Banyan Tree January
Teaching story
GREATEST DEVOTEE OF GOD
Sage Narada thought he was a great devotee, but Lord Krishna informed him, “Narada, there is one farmer on earth who is a greater devotee than you.” Narada doubted this and came down to earth to see the peasant in person. He found that the farmer would chant the Lord’s Name only three times a day.
“How could he be a greater devotee than me?” thought Narada.
Upon returning, he mentioned his doubt to the Lord, who gave him a small vessel filled to the brim with oil and asked him to keep it on his head and go round a particular hill without spilling even a drop of it. When Narada returned after finishing the round, the Lord asked, “How many times did you chant my name in between?”
Narada thought about it and was surprised to discover that he had not remembered the Lord’s Name even once because his attention had been fully concentrated on keeping the vessel of oil steady so as not to spill it.
The Lord smilingly said, “Now do you understand what a great devotee that farmer is? Even in the midst of his toilsome work, he is remembering me thrice, is he not?” The one who simultaneously does karma and remembers God is the noblest.
HENRY VAN DYKE
This, I know
• Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.
• Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
• Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.
• There is only one way to get ready for immortality, and that is to love this life and live it as bravely and faithfully and cheerfully as we can.
• In the progress of personality, first comes a declaration of independence, then a recognition of interdependence.
Inspiration
OUR FATHER’S LOVE
God touches us with healing hands
If we will just believe
He’ll take away our every pain
Our sorrows when we grieve.
He’ll hold us in his loving arms
And wipe away our tears
And in the darkest part of night
He’ll ease all of our fears.
For God the Father’s love is pure
Much purer than the snow
And when we accept him in our hearts
It’s then that we will know
That no other love can ever compare
To the love we feel inside
For a father who loved us all so much
That upon a cross he died.
Even in our darkest hour
His love will light the way
So that we might have eternal life
With him in heaven someday.
—Susan Jeavons
ONE-MINUTE WISDOM
DEVIL OBEYS
A poor woman called in to a radio station asking for help from God. A non-believer who was listening to this programme decided to make fun of the woman. He got her address and sent a large number of foodstuffs through his secretary. However, he sent it with the following instruction: “When the woman asks who sent the food, tell her that it’s from the devil.'”
When the secretary arrived at the woman's house, the woman was so happy and grateful for the help received. The secretary then asked her, '”Don't you want to know who sent the food?'” The woman replied, ''No, I don't even care because when God orders, even the devil obeys!"
Just for laughs
COMPLAINING MONK
Every ten years, the monks in a monastery are allowed to break their vow of silence to speak two words. Ten years go by and it’s one monk’s first chance. He thinks for a second before saying, “Food bad.” Ten years later, he says, “Bed hard.” It’s the big day, a decade later. He gives the head monk a long stare and says, “I quit.” “I’m not surprised,” the head monk says. “You’ve been complaining ever since you got here.”