Stories Of Jivavarta: Thoughts & Prayers

In a monastery, there were many student monks. Sojuk was the most pious of them all. Every day, he would get up early, and meditate. Whenever he saw or heard someone in trouble, he prayed for them. Everybody respected him for his compassion. All the students joined Sojuk in his prayers, except one — Brima. Many times, students asked Brima to join in the prayers for troubled people, but he would refuse and go away.

One year, the head monk decided to declare the name of the “most compassionate monk”. Everybody was sure that it would be Sojuk. But the monk declared Brima’s name instead.

“Brima? But he never prayed for any troubled ones. How can he be the most compassionate one?” wondered the students.

The head monk saw the uneasiness. “You all must be wondering, why Brima? See, when you all were busy praying for troubled people, he was busy helping them. When you were busy praying for that sick man’s recovery, Brima was busy nursing him. When you were busy praying for that poor hungry man, Brima was busy serving him food. When you were busy praying for happiness of the man whose house had fallen, Brima was busy rebuilding it.” said the wise monk.

“But our thoughts and prayers were always with these troubled people.” said one student.

“When the person is hungry, a grain of a food is much more important to him than hours of your prayers. Thoughts and prayers do not mean much, unless they are accompanied by action” replied the chief monk.

(originally published @ shonmehta.com )

© Sheetal Mehata.