The Touchstone

[xPreetx]

Once a poor man was given a book, that although didn't seem very valuable and wasn't interesting to read, but it had the secret of the 'touchstone'. This was no ordinary stone...it had the power to turn any common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it was lying among thousands and thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are cold.So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles.

He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea.

The days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months. One day, however, about mid afternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along, he still threw it away.

So it is with opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it's easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand and it's just as easy to throw it away. How many times have you ignored the presence of 'Waheguru' because you've wasted time thinking too much about worldly things? How many times have you failed to recognise the presence of 'Waheguru' in others because you've been blindfolded with ego or you paid too much attention to their bad qualities? How many times have you missed blessings of Waheguru because you've been too busy counting your sorrows?

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

Bilāval mėhlā 5.

Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl.

ਐਸੇ ਕਾਹੇ ਭੂਲਿ ਪਰੇ ॥

Aise kāhe bẖūl pare.

Why do you wander in delusion like this?

ਕਰਹਿ ਕਰਾਵਹਿ ਮੂਕਰਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਪੇਖਤ ਸੁਨਤ ਸਦਾ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Karahi karāvėh mūkar pāvahi pekẖaṯ sunaṯ saḏā sang hare. ||1|| rahā▫o.

You act, and incite others to act, and then deny it. The Lord is always with you; He sees and hears everything. ||1||Pause||

ਕਾਚ ਬਿਹਾਝਨ ਕੰਚਨ ਛਾਡਨ ਬੈਰੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਹੇਤੁ ਸਾਜਨ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਖਰੇ ॥

Kācẖ bihājẖan kancẖan cẖẖādan bairī sang heṯ sājan ṯi▫āg kẖare.

You purchase glass, and discard gold; you are in love with your enemy, while you renounce your true friend.

ਹੋਵਨੁ ਕਉਰਾ ਅਨਹੋਵਨੁ ਮੀਠਾ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਮਹਿ ਲਪਟਾਇ ਜਰੇ ॥੧॥

Hovan ka▫urā anhovan mīṯẖā bikẖi▫ā mėh laptā▫e jare. ||1||

That which exists, seems bitter; that which does not exist, seems sweet to you. Engrossed in corruption, you are burning away. ||1||

ਅੰਧ ਕੂਪ ਮਹਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਪਰਾਨੀ ਭਰਮ ਗੁਬਾਰ ਮੋਹ ਬੰਧਿ ਪਰੇ ॥

Anḏẖ kūp mėh pari▫o parānī bẖaram gubār moh banḏẖ pare.

The mortal has fallen into the deep, dark pit, and is entangled in the darkness of doubt, and the bondage of emotional attachment.

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਹੋਤ ਦਇਆਰਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟੈ ਕਾਢੈ ਬਾਹ ਫਰੇ ॥੨॥੧੦॥੯੬॥

Kaho Nānak parabẖ hoṯ ḏa▫i▫ārā gur bẖetai kādẖai bāh fare. ||2||10||96||

Says Nanak, when God becomes merciful, one meets with the Guru, who takes him by the arm, and lifts him out. ||2||10||96||

[guptkuri]

Thank You! I love the stories you post. very inspiring.