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(Short Story, as told by Bhagavan SRI SATHYA SAI BABA)
One day, an old lady came to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa with her 10-year-old grandson.
She prostrated before him and said: "Master! I have come to seek your advice.
This boy is my grandson. He lost his father and mother when he was just a child
of five. I have been taking care of him. He is very fond of sweets. He eats so
much that his health is deteriorating day by day. The doctors have advised him
not to eat sweets but this fellow does not pay any heed to their advice.
However, he has great respect and admiration for you. So I have come to request
you to stop the boy from eating sweets. I am sure, you alone can do this".
Ramakrishna said: "Mother, don't worry, come with your grandson after a month.
In the meanwhile I shall think of a plan to convince the boy that one's health
is very important, more important even than wealth".
The old woman thanked him and took leave of him. She came with her grandson exactly after a month.
Both of them paid their salutations to the master.
Ramakrishna made the boy sit beside him and said: "My dear boy! Remember, one's
real wealth is health. Unless you take proper care of your health, you will not
be able to grow into a strong and healthy young man. You will not be able to do
anything great in life if you are weak. When something that we eat does not
suit our constipation, we should give up eating that item. From tomorrow you
should not eat sweets. After some time you may eat moderately. You are a nice
boy and will listen to me, will you not?".
The boy nodded his head and promised that he would not eat sweets.
The old woman sent the boy on some errand just to have confidential talk with the master.
"Master! May I ask you a question?" said the old woman.
"Certainly mother", replied Ramakrishna.
"Master! This advice, which you have given today to my grandson, you could have
given last month itself. Why did you ask me to come again after a month? I
don't understand".
Ramakrishna replied with an understanding smile: "Mother! I myself eat lot of
sweets. How can I advise the boy to do something that I am not doing myself?
One has no right to preach anything to others before practicing it himself. So
I asked for some time. This one month I did not eat sweets.
So I have earned the right to advise your grandson."
The old woman marveled at the righteous conduct of Ramakrishna. She fell at his
feet and took leave of him.
(Short Story, as told by Bhagavan SRI SATHYA SAI BABA)
One day, an old lady came to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa with her 10-year-old grandson.
She prostrated before him and said: "Master! I have come to seek your advice.
This boy is my grandson. He lost his father and mother when he was just a child
of five. I have been taking care of him. He is very fond of sweets. He eats so
much that his health is deteriorating day by day. The doctors have advised him
not to eat sweets but this fellow does not pay any heed to their advice.
However, he has great respect and admiration for you. So I have come to request
you to stop the boy from eating sweets. I am sure, you alone can do this".
Ramakrishna said: "Mother, don't worry, come with your grandson after a month.
In the meanwhile I shall think of a plan to convince the boy that one's health
is very important, more important even than wealth".
The old woman thanked him and took leave of him. She came with her grandson exactly after a month.
Both of them paid their salutations to the master.
Ramakrishna made the boy sit beside him and said: "My dear boy! Remember, one's
real wealth is health. Unless you take proper care of your health, you will not
be able to grow into a strong and healthy young man. You will not be able to do
anything great in life if you are weak. When something that we eat does not
suit our constipation, we should give up eating that item. From tomorrow you
should not eat sweets. After some time you may eat moderately. You are a nice
boy and will listen to me, will you not?".
The boy nodded his head and promised that he would not eat sweets.
The old woman sent the boy on some errand just to have confidential talk with the master.
"Master! May I ask you a question?" said the old woman.
"Certainly mother", replied Ramakrishna.
"Master! This advice, which you have given today to my grandson, you could have
given last month itself. Why did you ask me to come again after a month? I
don't understand".
Ramakrishna replied with an understanding smile: "Mother! I myself eat lot of
sweets. How can I advise the boy to do something that I am not doing myself?
One has no right to preach anything to others before practicing it himself. So
I asked for some time. This one month I did not eat sweets.
So I have earned the right to advise your grandson."
The old woman marveled at the righteous conduct of Ramakrishna. She fell at his
feet and took leave of him.
Posts
I think this short story is a very meaningful one as it emphasizes the meaning of righteousness. The moral of this story is to practice what we preach. One should not advise others unless one has put into practice what he is going to say. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a very righteous man as he first got rid of his bad habit, before he helped the boy get rid of his. He didn't just say it, he has experienced the harships of trying to stop eating sweets therefore, he will know how the boy feels. When the boy's mother asks why he couldn't tell the boy the advise a month earlier, Ramakrishna tells her the truth therefore, it also shows his honesty towards himself and other people. The greater meaning of this short story is to learn how to the very thing, that you are going to give advice on to other people.
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