A POOR brahmana had a rich cloth merchant as
his disciple. The merchant was very miserly by
nature. One day the brahmana was in need of a
small piece of cloth for covering his sacred book.
He went to his disciple and asked for the required
piece of cloth; but the merchant replied: "I am very
sorry, sir. Had you told me of this a few hours
earlier, I would have given you the thing wanted.
Unfortunately, now I have no small piece of cloth
which will answer your purpose. However, I shall
remember your requirement, but please remind me
of it now and then." The brahmana had to go
away disappointed. This conversation between the
guru and his worthy disciple was overheard by the
wife of the latter from behind a screen. She at once
sent a man after the brahmana, and calling him
inside the house, said, "Revered Father, what is it
that you were asking from the master of the
house?" The brahmana related all what had
happened. The wife said: "Please go home sir; you
will get the cloth tomorrow morning." When that
merchant returned home at night the wife asked
him, "Have you closed your shop?" The merchant
said, "Yes, what is the matter?" She said, "Go at
once and bring two cloths of the best quality in the
shop." He said, "Why this hurry? I shall give you
the best cloth tomorrow morning." The wife,
however, insisted, "No, T must have them just
now or not at all." What could the poor merchant
do? The person whom he had now to deal with
was not the spiritual guru whom he could send
away with vague and indefinite promises, but the
'curtain guru' whose behests must be
instantaneously obeyed, or else there would be no
peace for him at home. At last the merchant,
willingly enough, opened the shop, at that late hour
of the night, and brought the cloths for her. Early
next morning, the good lady sent the article to the
guru with the message, "If in future you want
anything from us, ask me, and you will get it."
No comments:
Post a Comment