Mulla Nasruddin’s art of living was wonderful. His tales were spreading far and wide. People never got tired of talking about him and all these tales became famous. People used to say no one could be as happy as Mulla.
The Sheikh of Damascus was extremely wealthy having all the facilities in the world at his beck and call, even then the Sheikh was not happy. He had declared, “Whoever shows him the path to happiness, I would give him half of my wealth and if someone can make me happy, give me peace of mind, I would give him one thousand golden coins.” Numerous people came to him and showed him the path to happiness.
But after trying them, the Sheikh discarded because those people wanted to earn the prize. Certainly the value of prize was more important to them, than the path to happiness. So, despite wealth, riches and luxuries, he would not get happiness. Someone informed him regarding Mulla Nasruddin. He set out for his village along with a pouch containing one thousand golden coins.
“Have you brought one thousand golden coins with you ?”
The kind man asked. The Sheikh took out a pouch bound to his waist and showed him, “This is the bag full of golden coins.” Suddenly the kind man snatched the pouch and started running. Screaming “thief, thief” he also chased him. That kind man with pouch of golden coins ran towards the jungle. The village was left far behind. The Sheikh while following was thinking that he had made such a mistake of coming to meet Mulla Nasruddin without his guards. This village seems to be full of thieves, if Mulla is living here then there is no possibility of getting happiness and peace !” He became breathless running constantly after him.
“Oh God, how unhappy I am, I have lost my one thousand golden coins! Oh god, help me to catch that thief!” Meanwhile as if playing hide and seek game in the thick cluster of trees, that thief disappeared somewhere. Tired, helpless, and breathless Sheikh sat down under a tree. Sitting there, he was cursing himself. He was so breathless, that he was unable to speak properly. He was also unable to urge God. “Oh my god, I had come here in search of happiness, and see now, I have lost my happiness and peace of mind, and also lost my golden coins! Oh kind hearted God, please help me!” He spoke so breathlessly in a very humble manner.
Suddenly the pouch of golden coins dropped in to his lap. Looking at it, he became very happy. “Oh kind God, I thank you sincerely.” Suddenly a voice was heard from somewhere, “Sheikh, now do feel peaceful ?” “Yes, Yes, now I feel very peaceful!” “And feel the happiness ?” “Oh yes, my God, now I feel much happier!” He was very happy to find the pouch of golden coins falling from the sky, particularly after so much of running behind it. Suddenly he wondered that who was speaking ? From where did the pouch come ? He looked above and found that it was the same thief who was laughing and asking the questions
No sooner did the Sheikh see him, his feelings changed. Soon he jumped from the tree and told the Sheikh, “Just now you told me that you felt, happiness and peace of mind, so please give me one thousand golden coins, I myself am Mulla Nasruddin.”
The Sheikh was surprised, “What, Mulla also a thief…..!” “Sheikh, you have seen that happiness does not lie in wealth, luxury, riches and amenities. The happiness is the state of mind. You were ready to give away half of your wealth for happiness and peace of mind just few days back, and few moments before you were unhappy of having lost just one thousand golden coins which is a miniscule part of your wealth. You were running behind me as if to save one’s own life to get back those one thousand golden coins, which is a pittance for you, and again you were very happy to receive the wealth and got peace of mind.”
Sheikh realized the truth and with a smile he put the pouch of one thousand golden coins at the feet of the Mulla. Returning the one thousand golden coins Mulla said, “the whole world somehow creates one or the other tension and then feels happy when they become free from it. For example, when your golden coins were snatched away, tension was created in you and when you received it back, the tension was removed and you felt happiness and peace.
What is the point in getting such happiness and peace, which are dependent on one or the other thing. Happiness and unhappiness are just like two sides of a coin. Different from both of them is the condition of joy! It is not dependent on anything. This condition is beyond one’s mind. A person who has felt joy, what would he do with your coins! You keep it with yourself. Joy is inherent in you. You can achieve it by going beyond the mind, witnessing all the events of life through constant awakening.
Right Activity
I take on more and more work but I never feel I am overburdened, because I do everything for God.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
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From: Vishal – a pure soul like You.
http://capitalmarketandspirituality.blogspot.com/
