Meditation is difficult

Maithree was at Thatha’s bed side when he woke up. She asked him, “Yesterday thatha, you told us that just by meditating with faith we can attain God. This seems to be the easiest method for me.” Rohan joined in the discussion, “ I agree with Maithree Akka.”

Thatha replied, “I will tell you the story of Narada and then you can decide how easy it is to meditate. Sage Narada was the son of God Brahma. He was always chanting without stopping the name of Lord Vishnu. Naturally he thought that he was the greatest devotee of Vishnu and became very proud because of that. One day he met Lord Vishnu and asked him, “God, who is your greatest devotee.” God Vishnu replied, “Ofcourse I have several devotees but the greatest among them is Krishna the wood cutter.” Narada was taken aback and asked Lord Vishnu, “ I have never heard of this Krishna , the wood cutter. I would like to see him .”

Lord Vishnu told sage Narada, “ Go to the city of Madurai and go to the locality of poor people. There you would see Krishna , the wood cutter.”

Sage Narada immediately went to Madurai and located the house of Krishna the wood cutter. Krishna was a very poor man. He had ten children.. Early morning as soon as he woke up, he said, “I salute Lord Vishnu.” Then he went to cut wood. In the evening he sold the wood in the market. With that money, he would buy food for his children. After all of them ate food and before sleeping, Krishna would again say, “I salute Lord Vishnu.” Sage Narada observed him for a few more days. Except for two times a day Krishna never even thought of Lord Vishnu. He rushed to Lord Vishnu and told him, “God , were you playing tricks with me. I am chanting your name all the 24 hours. Krishna the wood cutter, remembers your name only twice a day. Still you consider him a great devotee?” Goldy, who normally is silent became very angry.

She shouted, “ I support Narada. How can Krishna be greater than Narada?”. Thatha preferred to continue.” Then God Vishnu gave a glass full of oil to Sage Narada. You take this oil , wherever you go. If a drop of it falls on the ground, you will become a monkey. Come and meet me after ten days,” Sage Narada took the glass full of oil and wandered everywhere. He was very careful. After ten days he again met Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu asked him, “Great sage, I am glad that you have come back. In these ten days, how many times you saluted me?” Sage Narada angrily shouted, “Ofcourse not even once .Throughout I was seeing that not a drop of oil falls from this glass. How can I think or even salute you?” Lord Vishnu replied, “Sage , poor Krishna in spite of much more difficult work than you, always remembered me twice a day. That is why he is a greater devotee than you.” Rohan seem to understand, “When I am studying my lessons in the school, I never remember you Thatha.”

Maithree also agreed, “That is true thatha. Yesterday when I went picnic with my friends, I did not remember about you at all.” Goldy added, “Yesterday , mummy gave me a full packet of Kurkure. Till I finished, I did not remember you Thatha.” Maithree concluded, Moral of the story is “Meditation is not easy.”