Story>>ShortStories
  How I wish I had your faith. 30-6-2001 
 
Rate it 

An old lady was regular and faithful participant in the daily prayer-meetings conducted by a holy man. However, she lived at a great distance, across the river from the saint’s ashram. Everyday, she had to take a boat to reach the satsang; invariably, she arrived a little late every day.

One day, when she reached the gathering, the holy man was speaking on the mahima of uttering the Name of Rama. Do you know that nothing is impossible to you if you utter the sacred Rama-nama?he said to his followers.Why, by chanting the Name of Rama, you can even walk over the waters! The old lady, who listened with devotion to his words, was truly thrilled.

What a valuable mantra the guru has taught me, she thought. From tomorrow, I wont have to wait for the boat to cross the river. I shall just repeat the Name Divine and walk across the waters. In fact, it does not have to be tomorrow, I shall do it tonight when I return home!

When the prayer-meeting was over, she left the place and walked quietly to the river. Chanting the Holy Name, she walked across the river effortlessly, reaching home in good time. She didnt think it necessary to mention this to any of her friends or neighbours. In the goodness her innocent nature, she imagined that everyone could walk across the waters with the power of the Holy Name, and that it was only she who had been ignorant of its power all these days!

The next day, she reached the satsang quite early. The holy man greeted her and expressed his surprise at her timely arrival. Its is all your grace, swamiji, said the lady with humility and devotion. Pray, visit my humble abode with your disciples. We shall be glad to come and see you, replied the holy man We will go with you after todays satsang. After the meeting, the lady let the holy man and his disciples to the river. Without even pausing to look before or behind her, she walked across the waters, quite certain that the holy man and his entourage would do the same.

Imaging her surprise when she heard the holy man call out behind her, O good lady, kindly send a boat to fetch us across the river. Why? exclaimed the old lady, It was your grace the taught me the power of the sacred mantra with which I could walk across the waters! Why would you need a boat? O mother, aid the holy man in utter humility, I gave you the mantra. You had faith to make it work. How I wish I had your faith?


Innocent faith can move mountains.

Contributed by : vandemataram


© 2000 - 2009 VandeMataram.com All rights reserved