Parable of Two Businessmen
Two businessmen once set out
for a distant land for doing business. They were both rich. They had heard well
about the returns that their business would bring them in the new place. The
first one, Rama, thought, "Let me invest my entire wealth. Even if the
business be shaky in the beginning and there be initial losses, yet my
foundation will be strong and I will gain in the long run." Accordingly,
he invested his entire fortune and started the business in right earnest, on a
well-established ground. With the usual losses in the beginning, he pulled on
through the infant stages extraordinarily well and became a well-reputed
businessman. As days passed by, he was getting from the establishment more
profit than he ever dreamt of.
On the other hand, Govind, the
second man, thought with a certain pessimistic attitude: "If I invest all
my money and lose it, then I will neither have the profit from the new
establishment, nor the fortune to live happily with the old wealth. So let me
invest a little at first. If it is profitable, I will invest more and more of
the old wealth; for, then, the new profits will help my living and there will
not be any need for me to depend on the old wealth for my day-to-day
living."
At first, he invested a
little. That was consumed by the initial loss account. Then he invested a
little, again. It too, was found to compensate only the initial loss without
leaving him any profit. As years rolled on, he found that he had lost all his
wealth and had nothing to live upon.
The two businessmen are like
two spiritual aspirants.
Their going to a far off land
is like the aspirants' going into seclusion for reaping a good spiritual harvest.
Like the businessman investing
all his wealth at one time, an aspirant renounces his all at once. Like that
businessman, the aspirant too, has got his shaky beginning, but has established
himself well in the spiritual path. There is no fall back or final loss. He
progresses rapidly and soon attains the bliss of spiritual life, the summum
bonum of human existence.
Akin to Govind is that
aspirant who takes to seclusion foregoing a little comfort, but keeping intact
his old fortune to save him in times of need. The aspirant doubts: "If I
give out all my wealth and also do not succeed in attaining the Goal, I may be
forced afterwards to live like a beggar in this world. So let me keep something
in store. On attaining that Bliss, I shall gladly give out this wealth. If I do
not attain that bliss, I shall and can utilize this
wealth in this world."
This aspirant like the second
businessman, loses all his wealth when Time places its mighty hand upon him.
Nor does he get the fruits of spiritual life, like Govind going without profit.
O man! Remember the words of
the Lord:
"There is no initial loss
here in spiritual effort, nor even reactions. Even a little understanding of
this Truth (Law) will save you from very great danger."
Renounce your all, without any
reservation; the fruits of spiritual life are there in your hands.
Excerpts from:
If you would like to purchase the print edition, visit:
http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?
http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?
If you would
like to contribute to the dissemination of spiritual knowledge please contact
the General Secretary at:
No comments:
Post a Comment