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—Swami Ramarajyam—
( 1 )
Once a devotee sent Swami Sivanandaji a big parcel of sweets by post. Swamiji said, "Bring the sweets in buckets."
He was very happy. Accompanied by the disciples, who carried the buckets, he went round all the buildings in the Sivananda Ashram.
"Om Namo Narayanaya (sacred words of a Mantra)...come, come, don't go empty handed... don't take a little... take in your handkerchief, your hands cannot hold much... don't worry, I shall give you medicines, if you overeat them," the delighted Swamiji was saying while distributing the sweets. He also said, "I perceive God in all of you to whom I am distributing the sweets. While giving away the sweets, I feel I am offering food to God. My chanting of the Mantra 'Om Namo Narayanaya' is my Japa."
Why was Swamiji so joyful? Was he so because he had got lots of sweets to eat? No, he was joyful because he had lots of sweets to give away. It is good to give and better still, to give while chanting God's name and perceiving God in those to whom you are giving. The more you accumulate, the more you lose. The more you give, the more you get. Give, what you have got... then you get more... give it away...then you get even more... distribute even that. What a beautiful idea!
When you thus give away,
- You alone are not joyful, those people also share your joy with whom you have shared your things.
- Your heart expands. The expanded heart becomes so big! The joys and sorrows of all others find a place in it. Result: when others are grieved, you are also grieved. And, then you are anxious to rid them of their grief. When others are happy, you begin to dance for joy.
Dear children, don't miss the opportunity of 'sharing'. Don't bother as to whether the taker is good or bad. It is God who appears in the form of a taker. Your belongings are God's. In this way you offer God's things to God only.
( 2 )
Saint Tukaram
Saint Tukaram never accepted expensive gifts from anyone. He adjusted himself to every circumstance with a smile of contentment.
Once king Shivaji sent Tukaram some expensive utensils. Tukaram was not present in his cottage so his wife received them. When he came, his wife told him that Shivaji had sent some very beautiful utensils. She also told that she had kept them in the cottage and distributed the old earthenwares.
Tukaram said, "That is all right. Now we shall distribute the new utensils as well."
And, carrying the basket of utensils on his head, he went out to distribute them. He was singing merrily while distributing them and was so happy after distributing them. The people of his village came to know that Tukaram had distributed all his utensils so they gave him new earthenwares.
Dear children, whatever we have belongs to everyone. How nice if others can use it! That was the way Tukaram thought. Try to think like him and feel happy, like him, to find that your things are being utilized by others. May you understand what the joy of sharing is!
With all love and Om.
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