Yuvacharya Mahashraman
Amity
Religious people worship their ideal. In the field of religion, worship and devotion are important virtues. The other important aspect of religion is morality. Morality is important from both the religious as well as the social viewpoint. In order to build a healthy society, even an atheist should strive to be moral.
Once a sage was deep vayoga-nidra in his hut. Around midnight, he suddenly awoke from his sleep. He saw a very handsome man, writing something under the light from the lamp in his hut.
The sage asked:
- Who are you?
- Where have you come from?
- Why are you here?
- What are you doing here?
The visitor replied:
- I am a messenger of God.
- I have come from Him.
- I have come to the earth to prepare a list of God's devotees.
- I am putting your name at the top of the list.
The sage said: I am not a devotee of God. Neither do I go to the temple, nor do I chant God's name. So, please don't put my name in the list of God's devotees.
Thus the conversation ended. The night passed. So did the next day. It was night again. The sage went to bed. It was around mid-night. The sage woke up from his sleep again. He noticed the same person again.
The sage said: Hey! Last night I told you clearly that I am not one of the God's devotees. Why have you come again tonight?
God's messenger said: O Great Soul! Last night I was preparing a list of persons to whom God is dear. Tonight I am writing the names of those great souls who are dear to the God. Whether you worship God or not, God has bestowed his blessings on you because you have amity towards every living being.
It is rightly said: O Lord! Let my mind have amity towards all living things, respect for the wise, compassion for the poor, and neutrality towards persons of opposing thoughts.
