Rays of Dharma

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 75

Rays of Dharma
reciprocation.
Years back when Ägam Mandir was being constructed in Pälitänä, Ächärya Shri Anandsägarsuriji was remaining continuously busy with the project. Even those, who witnessed it, could realize the strain involved. I asked him, “Why do you take so much strain?" He replied, “I do not feel any strain in this work; I actually enjoy it. This is a significant project; I would like to spend every moment on it." While remaining so busy with the project if a monk got ill, Acharya would rush to serve him. Those on a great project thus need to learn the art of serving while working laboriously on the project.
In one of his books, Victor Hugo draws the character of a monk. He once saw a man suffering from acute disease and was so overcome with compassion that he set aside his regular work and stayed there in order to serve the man. The people who were passing by, were impressed by the priest's sense of service and appreciated his work. Our true interest thus lies in acts of benevolence. If one becomes helpful in putting out the fire in a neighbor's house, that would also avert the possibility of his house catching the fire.
The society is not filled with ingratitude. If we do something good, it will reciprocate at least in the form of a petal, if not a flower. It is analogous to getting a few drops of scent on your body, if you spray rose water over others. Whatever we do will be reciprocated sooner or later. If we sow a fruit-seed, it would sprout and turn into a fruit tree in due course. Let that faith stay forever in our mind.
74