I built a house, I set up a business, I did a job. It is full of me in the life of all of us. This is mine, that is his, our life is spent in this confusion. This is the cause of our greatest sorrow. What is not ours, yet we become entitled to it. Have we brought the things we call our own with us? And when things are our own then why don’t we take them with us?

There was a disciple who was a great devotee of the Guru. Without the darshan of his Guru, he did not even eat any day. He had thought that his life would change by going in the company of the Guru. Despite doing so much service to the Guru, he was not getting much benefit. After getting upset, one day he questioned the Guru. Guruji, there is no change in my life, what should I do? Now I am also getting old. The hair on my head is turning white. Still the change that should come in me is not coming. The Guru said that sometimes we get self-knowledge very soon. And sometimes it takes a long time. Now you do as I say. The Guru sent him some and told him to plant them on the day it rains. And yes, remember that it should rain continuously for three days. And you come back to me again after one year on this very day.

Now he waited impatiently to return to meet the Guru. At last the day has come when one year has been completed. He went to Guruji and tried to tell everything to Guruji, but Guru again refused. Guru said to him, I know the reason of your restlessness. Have you ever tried to know yourself who you are? Then he said no, I grew up a bit then people said this is your mother so I thought her mother. Then the Guru asked that you don’t remember anything, who are you, where did you come from, where did your family come from. Were your wife, children and family members with you when you were born? Then he replied No Guruji, I had nothing. Neither did I have any wealth, nor was I worried about the future. My mother used to take care of all my worries. I was completely unconcerned with life.

He came home with the seeds and waited for the rains. Many months passed but there was no sight of rain. Many times when it would rain, he would think that now is the time to plant my seeds, but then the rain would stop. Started feeling sad from inside. Then suddenly one day he saw that it started raining heavily. And it rained continuously for several days. This was the time, he thought, to plant the seed now. He planted the seeds and after two-three months trees also started growing in it. After a few months all the trees were full of flowers. Now his flowerbed had become completely green. Butterflies were buzzing all around. The flowers were so beautiful that people came from far and wide to see them. People used to praise him a lot and used to buy flowers too. People had never seen such beautiful flowers till date. The fragrance of those flowers was also completely different. The fragrance of flowers used to spread so far that it used to attract people towards itself.

He thought that the Guru should tell everything. How his flowerbed has become green with their seeds. But he remembered that the Guru had asked him to come only after one year. By selling flowers, he collected so much money that he started living happily. The one who has more money, people are more attracted towards him. He also had a large group of people. Now everyone had started giving him respect. After a few months the flowering season ended and the flowers in Phulwari ran out. Now the time had come to meet his Guru.

He went back to meet the Guru and wanted to tell everything to the Guru. So the Guru said, I know everything, now you take the seeds back and then plant the seeds when it rains for 3 days. Coming back home, he started waiting for the rain again. As soon as the imagination of many flowers comes in his mind, he becomes happy. Months passed by waiting for the rains. But it was not raining. Then suddenly one day it rained very heavily and it continued for 3 days. This time the soil of his field was washed away. But he worked very hard, cleaned the soil and sowed the seeds. After a few months the seeds sprouted and trees started to form. But this time there were small flowers in them. So he thought maybe this time Guruji has given me fruit trees. But surprisingly, after a few days those trees started growing chilly. Seeing the pepper, no one came, only the parrot came. The gathering of people used to see the flower was also not there. There was no fragrance in the farm that would attract anyone. Slowly the field was filled with chillies, and after a few months the chillies started drying up and falling. As soon as the windy season started, the seeds of chilli started flying and people’s eyes started burning, now people have stopped coming to him any more. Those who used to praise him now started saying what a foolish thing you did this time. If you had planted chillies then why didn’t you sell it when it bore fruit? What answer would he give on this because he himself was upset.

Then Guruji explained to him, that when someone else took care of you for so many years, someone else took care of you. So now why do you think who will take care of me? Similarly, the seeds you planted were not yours, were they? He had no answer to give.

Everyone should understand that he lives in a house hired by the Lord. All the things like food, clothes, comforts, God provides us. We get all these things according to our deeds. The more good deeds one has, the more he gets. But we humans are so insidious that we start considering other’s things as our own. We do not even thank God who has given us so much.