SHORT STORY: KNOW YOUR GURU

Copyright@kamleshsujata1

By Kamlesh Tripathi

Once upon a time there lived a Mahatma named Angiras in a forest. In his aashram he had many pupils, and all them, had a great praise for their Guru’s knowledge and wisdom.

Amongst the pupils there were some who learnt faster than the others, from the Guru and followed the route suggested by him. And these pupils were generally respected by other pupils.

But some pupils used to be jealous of these pupils. They used to forget that because of their own shortcomings they were unable to understand and comprehend the Guru in a wholesome manner. And soon they started suspecting that the Guru was using some mysterious ways to coach his favourite pupils for some special talent.

One day when the Guru was alone these students went up to him and asked, ‘Gurudev, it appears you are teaching something special to your favourite students. Why don’t you give the same knowledge to us also?

Guru, did not like the query of his pupils, but he peacefully replied, ‘I consider everyone to be the same and have imparted the same education and knowledge to everyone. And, if some out of you have progressed faster than others it is because of your own efforts. Who has stopped you from being proficient?’

Students did not understand what the Guru was trying to say. And, so after thinking for a while the Guru spoke again and said, ‘I am ready to give special attention to all the students who want it, but I have one condition. You will have to clear a small test for me. You will have to go to the nearby villages, and find a ‘good person’ for me.’ Finding the test to be simple and easy all the complaining students felt very happy. They quickly elected a representative who enthusiastically set out for the mission.

But unfortunately wherever he went and whomsoever he met were all involved in some form of sin, and after searching a lot he returned to the ashram empty handed and in a remorse tone he said, ‘Gurudev, I could not find even one person who had not committed a crime.’

Guru, in a morose tone said, ‘Is it so, let me see. Okay let me send someone out of these students about whom you all were complaining.’ Guru called a pupil and ordered him to go to the nearby villages and get him a bad person. The obedient pupil said, ‘As the Guru desires, let me try.’ And after saying this he left.

But the remaining students out there felt Gurudev had again committed injustice. As the pupil will get plenty of bad men, as the villages are full of bad people.

Guru requested them to keep their cool. And after sometime the pupil deputed returned empty handed and said with folded hands, ‘Please pardon me Guruji. I scanned the nearby villages but I did not find a single bad person.’ Rest of the pupils started laughing. He further said, ‘every person has done at least one good deed. And I did not find a single person who had not done one good deed. So, kindly excuse me.’ and after saying this he took his Guru’s permission and left.

Guru then told his complaining pupils, ‘My dear students. This is that borderline which differentiates between good and bad, right and wrong and positive and negative.

Your mind blossoms when in everything you see goodness. World is a mixture of happiness and sorrow. This depends on your mindset what you want to take from the world. People who are positive grow faster than those who are negative.

For a Guru all his pupils are dear. And if any pupil considers himself distanced from the Guru, then it is that student’s stupidity. The more you feel close to me the more you will develop and it will be seen in your actions.’

This story tells how we should face life and its challenges. Complete surrender to your Guru will lift you from all your sorrows. The story is from Upanishad.