A homeless God
Once a group of saints were passing through a jungle and they saw somebody sitting on a hillock a little distance away, looking sad and out of place. As there was radiant light emanating from that person, these saints went close to him, to see who he was and what he was doing there alone.
They saw it was God, and He was sitting alone and sad. When they enquired why God was sitting there alone and why He was looking so sad, God replied that He had been thrown out of his house.
“How can anybody throw you out of your house?” asked the saints in astonishment.
“Yes, it is true that I have been thrown out of my house and that too by my own people,” said God.
While the saints could not understand what God was saying, God continued, “As you know, my permanent place of residence is in the hearts of all beings. But people have stopped visiting me there. They have thrown me out of their hearts and installed me in temples, churches and other places of worship. When I reside in the hearts of my children I control, guide and protect their lives, but it seems like they want to lead a life of their own, without my constant intervention... Most people seem to require me only when they are in trouble, or are tense. On such occasions they come looking for me in these places of worship, seeking protection, guidance and relief from their problems. This too they do at their convenience.”
“I am starving too these days as people do not think of me when they eat food, as the essence of my food comes from the gratitude people offer me while eating food. I also don’t get enough sleep in these places of worship as at night I am locked in a small room whose four walls have no emotions or feeling of love, gratitude and devotion, which the real soft bed for me to sleep in at night. That is why I am sad, my child.”
Hearing this the saints felt sad and asked God what the people should do to make Him happy again. God said, “Where I stay people do not visit me and where I do not stay people go in large numbers. I am easily available to all those who meditate with me in their hearts. I will not be available to those who throw me out of their hearts and make me homeless... When I stay in the hearts of my devotees I take full control of their lives — I guide them through the good and bad facets of life, protect them from troubles, plan for their well being, take their life’s challenges upon me, shower unconditional love and open doors for them to eventually unite with me. I call upon my people, my children, to reinstall me in their hearts and meditate upon me with feeling of complete surrender and devotion. I assure them that they will be taken care of. I will make everything possible that will eventually be for their benefit.”
Sri Rameshji Jain is a modern age spiritual guru and founder of Poorna Ananda, a Centre for Spiritual Evolution and Joyful Living.
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