The following story will illustrate the difference between facts & truth.
A sadhu (saint) was sitting under a bushy tree meditating. A frightened stranger came running towards the sadhu and asked him to save his life as few robbers were running after him to rob him of his gold & kill him. He requested the sadhu that he will climb the bushy tree under which the sadhu was sitting and hide himself under the dense bushes. The sadhu replied to him that he being an honest man and a sadhu, he cannot speak untruth. The stranger with folded hands pleaded with the sadhu to save his life. After lot of pursuation, the sadhu finally agreed that when the robbers come , he will not open his mouth and speak. The terrified man climbed the tree to hide himself as the robbers were about to reach.
The robbers arrived soon after and started asking the sadhu whether he has seen a man running around. The sadhu remained silent and would not speak at all. The robbers persuaded him for some time but seeing the sadhu not telling anything, threatened to kill him. Seeing the threat to his own life, the sadhu pointed out his finger upwards. The robbers understood the indication, climbed the tree, caught hold of the helpless man, dragged him down, robbed of his belongings and killed him. The sadhu was sad thinking that he could not save the life of the man but was happy that he did not speak untruth and his own life has been spared too.
When the time came for the sadhu to leave his body after many years of penance and scrupulous regard to scriptural ordinances, he died. His soul was taken by Yamraj (the God of death) and was produced before Dharmaraj (God of Justice) to decide his fate. Dharmaraj after scrutinized his Karmas (deeds) on earth, he was ordered to enter the hell. The sadhu was not expecting this and was greatly surprised on hearing the order. The sadhu was expecting to be taken to heaven as he was a sadhu with noble deeds and tainless life. He questioned Dharmaraj why he is being ordered to be taken to the hell when he was a noble sadhu, never spoke untruth in his life and was a servant of God. Therefore, he deserves a place in heaven and not the hell. Dharmaraj told him that no doubt he was a holy sadhu but he had committed a terrible error of judgement on earth for which he is being punished. The sadhu protested that he has committed no sin and always pursued the path of truth. On hearing this, Dharmaraj reminded him about the stranger requesting him to save his life from robbers but he failed to save him. To this, the sadhu answered that he did not speak untruth but just pointed out his finger in upward direction on seeing the threat to his own life. Saving his own life was also his duty as per scriptures. Dharmaraj told him that he could have pointed out the finger in a wrong direction when the innocent man sought his protection from the robbers. His own life would have also been saved. Dharmaraj explained the sadhu the difference between the truth and mere facts. The truth implies real ultimate benifit to self and others. By stating mere facts, the stranger paid the price of his life in the hands of robbers. This was his terrible sin.
The sadhu understood the difference between the truth and mere facts. After atoning for his errors in hell, the sadhu was free to enter the heaven.
A sadhu (saint) was sitting under a bushy tree meditating. A frightened stranger came running towards the sadhu and asked him to save his life as few robbers were running after him to rob him of his gold & kill him. He requested the sadhu that he will climb the bushy tree under which the sadhu was sitting and hide himself under the dense bushes. The sadhu replied to him that he being an honest man and a sadhu, he cannot speak untruth. The stranger with folded hands pleaded with the sadhu to save his life. After lot of pursuation, the sadhu finally agreed that when the robbers come , he will not open his mouth and speak. The terrified man climbed the tree to hide himself as the robbers were about to reach.
The robbers arrived soon after and started asking the sadhu whether he has seen a man running around. The sadhu remained silent and would not speak at all. The robbers persuaded him for some time but seeing the sadhu not telling anything, threatened to kill him. Seeing the threat to his own life, the sadhu pointed out his finger upwards. The robbers understood the indication, climbed the tree, caught hold of the helpless man, dragged him down, robbed of his belongings and killed him. The sadhu was sad thinking that he could not save the life of the man but was happy that he did not speak untruth and his own life has been spared too.
When the time came for the sadhu to leave his body after many years of penance and scrupulous regard to scriptural ordinances, he died. His soul was taken by Yamraj (the God of death) and was produced before Dharmaraj (God of Justice) to decide his fate. Dharmaraj after scrutinized his Karmas (deeds) on earth, he was ordered to enter the hell. The sadhu was not expecting this and was greatly surprised on hearing the order. The sadhu was expecting to be taken to heaven as he was a sadhu with noble deeds and tainless life. He questioned Dharmaraj why he is being ordered to be taken to the hell when he was a noble sadhu, never spoke untruth in his life and was a servant of God. Therefore, he deserves a place in heaven and not the hell. Dharmaraj told him that no doubt he was a holy sadhu but he had committed a terrible error of judgement on earth for which he is being punished. The sadhu protested that he has committed no sin and always pursued the path of truth. On hearing this, Dharmaraj reminded him about the stranger requesting him to save his life from robbers but he failed to save him. To this, the sadhu answered that he did not speak untruth but just pointed out his finger in upward direction on seeing the threat to his own life. Saving his own life was also his duty as per scriptures. Dharmaraj told him that he could have pointed out the finger in a wrong direction when the innocent man sought his protection from the robbers. His own life would have also been saved. Dharmaraj explained the sadhu the difference between the truth and mere facts. The truth implies real ultimate benifit to self and others. By stating mere facts, the stranger paid the price of his life in the hands of robbers. This was his terrible sin.
The sadhu understood the difference between the truth and mere facts. After atoning for his errors in hell, the sadhu was free to enter the heaven.
No comments:
Post a Comment