“Maharaj, how is it that you are always so peaceful despite your wife’s argumentative nature? You never seem to lose your temper. You treat everyone with love. What is the secret of your calm?”
Tukaram replied, “Forget that, but I know a grave secret about you.”
“What is it, Maharaj?” the young man asked.
“You have only seven days left to live.”
Stunned, the young man went away.
On the seventh day, he returned to Tukaram.
“Maharaj,” he said, “my time is almost over. I have come to seek your blessings.”
Tukaram asked, “During these seven days, did you quarrel with anyone? Did you lose your temper or hold on to anger?”
“No, Maharaj,” the young man replied. “How could I? Because I had so little time left, I tried to spend it peacefully with my loved ones.”
He explained how he had stopped shouting at his mother when the food had less salt or more spice. He had given up arguing with people over small things, trying to prove himself superior. He no longer got triggered by whatever people said to him, or how they behaved with him.
Tukaram smiled.
“Remember the question you asked me, about how I stay peaceful always? Now you know the answer. I live everyday with the awareness that death can come at any moment. Why waste the little time we have in anger, quarrels and resentment? Why not live with love and kindness instead?”
The young man understood.
Can we?
“What is it, Maharaj?” the young man asked.
“You have only seven days left to live.”
Stunned, the young man went away.
On the seventh day, he returned to Tukaram.
“Maharaj,” he said, “my time is almost over. I have come to seek your blessings.”
Tukaram asked, “During these seven days, did you quarrel with anyone? Did you lose your temper or hold on to anger?”
“No, Maharaj,” the young man replied. “How could I? Because I had so little time left, I tried to spend it peacefully with my loved ones.”
He explained how he had stopped shouting at his mother when the food had less salt or more spice. He had given up arguing with people over small things, trying to prove himself superior. He no longer got triggered by whatever people said to him, or how they behaved with him.
Tukaram smiled.
“Remember the question you asked me, about how I stay peaceful always? Now you know the answer. I live everyday with the awareness that death can come at any moment. Why waste the little time we have in anger, quarrels and resentment? Why not live with love and kindness instead?”
The young man understood.
Can we?
Wonderful story. A message that we should every moment.
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