GOD RESIDES IN ALL CREATURES

Once, Saint Eknath was traveling from Kashi to Rameshwaram. He was carrying his kamandal which he had filled up with the water of river Ganga. It was summer, and it was difficult to get water for miles. Suddenly he saw a donkey, which was dying of thirst. He poured the water from his kamandal into its mouth. When His disciples saw this, were astonished, and asked him, “What have you done? Now, how will the consecration of Lord Shiv be done?” Saint Eknath replied in a voice of absolute contentment, “Oh! Did you not see that it was Lord Shiv (Rameshwaram) Himself, Who came here in the form of a donkey! He is so graceful! He did not want us to take the trouble to go there, so He came here Himself." 

APPRECIATION - REASON FOR SPIRITUAL DOWNFALL

We like to be appreciated by others. This is a major reason for a person's downfall spiritually. We should try to become a good person, rather than expecting others to appreciate us even though we might have ill-feelings for others. When someone criticizes or scolds us, we start feeling bad. We get angry and annoyed with that person and we sometimes turn hostile towards that person. We harbor hatred and negative feelings for others. This kind of feeling is very harmful for us.

If we continuously remember people or incidents that increase negative feelings inside us, then we are causing harm to ourselves by dirtying our mind. Our aim should be practice the art of continuously remembering God and Guru, who are pure and Divine personalities. This alone will cleanse our heart and mind. In our lives, we have developed a one-sided attitude where we only like to be appreciated and not criticized.