Spiritual Story - Blessings

[shinu9]

Story as told by HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj

Once a guru traveling with his disciple. And on the way they met a prince. He was probably from the Tsar family.

The prince said, "Swamiji, can I get some blessing?"

The Swami could see this prince was born in a rich family due to his pious karma. But now he is engaged in sinful work. So he said, "May you live forever".

Then as they were walking they came across a butcher. The butcher came out of his shop and said, "Swamiji, any blessings?"

The Swami saw this man's body was full of blood, he said, "Don't live, don't die". He thought, "What a funny blessing - don't live, don't die".

And then he met a nice brahmacari from Nizhni Novgorod. He said, "Swamiji, is there any blessing for me?"

The Swami saw this nice brahmacari. He knew that from birth this brahmacari committed no sin. He said, "May you die immediately".

And then, a little later he met a nice pujari, maybe he was from Yaroslavl or something. So, he told pujari, "Live or die - makes no difference".

So, the disciple of the guru was bewildered. He said, why did the guru give these types of blessings. Then he explained.

He told the prince, may you live forever, because he was engaged in so many sinful works now that as soon as he dies he will have to pay the price. So he said, don't die, better live. But of course, everybody has to die.

Then he told the butcher, don't live, don't die. Because while living he is killing innocent animals and after death all the animals are going to eat him. Today you have the animals at your dining table, tomorrow they have you on their dining table.

Then he told that brahmacari, may you die immediately. Why? This brahmacari has not sinned from his birth. Completely pure. If he dies he will go back to Godhead. And in future he may fall in maya.

And he told the pujari, live or die - makes no difference. For one who is engaged in devotional service, even after death he continues his devotional service.