An interesting story
illustrates how people read spiritual write up or listen to spiritual
discourse.
A shopkeeper lived in a
town. He sold dress material sarees, shirts, pants etc. He had a son.
He told his son to attend a spiritual discourse which was going on in
the town hall. His son went everyday and was very much impressed by
the teachings of the preacher. He decided that he would follow the
teachings of the preacher in his daily life.
When customer would
approach him he would tell the customer, ‘See the correct price
is Rs100 though printed price is Rs.200. However, you will have to
pay the printed price because that is my father’s order.’
Naturally, there were no sales for few days.
The shopkeeper inquired
with his son what was happening. Son explained, ‘I told
customers the truth. We should not deceive others. Telling lie and
deceiving others are sins and the preacher was saying that no one
should commit sins. You told me to attend the lectures. Right?’
Shopkeeper said, ‘My son, I told you attend the lectures but I
need to tell you now how these spiritual lectures should be
attended.’
He continued,’When
you attend any spiritual discourse, you should take a piece of cloth
along with you and spread that cloth on the floor before you and sit
with folded hands. You should think whatever is being told is being
collected in the cloth. When the discourse is over, you should shake
that cloth as you do for dusting. On shaking the cloth all the
teaching that was collected falls to the ground just as the dust
falls to ground on shaking. Thus you should keep the teaching of the
preacher there itself. You should not carry those teaching home. I
send you to attend lecture so that people should think that you are a
pious person. They will then develop faith that you will do the
business honestly and your business will flourish which, in fact, you
do dishonestly.’
It means that we never
put the spiritual teachings in the practice. As a result there is no
spiritual progress at all.