A warm embrace, with kind words and a gentle touch, can be more worthwhile than the most expensive and gorgeous gift in the world, writes Sant Rajinder Singh
Everybody in this world wants to be looked after. No matter what we do, we all seek the attention and care of others. As we seek and expect love from others, so do others from us. We can let people know in many ways that we care about them. We can give them a shoulder to cry on.
We can give a hug, a loving pat or a gentle touch. We can speak kind words to them. One can express love and care through different ways. For some, it is expressed by giving gifts. Here, one needs to be reminded that it is not the material value of the gift that counts; it is the thought and love behind it. Caring does not have to be in the form of material gifts. It can be demonstrated through expressions of love.
There is a story about a nomad who was wandering through a desert. He was a loner who spent time travelling through desolate areas. One day he found a stream of ‘sweet’ water. He enjoyed the water so much that he wanted to share it with someone. He thought about all the people with whom he could share it. After giving it a thought, he decided that his king, being a noble person, deserved this gift.
The nomad leaned down and dipped his leather canteen into the stream. He was so excited with the idea of gifting this water to the king that he did not even drink a drop of it on his journey back to the palace, despite being thirsty midway. By the time he reached the palace, the water had grown stale. The nomad did not realise it because he had not tasted it during his journey. All that the nomad knew was that he had collected the ‘sweetest’ water in the world and out of love wanted to offer it to the king. When the man told the royal guards that he had brought a gift for the king, he was allowed inside the palace.
The king greeted the nomad and graciously accepted his gift. He then drank the water, thanking the nomad profusely for the gift. After the nomad left, the king’s ministers wanted to taste the water that had made the king so happy. They each took a sip of the water. “Oh, my goodness,” they said, “This water is putrid and tastes horrible. How could the king smile and drink that, relishing each sip with so much loveIJ” They asked the king, “Why did you pretend to enjoy drinking this waterIJ” The king replied, “You see, it was not the water I was tasting, but the spirit of love in which it was given.”
This story illustrates that more than the material gift, it’s the spirit of love behind it that is more important. Anything given in love is sweeter than the most expensive gift money can ever buy. We do not need to buy the most expensive gift to show how much we care. A warm embrace, kind words and gentle touch can be more worthwhile than the most expensive gift in the world.
Accept everything gracefully
We often face difficulties, hardships and disappointments. Things do not always go our way, and we end up complaining about life and everything that it offers. But have we ever thought about life from a different perspectiveIJ Think about how fortunate we are, being born as human beings. How many of us have ever thanked God for the life we have been givenIJ We complain to Him when things go wrong, but what about so many things that He has given usIJ
In this respect, there is a story about Mahmud of Ghazni. One day, while he was sitting with his most devoted servant, Ayaz, he shared half of his cucumber with him. Ayaz thanked him and happily ate the piece. When he had finished, the king took a bite of his own half. “Yuk!” the king cried, as he spit the cucumber out. “This is so bitter! How could you have eaten your piece if it tasted like bitter poisonIJ” Ayaz replied, “My dear king, I have enjoyed so many favours and blessings from you all these years. Whatever you give me tastes sweet!”
Ayaz’s attitude demonstrates the frame of mind of a true lover. This is how we should cultivate our relationship with the Supreme Being. We should take everything, good or bad, as a gift of God. If we take all that comes to us as a gift from the lord, then we can accept both the good and the bad without any complaint. If we can appreciate the weeds as well as the roses, we will be able to enrich our lives. If we can accept our enemies as well as our friends, we will not have to waste precious breaths in complaints and bitterness. So, the lesson is: Accept everything with grace and work hard to improve your standing.
The writer is a spiritual master