even now.

Moral:

Whenever, a devotee had complete and whole-hearted devotion to Sai Baba, all his calamities and dangers were warded off and his welfare attended to by Baba.

Essence:

When we surrender ourselves with faith, we will be able to face any situation with calmness and peace, thereby we can lead a happy and peaceful life.

For Children

When we develop faith and surrender, we can face any situation with confidence.

The story elow depicts describes about the value of faith and surrender

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/devotees-steadfast-faith/

Five treasures we possess that we can share with others

 

Value: Love

Sub value: Compassion, Caring

 Once, a very poor man came to Buddha.

He asked:

– Why am I so poor?

Buddha answered:

– You are poor because you don’t practice generosity. You don’t practice charity.

– But how can I practice charity if I don’t have anything to give?

You have five treasures that you can share with others.

First, you have your face.

You can share your smiles with others. It’s free. And has an amazing and lasting impact on others.

Second, you have your eyes.

You can look at others with eyes full of love and care. Genuinely you can impact millions. Make them feel so good.

Third, you have your mouth.

With this mouth you can say nice things to others. Talk good. Make them feel valued Spread joy and positivity.

Then, you have a heart.

With your loving heart you can wish happiness to others. Make others feel a bundle of emotions. Touch their lives.

Last treasure that you possess is your body.

With this body you can do many good things to others.. Help the people who need. Help is not money. A small caring gesture can light up lives.

Remember True Wealth is that which no one can take away from you. It increases as you give it away.

Learning:

Money is not the only means by which we can do charity, giving love, a smile, talking positively may bring joy and happiness in a person’s life,  in reciprocation we will also be showered with love which will make us happy and joyful.