Trust in God - Rest Strictly Cash

Once upon a time a sage and a disciple were discussing the issue of altruism versus selfish interest.

The Guru said to his disciple "Never trust any person; especially when he swears by ethics and principles. Ultimately, a person whose primary focus is the world, acts entirely in a selfish way."

The disciple was astounded. He remarked "Shouldn't a spiritual seeker always think the best of every person. Should he not trust the Lord seated in each person's heart?"

"Indeed" said the Sage. "We must love and trust in the spiritual goodness of every living being, but we should never be in any illusion about his natural material responses and behavior.”

“Even as a person condemns the unethical and unprincipled behavior of another, he will find himself helplessly behaving identically, when in similar circumstances”

"Ultimately, in the long term, we trust in the will of God, and His perfection. Never fear! The Prince of Peace will not desert his devotee. By the law of karma, each person will get his due. The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.”

“What about trusting one’s friends?” the disciple protested. “What about trusting one’s parents, brothers and sisters?”

“Your only friend” said the Sage “is God; and those who no longer belong to this world, having lost themselves in Him. Many lives have you had before this one; many parents and many siblings."

Connections of the flesh are often a great burden. They create expectations on both sides that are impossible to fulfill, and obligations that often make life difficult to bear. Despite blood being thicker than water, none may be truly depended upon. The sooner you are free of such illusions, the happier you will become.”

With these words, the Sage led his disciple through the pouring rain, to the nearby river, which was in flood. In the stormy river was a tree that was rapidly being submerged by the water. A monkey was seated near the top of the tree and she held her baby close to her breast.

As the water rose higher, the mother climbed higher and higher. Finally, as the water rose to her chest, the monkey raised the baby in her arms above her head.

At this point, the disciple looked triumphantly at the Guru. "Wait a bit” said the Sage. “Let us stay here awhile.”

Finally, as the water rose above her head. The mother monkey now placed the baby below the water and climbed on it to keep her head above the flood. At the moment of crisis, she sacrificed her child's life for her own!

Have you ever been disillusioned by someone you trusted or believed in? That is a painful way to become enlightened. The painless way is to listen to voices of wisdom that echo from timeless creation.

According to the Shastra - "One should never trust anyone in material consciousness! " Every worldly minded person rides on what is termed "manorath" (chariot of the mind), and cannot be depended upon or trusted; especially when his /her selfish interest is involved.

Either one should create systems that make depending upon trust irrelevant, or one should align one's interests so closely, that your interests become his or her interests. There is truly no other way.

It is important to have a realistic world view even as one endeavors to live with a spiritual vision. After all, it is only when you can understand and accept the intrinsic failings of all human beings, that you can truly love them, completely free of illusion and expectation, and in an enlightened manner

Dr. Shantanu Nagarkatti


A version of this article was published by The Times of India in their Speaking Tree section