Rich Man And The Beggar
El rico y el mendigo--Parábola hindú (autor desconocido)
Hace muchos años, un hombre estaba sentado en tranquila contemplación junto a la orilla de un río cuando fue molestado por un mendigo de la aldea local.
"¿Dónde está la piedra?" preguntó el mendigo. "¡Debo tener la piedra preciosa!"
El hombre le sonrió. "¿Qué piedra buscas?"
“Tuve un sueño”, continuó el mendigo, apenas capaz de frenar sus palabras para hablar, “y en ese sueño una voz me dijo que si iba a la orilla del río encontraría a un hombre que me daría una piedra preciosa que acabaría con mi pobreza para siempre"
El hombre pareció pensativo, luego metió la mano en su bolso y sacó un gran diamante.
"¿Me pregunto si era esta la piedra?" dijo el hombre amablemente. “La encontré en el camino. Si la deseas, deberías tenerla ".
El mendigo no podía creer su suerte, le arrebató la piedra de la mano al hombre y corrió de regreso a la aldea antes de que pudiera cambiar de opinión.
Un año después, el mendigo, ahora vestido con ropa de hombre rico, regresó a la orilla del río en busca de su benefactor anónimo.
"¡Has regresado, amigo mío!" dijo el hombre, que estaba nuevamente sentado en su lugar favorito disfrutando del pacífico fluir del agua frente a él. "¿Qué ha pasado?"
El mendigo mostró humildad ante el hombre.
“Me han sucedido muchas cosas maravillosas gracias al diamante que me diste tan amablemente. Me hice rico, encontré una esposa y compré una casa. Ahora puedo dar empleo a otros y hacer lo que quiero, cuando quiero, con quien quiero ”.
"¿Para qué has regresado?" preguntó el hombre.
"Por favor", dijo el mendigo rico. "Enséñame lo que hay dentro de ti que te permitió darme esa piedra tan libremente".
Preguntas semilla para la reflexión: ¿Cómo te relacionas con el espíritu de desapego que le permitió al hombre regalar una piedra preciosa? ¿Puedes compartir una historia personal de un momento en el que pudiste regalar lo que otros percibieron como muy valioso sin dejar rastro de apego? ¿Qué te ayuda a desarrollar un sentido de abundancia que va más allá del material?
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the spirit of detachment that allowed the man to give away a precious stone? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to give away what others perceived as greatly valuable without a trace of attachment? What helps you develop a sense of abundance that goes beyond the material?
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17 Past Reflections
On Sep 23, 2023 ERLYN JOY Rayon wrote :
Wow!! Amazing story!
nothing in this world can give us real joy ,peace and contentment/satisfaction,
Only Jesus alone!
Jesus is living inside of Him (Man)
More than precious!!!
nothing in this world can give us real joy ,peace and contentment/satisfaction,
Only Jesus alone!
Jesus is living inside of Him (Man)
More than precious!!!
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On Oct 31, 2022 Corrinn wrote :
Believe the man given the diamond away is a well practiced practitioner. For myself, I hv a wish for my sister’s recovery, I’ll do prayers for her delicating merits for her and doing fish liberation etc but there’s a attachment to my doings. I do wish one day I can help someone or doing good deed like the practitioner without any attachment
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On Apr 21, 2021 Sally Mahe wrote :
I love the unexpected ending. What a state of grace the man (contemplating by the river) had to give the diamond he had found away. What a blessing that the beggar "turned rich" went back to the man to learn the source of the man's ability to give the stone so freely. Thank you for this amazing parable.
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On Apr 20, 2021 john lee wrote :
Beautiful parable! I have a hang up doing that so freely albeit giving is in my DNA. I need to check that giving bears fruit, serving their respective causes effectively. My hang up is being mindful of the saying "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I feel responsible for my intention not helping someone going to hell, or for that matter extending suffering. In the parable, the beggar has done well with the stone and created opportunities for others to do well. Furthermore, he has the humility to return for wisdom, and help others further.
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On Apr 20, 2021 Patrick wrote :
Ah grace, it is a beautiful, mysterious thing. }:- a.m.
1 reply: Me | Post Your Reply
On Apr 20, 2021 Wayne Muller wrote :
The begger discovered both his wealth and his poverty in the same stone.
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On Apr 20, 2021 Jason Kung wrote :
Wow. Did the story just end... I felt like I was left hanging wondering if there's a conclusion. Instead, it's a story that made me thinking. A story to hold on to.
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On Apr 20, 2021 Neela Gupta wrote :
Sharing a personal story of an old age couple who used to live on roadside near my house. They had a make believe hut with a plastic sheet overhead.
when once it rained too heavily, my friend and me bought a loaf of bread and some snacks for the couple as we knew that they won't be able to light the fire as firewood may have been wet.
When rain slowed down and we reached there, old man was not there. The woman was sitting in an only dry corner in that hut. My friend asked, Where is Dada( grandfather)? The woman said ," he has gone for begging in nearby area." We left the food there with her.
Around dusk, my friend thought of just checking on them again.
When she reached there, the old man was sitting and the woman was cooking Chapati with little flaur on one odd dry firewood she had found from below the pile. A dog was standing beside her.
My friend asked in surprise, " why are you cooking now? Shouldn't you save that for tomorrow and right now eat what we have g... [View Full Comment]
1 reply: David | Post Your Reply
On Apr 16, 2021 David Doane wrote :
I admire the spirit of detachment. I assume the man by the riverbank had happiness within that was independent of wealth outside, and his happiness and wisdom expressed itself in his giving away the precious stone. He apparently knew he had no need for the stone in order to be happy. Perhaps he knew attachment was a source of unnecessary suffering. Perhaps he was willing to give the stone to the beggar so that the beggar could learn what he needed to learn. Giving away experience and wisdom without a trace of attachment has been satisfying and a significant gain for me. Giving away material perceived as valuable without any attachment has been seldom though also satisfying -- I have both attachment and detachment with regard to the material -- I obviously still have a long way to go with regard to detachment. What helps me is realizing through experience that happiness is within and independent of the material.
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On Apr 16, 2021 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
I love parables. They are short like this Hindu parable containing profound wisdom. This parable reveals the spiritual way of living a precious life without attachment to material things. The man who is sitting by the river side contemplating is deeply contented with what he has. He gladly gives the precious diamond from his bag to the poor man who is a stranger to him. He is not expecting any reward from the beggar. His life is flowing like the river. And when the beggar comes back after a year in the dress of a wealthy man he welcomes him with an open heart. The wealthy man wanted to know whatever was inside him thatallowed him give the diamond freely. Detachment, offering a gift to someone unconditionally expecting no reward in return. This is an example of living like a Karma Yogi, offering a gift from unselfish heart.
I have learned the art of living a spiritual life from my parents and a few wise teachers. I am deeply grateful for teaching me how to spiritualize my life. I got t... [View Full Comment]
1 reply: Me | Post Your Reply
On Apr 15, 2021 NAREN KINI wrote :
Kabir's famous lines come to mind, reading this.
Baagon na ja re,
teri kaaya mein gulzaar
Asht kamal pe baithh ke,
tu dekhe roop apaar
Do not go to the garden of flowers!
O Friend! go not there;
In your body is the garden of flowers.
Take your seat on the thousand petals of the lotus,
and there gaze on the Infinite Beauty.
Baagon na ja re,
teri kaaya mein gulzaar
Asht kamal pe baithh ke,
tu dekhe roop apaar
Do not go to the garden of flowers!
O Friend! go not there;
In your body is the garden of flowers.
Take your seat on the thousand petals of the lotus,
and there gaze on the Infinite Beauty.