Serving The Humankind

Manoj was was going back to home after attending a New Year’s party with his wife Mamta. It was very cold outside. In fact, the entire region was reeling under severe cold wave conditions, with mercury plunging to near zero levels.

Manoj’s heart was moved to see an old beggar wrapped in a thin, old and torn rag sheet on the footpath. He stopped the car and gave the blanket kept in the car dicky.

Mamta gave him a disapproving look and said, “I bet, he will not wear it, but will sell it and buy some booze.” Manoj kept mum.

After two days, both husband and wife were again returning from a function. It was again a chilly night. But Manoj was surprised to see that the old beggar was shivering under the same old sheet. The old beggar did not have the blanket, he had given to him.

Mamta was amused, but Manoj got angry. Both got down from the car. Manoj sarcastically asked the old man, “Where is the blanket, baba?”

The old man gestured with his hand where an old woman was lying at a distance. She was wearing the same blanket they had given. He replied, “That woman is handicapped and her clothes are also torn. I have at least this old sheet, she had nothing, so I gave her your blanket.”

He who doesn’t have a roof, has all the sky with him.

Both were left bewildered. Mamta whispered to Manoj, “I have a Jaipuri quilt. Let’s bring it from home to give it to baba ji.”

No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool we believe we are, how we treat people ultimately tells it all.

Friends, let’s thank God that He has placed us in the category of givers. Wealth never reduces by giving it to the needy. The Sun comes up daily to share its light and energy, but its store never diminishes.

Kabir Das

This reminds me of a verse written by Kabir Das, a 15th-century mystic poet and saint:

चिड़ी चोंच भर ले गई।
नदी न घटिये नीर।।
दान दिए धन ना घटे।
कह गए दास कबीर ।।

(There is no reduction in the water of the river if a bird takes water in her beak from the river. In the same way, donating to the needy does not reduce anyone’s wealth.)

Incidentally, today (January 12), The National Youth Day is the 159th birthday of Swami Vivekananda, an Indian monk, poet, philosopher, social reformer and spiritual leader. He was a disciple of the mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa, who taught him that all living beings are embodiments of the divine self, and therefore we can serve God by serving the humankind.

–Kaushal Kishore

images except Kabir: pixabay