Thank you to everyone for helping me with my problem last week.
If you haven’t read that story yet, reach out for a copy here.
Today’s story is not about Arjun.
We’ve discussed a lot about him and his relationship with god.
Today, I want to talk about his father. His name was Bhogilal.
He was a simple man. Uncomplicated. His life had no specific purpose, but he never shied away from discharging his duty to his profession, family or community.
Just another friendly neighbourhood uncle, who’s happy with their life and not looking to cause any harm.
Naarad was impressed with Bhogilal’s simplicity and goodness.
He came down to earth and invited him to go to heaven. He wanted a good man such as Bhogilal always to be happy and comfortable, surrounded by wealth and riches that he felt Bhogilal deserved.
Bhogilal bowed to Naarad and thanked him for the invitation.
“Thank you, Naarad ji. Who wouldn’t want to go to heaven?” he said, “But I don’t want to die so soon. I’d rather stay here for a few more years and spend time with my family.”
Naarad smiled. Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die.
“I understand, child. Don’t be scared. Be with your family. I’ll come back after a few years.”
A few years passed. And Naarad came back.
But instead of Bhogilal, Arjun greeted Naarad.
Naarad inquired where Bhogilal had gone and when he’d be back. He had to leave for heaven, after all.”
“Naarad ji, I’m sorry.” Arjun said with moist eyes, “Papa passed away around 2 years ago.”
Being a celestial being, Naarad figured out where Bhogilal reincarnated.
He was amused to know that Bhogilal was now a pig, living in a gutter.
Naarad immediately flew there.
There he saw poor Bhogilal, slouching in the sewage. He went up to him and introduced himself, reminding him how he had been a good man in his past life and tracked him to keep his promise: to get him to heaven.
Bhogilal the pig was delighted. Still the family man, he waddled to his mate and said, “Come, Naarad ji has come to take us to heaven.”
He came back a minute later with an anxious face.
“What happened?” Naarad asked.
“We want to come to heaven. But we have a request. We don’t want to leave this gutter behind. If you can promise us a similar gutter in swarga lok, we’ll both come immediately.”
Naarad stood there shocked. Without speaking a word, he left.
Moral of the story:
You may like it a lot, but it’s actually a gutter.
If you’re not willing to let go of it, you’re saying no to many good things coming your way.
What’s ‘it’?
The thing that came to your mind while reading this.
The thing you perhaps know is not good for you, but you’re afraid you can’t live without it.
The thing that is stopping you from prioritising a happy future.
Hope you’re able to see it for what it is, leave it and move forward towards happiness.
