This is the story of a Sufi mystic saint of Persia. He was very simple and humble. He used to pray three times a day; His prayer was very simple; he would say "Oh God, your are so wonderful. You give me much more than what I deserve. I love you so much." The Sufi saint had some disciples - a small group which would join him for
everything. The Sufis are a rare breed of people.They are a sect which separated from Muslims. They would sing, dance, laugh and cry as they please. The peculiar thing about this saint was that he would not stay at one place for more than one or two days. He would go from one town to another. If at some town, there were people who accepted them, then they would be given a place to stay, food and facilities.However, if they went to a Muslim town, then they would be ignored, or sometimes even driven out of the town. Sometimes stones were thrown at them.All this, the Sufi saint would accept happily and go on doing his prayers without fail. Once it so happened that between two towns, there was a very great distance... There was a desert in between. The first day of walking was very difficult, but still the saint and his followers said the prayer three times. Again next morning before starting the walk, they all said the prayer "Oh God, you are so wonderful. You give me more than what I deserve. I love you so much.''The walk on the second day was even more difficult as there was no food or water for anyone. Their lips and throat were parched. Around mid-day, they halted for their prayers. All the followers, except one, joined the prayer. The rebellious one was very angry while others were saying their prayer.Immediately after the prayers were over, the rebel started abusing the Master, calling him a liar and a hypocrite. He said, "Here all of us are thirsty and hungry, yet you are thanking God! What for? What has he done for us? If he cannot give us even one drop of water, what sort of God is he? This is all nonsense. I don't believe it."
The Sufi saint listened to it all and when the rebel was pacified by the followers, he said, "Look my son, who has given you the right to demand anything from God? Actually, none of us deserve anything, but still He has given us a beautiful body, hands, legs, eyes, everything. There are so many in the world who are crippled, yet they are grateful to God. From now on, learn to appreciate and accept WHAT YOU HAVE, and not what you don't have. Then what you want can manifest easily." The rebel was now calm and quiet, and they all started walking. Towards the evening, they were again very tired, but a short distance, away they saw an Oasis and all were happy. They found plenty of water to drink and many dates to eat. The rebel was especially jubilant and he thanked the Sufi Master for teaching him acceptance and Love of God.Acceptance is the key for happiness. Learn to accept the good and the bad equally. As we meditate, the level of acceptance increases automatically.
Happiness is in the active acceptance of the present moment. |