Once Arjuna and Krishna were taking a stroll where they encountered a poor Brahmana. Looking at the state of the Brahmana, Arjuna gave him a little bag of gold coins. The Brahmana was happy, but while returning home that evening, he was robbed by a thief.
So, the next day, the Brahmana went begging again. He encountered again with Krishna and Arjuna. And on learning what had happened, Arjuna offered him a diamond from his ring. The Brahmana was very happy. He went home and placed it in an old unused pot. The next morning when the Brahmana’s wife was about to go to the river to fetch the water, she slipped and fell and her regular pot broke. She then took this unused pot, and when she bent to fetch water the diamond tumbled and slipped into the river. But she didn’t notice it. When she returned home, she saw the Brahmana frantically searching for this pot. Knowing what had happened, the Brahmana cursed his fate and went out again for begging.
Knowing what had happened, the Brahmana cursed his fate and went out again for begging.
He again encountered with Arjuna and Krishna, and when Arjuna learnt what had happened, he thought to himself that it’s this Brahmana’s fate and did not offer him anything this time as nothing would help him. As the Brahmana was leaving, Krishna stopped him and offered him two pennies. Arjuna said what will happen with these two pennies? To which Krishna responded, “let’s see” and they left the matter there.
As the Brahmana was leaving, Krishna stopped him and offered him two pennies. Arjuna said what will happen with these two pennies? To which Krishna responded, “let’s see” and they left the matter there.
The Brahmana went to the riverside where he saw a fisherman who had just fetched the fish from the river and was selling them. One fish was still alive and was struggling for its life. Looking at this, he thought these two pennies would not be of any help to me, let me at least save this poor fish’s life, and so he bought the fish from the fisherman. When the Brahmana was about to drop the fish into the river, he noticed that something else was obstructing its breath too. When he looked closely, he found that it was the same diamond that his wife had accidentally dropped into the river. He carefully took it out and let the fish into the water. In this excitement, the Brahmana started shouting, “look what I found.”
The thief who had stolen his gold coins was right beside him, and he thought that the Brahmana recognised him and so fell at his feet and apologised and gave him the bag of gold coins.
The Brahmana on his way back encountered Arjuna and Krishna again, and narrated what had happened. On seeing this Arjuna asked Krishna, “When I offered him the gold coins and the diamond his fate did not change, but how did your two pennies changed his fate?” Krishna replied, “When the Brahmana had the gold coins and the diamond, he was simply thinking about himself, his wife, his children and their needs. But when he had just the two pennies, he put the needs of another life before him, and so I took care of his needs.”
In the act of being selfless, the Brahmana had no expectations. If he had not received the diamond stuck in the fish’s mouth or the gold coins being returned, he would have still continued his life as is, and nothing would have mattered.
But when he had just the two pennies, he put the needs of another life before him, and so I took care of his needs...
On the other side, in the act of giving, Arjuna’s inner thought constantly telling him that he had helped a poor Brahmana and that act is going to alter the Brahmana’s life trajectory itself dissolved it from being selfless.
The very fundamental of selflessness lies in acting upon a situation while having no expectations, and whatever the outcome be there is an acceptance of it.
The very fundamental of selflessness lies in acting upon a situation while having no expectations, and whatever the outcome be there is an acceptance of it. In this act, there is a deeper sense of just being present in the moment. There’s an experience of slowness.
THIRTEEN is a platform for sharing six blogs and a podcast every week. For more such daily readings and podcasts, subscribe us here and receive a free weekly workbook.
At THIRTEEN we intend to urge our readers to write each morning as a process of catharsis. Such kind of daily writing lightens our mind and allows us to be at ease and most importantly comfortable with ourselves! If you like our content, we request you to share this with your colleagues, friends and family.
Comentarios