An old farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning, grandpa was up early, either sitting at the kitchen table reading scriptures or visiting saints for spiritual knowledge. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could. One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the scriptures and listen to saints, just like you, but I don’t understand it, and whatever I do understand, I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading these scriptures do ” The grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.” The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.” And he went out of the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he reached home. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard. As usual, when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, “See, it is useless!” “So, you think it is useless ” The old man said, “Look at the basket.” The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realised that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out. “Son, that’s what happens when you read the scriptures or listen to enlightened saints. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read scriptures and listen to saints, you will be changed, inside and out.”
Sri Rameshji Jain is a modern age spiritual guru and founder of Poorna Ananda, a Centre for Spiritual Evolution and Joyful Living.
