A Gift Of Existence

There lived a Sadhu who regularly used to give discourses. One day at the end of the discourse he was talking of being grateful to existence. "Operate from a space of gratitude. This will allow us to expand.'' A beggar was sitting in a corner and listening to the discourse; he came up to the Sadhu and said, "Maharaj, your talk was great. But one thing I am not able to understand. You said to be grateful to the existence because it has always showered benediction on you. Sorry! But, existence has not given me anything. I am struggling even for one roti''.
The Sadhu said, "I agree with you, I will give you two lakhs, right here, will you be grateful?' The beggar was thrilled.
"But I want something in return from you'', said the Sadhu. “I do not have anything, what can I give you? If I have something I will definitely give you.'' said the beggar.
"I won't ask you anything that you do not have'', said the Sadhu. The agreement was made. The Sadhu said, "I will make arrangements for the two lakhs; but then in return you have to give me both your eyes."
The beggar was astonished. "What will I do with this money without my eyes? I don't agree to the deal,'' he said. "I prefer my two eyes instead of two lakhs''.
The Sadhu said, "but you said you don't have anything and were cursing existence."
For the beggar, money was very important. That we can see is such a great gift of existence. He had two eyes, two hands, two legs, stomach etc., He is already a multi-millionaire. But we do not see all these gifts .We can hear. We can walk. All are great gifts. If you say you are unhappy, it is ridiculous. In fact we should dance and celebrate Our Existence.
We are normally focused on what is missing in life. The moment you start operating from what you don't have, whatever you have also go into darkness.

Acceptance of Life

It was a busy morning, about 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman in his 80’s, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. The doctor took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. The doctor saw him looking at his watch and decided, since he was not busy with another patient, he would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so the doctor talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, the doctor asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
Doctor inquired as to her health. He told that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. As they talked, doctor asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
Doctor was surprised, and asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?”
He smiled as he patted his hand and said,
“She doesn’t know me, but “I still know who she is.”
The doctor had to hold back his tears as he left, and thought,
“That is the kind of love I want in my life.”
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.