A farmer possessed two pots. One pot was perfect, while the other was slightly cracked. Every morning he filled both pots with water from the lake using a ladle and got them home. By the time he would reach his housee, the cracked pot would only be half full due to water having dripped out from its cracks, while the other pot would be full to the brim. Seeing this happen each day, one day, grievingly, the cracked pot said to the farmer, 'Brother! smash me to the ground and get rid of me. Bring another good pitcher in my place so that your task of filling water in the pots is adequately fulfilled. I am of no use to you. The water keeps dripping from me and your labor goes in vain.' Hearing this, the farmer laughed and said, ' It is not as you understand. You too possess a value' How?', asked the pitcher. The farmer disclosed, 'when I am returning home every morning after filling both the pots. Drop by drop of water keeps dripping from the cracks. I made sure that the water daily fell on the dry barren side. If you look at it today, the entire area is no longer dry and is now lush green and blooming with vibrant colorful flowers.' When the pot saw this, he realized that his life had been made worthwhile by the farmer.
Today we buy an array of products from the market after thoroughly checking them. But do we ever pause to think that will we use them judiciously?
Thomas Alva Edison was a slightly weak in his studies, so his teacher expelled him from school. He was distraught, but his mother lovingly explained to him that 'Son you are so smart that the school teacher has no ability to teach you. So henceforth I will teach you.' And so, she educated Thomas Edison at home. The sentiments of a loving mother has illuminated the whole world in its glow.
In the book Swami ni Vato, it is mentioned that all the exemplary virtues that are propounded in the scriptures are only to be found in God. What it implies that not all human beings are endowed with all virtuous qualities. Besides that not everyone is a high performer. To know this fact is essential in trying to bring out the best in a person while dealing with him or to make his limitations his very resources and strength. In this way, a person's abilities can be fully utilized in a manner that the person also finds the task fulfilling and joyous. The best skipper has the ability to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of an individual and knows how to bring forth the strengths and how to diminish the flaws. Amongst his numerous virtues, Pramukh Swami Maharaj had one exceptional quality. He would know the limitations of a person and engage him in a task where the person could contribute something.
With his loving care, he used to make people overcome their imperfections and instill within them a sense of pride. Each individual would feel that he too can contribute something.
Chaturbhai, who can neither hear nor speak.resides in the Ahmedabad Shahibaug BAPS temple and is hired in the press department of the temple. It's been years now since he has been working there. He completes the work assigned to him quite well. Swamiji, too would meet him whenever he used to visit Ahmedabad. Gesturing through his hands and using eye contact, Swamiji would communicate with him. These short conversations would last for a little while. Many people, including saints and devotees would specially gather around Chaturbhai. Everyone would be delighted to be a witness to such a sweet conversation. Laughter echoed all round to the delight of Chaturbhai with happiness spreading all over. P. Aksharvallabh Swami has been living at the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Mumbai since years. He renounced the world and became a sadhu at a very young age in 1973. So he never had any opportunities for schooling and studies. Some people even tried to teach him but it didn't work. He still is not able to read and can only write his name slowly in Gujarati. Swamiji designated him to the water and electric department in the Mumbai temple. He performed his service very well for more than 25 years. Apart from this, he also did minor temple maintenance services.
Swamiji was such a great skipper that the touch of his hand would even lend a fragrance to clay and anything that he would touch would turn to gold. He was adept at making any thing worth. He always believed that no kind life is useless to God, so why should any of His creations be useless? Thinking like this, he elevated every human being to a higher role. This was his unique skill.
Aly Tukan says that by recognizing that each person has a special set of skills and talents, we can begin to appreciate our own uniqueness and embrace the positive impact we make on the world.
Thanks Giving
This article is written and submitted to The E Today by Sadhu Amrutvadandas. We thank swamiji for his research and analysis and hope to see the awareness about life and peace being spread ahead to larger mass of our citizens.