Under the Banyan Tree

Temple is your place to get those sacred inspirations to connect with the Supreme.The other day I went to the temple and after doing the puja I thought of sitting under the Banyan Tree and meditate for sometime.No sooner I had closed my eyes to the world, the cry of a child took me by surprise.Opening my eyes I focussed on a burly gentleman in a dhoti and kurta carrying a large bag of fruits.Probably he had come to offer it to the deity.With him there was this 4 odd years chubby child who seemed to be his grandson.As a curiosity which a child when he feels hungry, this sweet looking darling had managed to hang on to a banana which was clinging out of that bag.He wanted to have it and was not willing to let go. Hunger makes old people do things and he was just a child, a budding rose.The old man with grey hairs and large Mussolini moustaches scolded him and wanted him to let go.But you know how children are...!!! the child would not budge.And this man kept scolding him and trying to wriggled out the fruit from the child's hands.I thought to myself..."if children are the face of GOD then why the offering was being kept away." Is it that the stone statue inside where these fruits are going to be offered at the feet of the deity, will be effective to wash this man`s sins or would feeding that child one banana for which he was crying , would satisfy and make the deity happy and bless this spiritual illiterate.These thoughts always keep troubling me.Maybe self provoking thoughts are the ways of GOD to make us understand that the soul resides incidence we feed that every day and in turn feed the Supreme who is everywhere and in everything.I got up with folded hands,thanked the Banyan Tree for this revelation and blessings. Walking out of the temple I bought some fruits and offered them to a group of small children playing outside the temple.The cheers and the smile on their cute little unwashed faces made my day.

GOD sends a message to all through this.HE communicates that if you want to please ME please the children since they are my representatives.You know why they are my face?? Since they are simple and plain hearted without any malice towards anyone.I want each one of you to be like them.GOD says that each day I am trying to educate you through these children but it is only you who fail me.Most of you of course.

Sanjiv Gupta

Creator Merrigold