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A recluse and a prostitute were neighbours.
The recluse advised the prostitute, ‘Do not
indulge in merry making; it will land you in
hell’. The prostitute replied politely,
‘Holy sir, please pardon me, this is my only
means to buy food’. The recluse got into
counting how many persons visited the
prostitute. He was angry with her for not
heeding his advice.
And one fine day, both of them passed
away. God bade His messengers to lead
the prostitute to heaven and throw the
recluse in hell. The enraged recluse
asked God, ‘I have offered daily poojas
to You, chanting Your Holy Name; and yet
You are in favour of that prostitute
whose negative actions were known to
everyone’. To which God replied,
‘Despite the fact that she used her
physical form as a means of business to
make her living, her thoughts were
forever concentrated on Me. She used to
cry to Me always, seeking relief from
the evil ways of the world. Whereas
despite My giving you all the facilities
for you to worship me, you were focusing
your thoughts on taking an
inventory of how many people visited the
prostitute. Is that becoming of you?
Then the recluse asked God, ‘Is there no
result for my prayers then?’ God
replied, ‘Look down at what is happening
to the physical body you departed from’.
The recluse saw his body being bathed in
choicest fragrances of sandal and
lavender and being led in veneration to
the cremation ground, while the
prostitute’s corpse was left to wolves
and savage dogs. God said, ‘You did good
with your body, therefore your body is
honoured. She resorted to a different
path, so her corpse is at the mercy of
dogs and wolves. But in terms of the
soul, she led an honourable life,
whereas you erred in your thoughts.
Therefore she is in heaven and you are
in hell’.
It is not the act that is relevant in
God’s Kingdom; it is the thought that is
more relevant. Your thoughts dictate the
future turn of events in your life. If
you have truly immersed your thoughts in
the Divine, nothing can lead your
thoughts astray and that is what will
count with God.
Everything else you assume to be true in
this world is a question of relative judgment
that you have formed for your
convenience. Be true to your conscience
that is God, do not think evil and
always think good for and of yourself
and others, and that will lead you to
God’s good books naturally.
(Based
on the request of viewers, we have created
a new email id where you can address your
queries to Baba. Mail your queries to
soughtclarifies@samratchana.com Baba
replies to all queries during the daily
Sathsangh and nilacharal.com will publish
the transcribed version of His reply.)
(
Baba's replies to other questions
continues next week....)
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