Spiritualism

Sometime later when the priest was satisfied that the three were now well versed with the correct method to reach god, the priest took leave of the hermits and left for the kingdom.

Midway in the river in his boat the priest suddenly looked around from the deck and found to his horror that the three hermits were running on the volatile river and coming towards the priest. 

The whole crowd which had come along with the priest looked at this scene disbelievingly. The boat stopped.

The three hermits came near the boat panting. Then they said ‘’Sir, we have a doubt about what you taught…’’                             

The priest smiled ‘’Now I have no doubt. You can keep chanting ‘You are three…’’

Spiritualism

The priest was visibly moved. He sincerely felt that these three guys had got a raw deal in life and that they needed to be properly educated in rituals.

The priest left for the forest in a huge boat full of his own paraphernalia. There he met the three innocent hermits who received and treated him with respect.

The priest enlightened them with various holy scriptures. The hermits seemed to be earnest students eager to learn.

Spiritualism

Practice spiritualism as per your capacity. A play school kid cannot be expected to sit in a twelfth board exam. A story may enlighten the devotee on this subject:

Once there was a very large kingdom ruled by a noble king and served by a very learned priest who took care of the religious and spiritual needs of the population.

There was a wide river which separated the kingdom from a large tract of thick uninhabited forest.

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One day the learned priest came to know through the public that this particular forest was used as a permanent residence by three good, spiritual but seemingly ignorant hermits who did not know how to pray to god. Instead these three regularly sat together and looked at the sky and throwing up their arms just shouted ‘’You are three, we are three. Have mercy on us.’’ This they repeated time and again with monotonous regularity.

Spiritualism

‘’Fantastic…’’ god smiled ‘’I am pleased…’’ Narada nodded, eager to hear from god’s mouth that he himself was the greatest devotee.

And then god threw a bombshell.

‘’Tell me Narada..’’ he said disarmingly ‘’how many times did you remember me when you were circumambulating me with the cauldron of oil on your head.

Narada got contrite. All the time he was just concentrating on the cauldron, hoping against hopes that not a drop fell on the ground. Not once had he remembered god.

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‘’Narada…’’ god said benignly ‘’if you could forget me while completing this simple task, imagine that laborer who cares to remember me despite the endless troubles he is going through daily.

Narada could now realize why god called that farmer the greatest devotee.

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Spiritualism

‘’Wait..’’ God said tongue in cheek ‘’no hurry…’’

Narada looked puzzled.

‘’You must do that with a vessel brimming with oil, on your head….’’

Narada gulped.

‘’Further..’’ god smiled inwardly ‘’ if even one drop of oil spills to the ground you will lose this title….’’

Narada accepted the challenge grudgingly. The task began. Narada took the 

cauldron on his head and began walking around god. All the time he prayed that 

not one drop fell down. At last he successfully completed the job. Narada finally 

looked at god jubilantly.

Spiritualism

Now Narada got very angry. 

‘’God…’’he wailed. ‘’this is not done.’’ 

God looked at Narada smilingly ‘’What is not done?’’

‘’Do you…’’ Narada retorted angrily ‘’ genuinely think that he is a better and more ardent devotee than me?...’’

‘’That depends…’’ God mused ‘’ on your successfully completing a simple job…’’

Narada was delighted ‘’What is it god?...’’ he asked eagerly.

God smiled meaningfully ‘’If you circumambulate me and goddess Laknsmi 12 times I shall declare you as my greatest devotee.’’

‘’As you wish god…’’ Narada exclaimed jubilantly ‘’I shall do so immediately..’’

Spiritualism

God said solemnly’’ Narada let us follow one full day of this farmer.’’

Narada accepted albeit grudgingly. God and Narada sat down to watch the poor laborer.

The full day went by uneventfully. The farmer went about his chores monotonously.

However when the poor guy woke up, ate, and slept, the worker saluted god once.