FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 42: THE BARBER !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 42

 

THE BARBER!!!

 

(Extracted, compiled & edited from RADIO SAI JOURNALS)

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation and talked about many subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said, "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

 

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?"

 

"If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

 

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

 

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy hair and an untrimmed beard; he was looking dirty and unkempt.

 

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and said to the barber, "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

 

"How can you say that?" I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" asked the surprised barber.

 

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside"

 

"Ah, but barbers do exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me" argued the barber.

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, does exist! It is only because people do not go to God & listen to him there's so much pain and suffering in the world. There is no point sitting in a boat & dangling your feet into the water saying that there are no pearls. If you want pearls you have to dive down & see yourself!!!""

 

PS: "Keeping salt in our mouth, we can not taste anything sweet. Only by rinsing our mouth and getting rid of the salt can we taste sweetness. Our perceptions & state of mind are like salt. Discard them; then we can see and realize divinity."

SAIRAM

Moderator,

http://groups.google.co.in/group/premasai_gurukulam

RESPONSES…

1.       Dear Sir,

This SQ – 41 reminds me of two things...

One is Kunti Stuthi in Srimad Bhagavatham, where Kunti prays to Lord Krishna to give her only sufferings so that she could ever be thinking of Lord Krishna alone.

 

The other is the various Panduranga bhaktas, our Azhwars and Nayanmars, who were always thinking of the Lord irrespective of what state they were. They thought about the Lord when they were happy or sad.

Regards

Vasantharajan R

2.       I have been enjoying the reading of Spiritual Quotients and the SQ – 41: SIN OF INGRATITUDE is really a wonderful article which teaches about ungratefulness. 

 

It is true that in times of trouble we call upon GOD but forget to give him thanks for all the good things that He has been doing to us.

Regards,

GANESAN A K

3.       Sai ram

Thanks a lot for wonderful sharing these special short stories!

I really enjoy every one of them!

Jai Sai Ram

LisaLosch

4.       This is the first time I am replying to this mail. I have no clue how I got into this group. However, I am glad that I did. Thank you for this wonderful thread. Most of the time if I have some questions, Swami seems to answer them through this link.

Love and regards to everyone. Please keep up the good work.

Swami Nathan

5.       Dear all
SQ 40 is not mere pearl necklace but the content is a priceless LIFELACE.
sairam
ganeshbalyu

6.       Jai Sai Ram,

YOUR STORIES ARE GOOD. I CAN TELL MY GRAND CHILDERN AS BED TIME STORIES. MANY THANKS.

NEENA AGARWAL

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