Put into practice?
One day, an old lady came to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa with her 10
year old grandson. She prostrated before him and said: "Master! I have
come to seek your advice. This boy is my grandson. He lost his father
and mother when he was just a child of five. I have been taking care
of him. He is very fond of sweets. He eats so much that his health is
deteriorating day by day. The doctors have advised him not to eat
sweets but this fellow does not pay any heed to their advice. However,
he has great respect and admiration for you. So I have come to request
you to stop the boy from eating sweets. I am sure, you alone can do
this". Ramakrishna said: "Mother, don't worry, come with your grandson
after a month. In the meanwhile I shall think of a plan to convince
the boy that one's health is very important, more important even than
wealth". The old woman thanked him and took leave of him.
She came with her grandson exactly after a month. Both of them paid
their salutations to the master. Ramakrishna made the boy sit beside
him and said: "My dear boy! Remember, one's real wealth is health.
Unless you take proper care of your health, you will not be able to
grow into a strong and healthy young man. You will not be able to do
anything great in life if you are weak. When something that we eat
does not suit our constitution, we should give up eating that item.
From tomorrow you should not eat sweets. After some time you may eat
moderately. You are a nice boy and will listen to me, will you not?".
The boy nodded his head and promised that he would not eat sweets.
The old woman sent the boy on some errand just to have confidential
talk with the master. "Master! May I ask you a question?" said the old
woman. "Certainly mother", replied Ramakrishna. "Master! This advice
which you have given today to my grandson, you could have given last
month itself. Why did you ask me to come again after a month? I don't
understand". Ramakrishna replied with an understanding smile: "Mother!
I myself eat lot of sweets. How can I advise the boy to do something
that I am not doing myself? One has no right to preach anything to
others before practising it himself. So I asked for some time. This
one month I did not eat sweets. So I have earned the right to advise
your grandson." The old woman marvelled at the righteous conduct of
Ramakrishna. She fell at his feet and took leave of him.
We should never advise anyone about anything which we ourselves have not put into practice.
We should never advise anyone about anything which we ourselves have not put into practice.
Category: Chinna Katha
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