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INSPIRING STORIES
2. STORY OF A BANIA
A Bania once approached a Sadhu for initiation. The Sadhu said "I will initiate you when I meet you next time." The Bania pressed the Sadhu again and again on several days for quick initiation The Sadhu totally declined He returned to the Bania after a couple of years He placed in his Bhiksha-bowl some mud, hair, urine and excreta and approached the Bania for alms The Bania brought nice sweet-meats, Kheer, Halwa, etc , for the Sadhu. He prepared nice dishes as he thought he would be initiated this time by the Sadhu The Sadhu said to the Bania "Put everything in my bowl.”
The Bania said “How can I place them, Swamiji, in this dirty bowl Kindly clean the bowl and bring it to me. I will place all the preparations in it”
The Sadhu replied: “When such is the case with this bowl how can I place the pure Lord in your heart which is filled with various impurities like lust, anger, pride, greed, etc. How can I initiate you now, when your mind is very dirty like this bowl?”
The Bania got vexed and went away in shame He purified himself through charity and selfless service and got himself initiated by the same Sadhu after some time The ground (mind) must be prepared first Why do you bother much about Upadesha? Purify yourself, and get the moral qualifications, Brahmacharya, etc The initiation will come by itself
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