Monday is back, so is its Truclusions and a new story. Today let me take on the route of the “Arabian Nights”. I am going to tell you one of my favorite stories. The story of Hatim, a very brave man and one of the greatest believer of the almighty. After narrating the story I’ll tell you one more unforgettable experience I had at the Ahmedabad retreat.
The Story Of Hatim And The Sad Spirit
Once Hatim set out on a journey and on his way found himself in the middle of a desert. It was noon and the sun was beating down in full ferocity. Suddenly he heard a voice crying, “I haven’t done anything that’s beneficial for me today!” The pain in the voice of the cry made him walk towards the voice. Finally after a long ride on his horse back he reached a grave where he saw 5 spirits sitting for lunch.
Four of them were well dressed, and looked happy and satisfied. But one was dressed in old torn rags; he looked desperate and hungry. In a while, Hatim saw angels from heavens come to serve lunch to these 5 spirits. To his surprise the four happy souls were served delicious food but the fifth was served gold, diamonds and other precious stones, which were not edible.
Hatim sympathetically asked the spirit what sin had he committed not to be served food by the angels. The fifth spirit said he lived a life of a miserly merchant and never helped the needy or fed the hungry, though he had the resources to do so. The other four souls were his servants but were benevolent to the needy though they had limited resources.
Hence the four souls were enjoying the rewards of the kind acts and he was serving punishment. He also told him that he had buried a great treasure under his mansion, but it was too late by the time he decided to use it for charity, as the angels of death came to take him away.
The desperate soul wished to make that charity, which might put an end to his punishments. Hatim’s heart called to fulfil his wish, and he offered to go to the merchant’s mansion and see to it that the amassed wealth was well utilized. Moments later the merchant was forgiven for his sins and the angels from heaven treated him as the rest of the four souls.
The Bandit Who Lived Over A 100 Years
After keeping his promise to the merchant, Hatim continued his journey. He was on his way to a town called Maadin, where he was told about a man who was famous for his generosity and was living over 100 years. Hatim was curious to know more about him; he went to his house where he saw the words—Do good and cast it into the waters—carved on the wall.
When asked, the man told Hatim that he used to be a bandit, but one day he saw a mermaid on the river bank who was hungry for food. The bandit took pity on her and fed to her satisfaction. The mermaid wished him well and swam away. That night the bandit slept the most peacefully, unfortunately never to wake up.
But when he found himself being dragged to hell, an angel from heaven rescued him and told him that god had increased his lifespan for 200 more years. Since then he received a 100 gold coins daily, which he used for charity.
Uday Bhai And His Generosity – Fuelled Auto
The moral of the story is that a single act of kindness can hold you in good stead against all your sins. You can only imagine how much happier your soul would feel, if you engaged in such activities more often! We all do acts of kindness, but rare are those who make it a way of life.
At the retreat in Ahmedabad, I met a few such people who have made it the mission of their lives. One of them is Uday Bhai, an auto-rickshaw driver by profession. But what makes the world notice him is the tariff that he charges for his customers or as he calls them, his Guests. The method of payment that is followed by him is very unique.
None of the people pay for the rides they get on Uday Bhai’s rickshaw. They pay it forward for the next guest who would board the rickshaw, because someone who sat in the vehicle before them has already paid for them. If someone cannot afford to pay, they don’t have to pay at all!
One incident that a guest who traveled in Uday Bhai’s rickshaw narrated was that it so happened that the man had lost his wallet and had to catch a train to Delhi. No auto-rickshaw stopped to give him a ride to the railway station, and the man was getting late. Fortunately Uday Bhai was around when the rickshaw driver standing next to him declined the man’s request. He gave the man the required ride without any payment in return, in turn he gave the man INR 500 for his travel expenses.
Uday Bhai is not from a well-to-do family, but comes from a very humble background. He is responsible for 10 lives in his family. From the meagre income he earns, he keeps a share of it for charity. He and everyone in his house honestly believes that if they care for someone in need, the family will receive the care when they need it. This shows that you don’t have to be very rich to do charity.
So, in conclusion, this is how I sum up Uday Bhai’s story –
For what gain for self he does earn
Does the sun for no reason burn?
At whose treasure does the wind take a dig?
He lets the universe breathe with a heart big.
How does life from peak to plane go?
Doesn’t a river carrying life from corner to corner flow?
Why like a giant does a tree grow?
Else from whom shall we about charity know?
Like a selfless mother, it is only nature,
To all the needs of her kids, she does cater.
It is us, who see our own gain,
Even in someone’s pain.
Liked reading this? Then you might also like to read Monday Truclusions – Moving Toward A More Inclusive And Accessible Bharat.
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