Karma-Yoga : Ch-3. Part-12.

3. THE SECRET OF WORK :


Part-12.


But the mongoose said, There was once a little village, and in it there dwelt a poor Brahmin with his wife, his son, and his son's wife.
They were very poor and lived on small gifts made to them for preaching and teaching.

There came in that land a three years' famine, and the poor Brahmin suffered more than ever.

At last when the family had starved for days, the father brought home one morning a little barley flour, which he had been fortunate enough to obtain, and he divided it into four parts, one for each member of the family.




They prepared it for their meal, and just as they were about to eat, there was a knock at the door.

The father opened it, and there stood a guest.

Now in India a guest is a sacred person; he is as a god for the time being, and must be treated as such.

So the poor Brahmin said, 'Come in, sir; you are welcome,' He set before the guest his own portion of the food, which the guest quickly ate and said, 'Oh, sir, you have killed me; I have been starving for ten days, and this little bit has but increased my hunger.'

Swami Vivekananda

To be continued   ...