A Gift
A saint, who happened to be a spiritual guide as well, was
walking with a group of his students through an open-air market in
a certain part of the city. The general area in which the market was
located had, for some time, been a place where considerable tension
between several ethnic groups existed.
On occasion, there had been violence due to this on-going
conflict, but, for the most part, a sort of wary truce had been
observed by both sides. As often is the case in such situations, either
no one really was quite sure what had started the problems, or
everyone had a different opinion about what it was all about and why
everyone supposedly had a duty to ensure that the conflict continued.
The saint had wanted to go to the market in order to purchase
some food for a spiritual celebration which was to take place later in
the evening. The occasion was to commemorate the life of one of the
great guides of their mystical path, and as had been the practice of
this spiritual way for centuries, all of the followers were keeping a
special fast prior to the celebration.
Both the fast and the commemoration were extremely important
observances for this mystical path. Unless a person was ill or
prevented by some set of circumstances of an unavoidable nature,
everyone was expected to participate in both the fast and the
celebration which accompanied it
Most of the people who were followers of this spiritual way
belonged to one particular community of the two ethnic groups who
had the aforementioned history of conflict. On the other hand, many
of the merchants who had stalls in the market were members of the
other ethnic community.
For many years, the saint had made a point of shopping in the
market, trying to promote friendship and harmony whenever he
could during his trips to the area. And, as was his tendency,
whenever he walked through the market, he would stop and talk with
different merchants, asking after their welfare, listening to their
concerns, and exchanging observations or suggestions about various
issues.
This particular trip to the market was no different. Because of
the many people with whom the spiritual guide wished to speak, as
well as the numerous people who wished to speak with the saint, the
journey through the market was very slow, but the students of the
saint who had accompanied the teacher on many such occasions were
quite prepared for the slow pace of the walk.
At one of the stalls, a member of the other ethnic community saw
the saint, smiled toward him, and hugged the teacher. He began
talking with the spiritual guide, and, the merchant’s behavior clearly
indicated his love for the teacher.
The two became engaged in a conversation involving an
exchange of ideas and observations about life the community, world
problems, and their respective families. The people who were
accompanying the teacher stayed together at a respectful distance,
allowing the two to talk about whatever they wished to in relative
privacy.
During the discussion, the merchant, who owned a dairy bar, put
together a milk shake and offered it to the teacher. The saint took the
offering, drank from it, and in between swallows, continued talking
with the merchant.
When the teacher finished the drink, he lingered for a few more
moments and completed the discussion. The spiritual guide, then,
apologized for having to rush off, but there were, still, a few more
stops to be made in the market, and, in addition, there were other
preparations for that evening’s celebration to which attention needed
to be given.
The merchant fully understood, bid the teacher good by and
asked the spiritual guide to say hello, on the merchant’s behalf, to the
latter’s wife and children. The teacher thanked the merchant for the
most delicious drink and went on his way.
After the remainder of the necessary purchases had been made,
the teacher and his retinue started to head back to the spiritual
center. One of the members walking with the teacher was quite upset
about something or other, and his mood was readily visible to the
others in the group.
The teacher, of course, noted the man’s condition, as well. The
teacher put his arm around the man and the two continued to walk.
The teacher said: “Son, you are obviously upset with someone or
something, and since we have a bit of time before we reach the
center, why don’t you tell me what is burdening your mind and
heart. Perhaps, we all can learn something if we discuss the matter
together.”
The man was reluctant to say anything. However, the teacher
encouraged him and assured him that whatever he had to say would
be OK.”
Finally, the man, who was a relative newcomer to the spiritual
tradition, replied: “Sir, I mean no disrespect, but I have witnessed
something a short while ago which is confusing me and generating a
lot of doubts in my mind about you, the path and myself.”
When the man saw that the teacher’s countenance of concern
and kindness had not altered as a result of the former’s initial
comments, the man went on: “Today, is one of the holiest days of our
spiritual tradition. It is a day of fasting. You often have told us how
important observing this practice is.
“Yet, this afternoon I saw you drink a milk shake – in fact, it
seems that not only was the fast broken, but this was done in
conjunction with someone who is a member of the ethnic community
with which we often are in conflict. I’m sorry, but I just don’t
understand what is going on, and, as a result, I am quite confused
about things.”
The teacher continued to walk with the man, his arm remaining
affectionately draped about the individual’s shoulder. The spiritual
guide responded by saying: “Well, your confusion is quite
understandable, but there are several factors concerning this
situation about which you may not be aware, and I’m happy you
have raised the matter, for it provides us with an opportunity to
explore the issue a little and reflect on some important principles.
“To begin with,” the teacher noted, “you are quite right that I
broke the fast when I drank the milk shake given to me by the
merchant. However, you may not know that our spiritual tradition
offers several ways for me to remedy this breach.
“For example, I could fast several months in succession. Or, I
could feed a certain number of hungry people for so many days, and
so on. All of these are acceptable ways of making spiritual amends.
“Since Divinity has been so generous in blessing our path with a
variety of ways for satisfying our spiritual obligations, I, probably,
will elect to keep the long fast because this is how my nature is
inclined. I assure you, however, keeping this fast of repentance will
be far, far easier for me to do than disappointing that merchant’s
loving demeanor toward me would have been if I were to have
refused his kind generosity merely to keep strict adherence with a
requirement that could be satisfied in other ways which also have
been authorized by Divinity.”
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