Forbearance, The Quality Of Saintliness

A man once approached a spiritual master with the wish to have the vision of God. The saint said that his ego will have to be annihilated in order to have the vision of God. Hence he advised the man to engage in continuous prayer for a year and get back to him once completed, after taking a bath.

The aspirant as advised, engaged in uninterrupted prayer for a year. On the day when he was to complete a year, the saint called the sweeper who cleans his place aside, gave him the directions to the aspirant's place and asked him to dust his broom over the aspirant when he returned after his bath. The sweeper did so as he was told and the aspirant charged with anger to beat him as he fled. The man had a bath again and approached the master. The master said that his mind was still not subdued as he had lost his temper with the sweeper. He advised the man for a second course of continuous prayer for a year and get back to him after taking a bath at the day of completion.

The man once again engaged in prayer for a year and the day of completion arrived. This time the master instructed the sweeper to touch the aspirant after his bath. When the sweeper acted as per the instructions of the master, the aspirant this time displayed his wrath by abusing the sweeper, restraining himself from charging at him. When he approached the master after cleansing himself again, the master said that he still did not succeed in dissolving his mind and hence turned him to another year of intense prayer. The master but warned that if the third time he failed in his mission, he will not be able to have the vision of God.

The aspirant this time took up his prayer with more intensity to some how obtain the vision of God. On the day of completion of a year, the sweeper this time emptied the dust collected in the morning on the head of the seeker, as told by the master. This time, the aspirant bowed to the sweeper and said with utmost humility, “ Brother you have done me a great favour. Had you not acted this way how would I have freed my self from the clutches of anger? I thank you from the very depth of my heart" When he then approached the master, he was accepted immediately and was initiated. The aspirant was introduced with certain spiritual practices. He followed them with diligence and in due course was blessed with the vision of God.

Forbearance hence is an important quality to be cultivated by an aspirant, without which the very essence of spirituality eludes one.