Author – Labib Mahfuj Chisty
A sad man was disappointed with his life and instead of spiritual strength and inspiration, his heart was filled with sadness and grief. He was looking for a way to escape and wandered from the abode of saints to the shrine. Finally, he reached a remote abode of a saint where a worldly saint was constantly immersed in meditation.
Going to the saint, the man humbly asked, ‘How can I deal with the sorrows and hardships of life?’
The great sage looked at the man and said, I will tell you the way to escape from sorrow. Before that, you have to do one thing. He gave the man a spoon filled with oil and said, ‘Come around my city and its outskirts, be careful that the oil from the spoon does not fall.’
The man walked around the city and its outskirts with utmost devotion, holding the spoon in his hand. After arriving, the saint asked the sad man, “Have you seen the beautiful flower garden in the city square?” The man said, “No.” The saint asked him again, “Have you seen the lively children playing on the city streets?” The man said, “No.” The saint continued, “Have you seen the beautiful water fountain in the center of the city?” The man answered, “No.”
The sage continued, “The spoon filled with oil has so focused your attention that you have not noticed any other beauty.”
The slight sadness kept in the spoon consumes our consciousness in such a way that we forget all the joy and beauty around us. Only a slight harp of pain continues to play in our hearts. Yet, there is so much excitement around us, so much flowery celebration, so much beautiful laughter – which can instantly turn our lives into heaven.
All our attention is focused on our lacks, our failures and our painful memories. Which deprives us of all the achievements, joys and spiritual peace of the world.
Said the saint, do not fix your gaze on the spoon of unattainability, but on the boundless world of joy. On the free flow of the soul’s unquenchable joy. On the infinite stream of life’s spontaneous divine understanding. Life will laugh in its own glory. All sorrows will depart. Heaven will descend into the dust.
Based on a Persian Sufi story.
Date of writing – 17/05/2022
Author – Labib Mahfuj Chisty