A long time ago, some rich and beautiful women were enjoying a picnic by the river. After a while, as they washed their hands and feet in the cold and clear water of the river, they saw their own reflection in the water.
Seeing the reflection in the water, they started praising their own beauty. One of them said, "Look how beautiful my hands are."
The other woman claimed that her hands were more beautiful. The third one also made the same claim. Just like that, an argument broke out between them.
They saw an elderly woman passing by. She was walking with the help of a stick and her clothes were dirty. She looked very tired and hungry.
One of the rich women suggested, "Let's call this old lady and ask who has the most beautiful hands." They all agreed on this, and one of them called out to the old lady. When the old lady came closer, they all showed their hands to her and asked, "Tell us who has the most beautiful hands?"
The old lady said, "I am very hungry and thirsty. First give me something to eat, then I will be able to answer you."
But those women refused to give her food and asked her to leave.
Some distance away, a poor lady was sitting and doing her work. She had seen all this. She went to the old lady, took her hand and very lovingly, brought her to the place where she was working and made her sit comfortably.
Placing her hand on the head of the elderly woman, the poor woman consoled the old lady. She then washed her hands and feet, and wiped them clean with her own clothes.
Then she opened her lunch box, and gave the old lady food to eat and water to drink.
When the old lady began to feel a little better, she went back to the rich women and, pointing towards the poor woman, said, "She has the most beautiful hands..."
All the women laughed and said, "What do you know about beauty. You know nothing about what beauty is!"
To this the old lady replied, "Beautiful hands belong to those who do good deeds and serve the needy. The beauty of hands increases with good deeds, not by jewellery.."
"There are many people around us who are troubled and suffering and we should consider helping and serving them as an opportunity to serve humanity. Prayer helps, but it should be the last resort. Wherever and whenever possible, let us expand our support and services."
Meditation is the only way to self realization.
Self realization is realizing who you ‘Truly’ are
Self realization liberates us from triple suffering
Physical suffering of body,the mental misery of mind
Realization gives us The bliss,Joy & peace that comes from being conscious of who we are
