466. Asking for those which does not matter much to us….

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/science-of-spirituality/asking-for-those-which-does-not-matter-much-to-us

A cry from the infant is the indicator for the mother to feed it. Mother feeds the infant when she hears her infant cry. This is how some knowledgeable people talk when they want to put forward their logic about asking from Absolute. I strongly object to it in two counts firstly you get only if you deserve and secondly even if Absolute is sympathetic towards you He does not need you to remind Him. In case of a mother she has limited knowledge and fails to understand when the infant is hungry but it is not so in the case of Absolute He is Omniscient.

How can we say that He is knower of all and at the same time want to update Him? This is where the meaning of prayer goes for a toss. Prayer is a time when one gets to connect with Him.  Now, again does this mean that we are not connected to Him always? We are indeed connected to Him always but we are not conscious of it as our mind is busy with our daily chores. For some even these daily chores do not interrupt the connection between them and the Absolute. I bow to such Souls.

Immersed in our daily chores we have overlooked the true essence of prayer and also have forgotten what to ask for.  Once it so happened that a man used to frequent the Shiva temple in the vicinity daily before going to his shop. He would stand before the Shiva Ling and plead to grant him at least three wishes. This was his one and only prayer daily. Years rolled by and looking at his sincere request one day Lord Shiva appeared before him. Lord granted him three wishes. The man who was surprised asked for a few minutes, then immediately requested the Lord for his wife’s death. In the morning they both had a quarrel. Lord Shiva did not question him but granted his first wish. His brother-in-law came running with the news of his sister’s death. The man came to senses, “Alas! What have I done?” He thought. Then remembering the good days spent with his wife he requests the Lord to bring her back to life. Lord let the wish come true. He had used up the two wishes now he was left with only one.

Then he said,”Lord, give me some time to think; otherwise I will waste the last wish also. I will ask for it tomorrow”

That tomorrow never came everyday he postponed it to the next day. The man was so confused what to ask and he couldn't sleep. He became almost insane thinking what is that one thing which he can ask which will benefit him? He discussed with many wise and intelligent people who suggested many things, but nothing seemed worthwhile. Then one day he asked Lord Shiva himself.  “O Lord, you know everything please tell me, what is that one wish I need to ask you for. I am going crazy!”

This is what Lord Shiva told him, “There can be only one wish, which is worthwhile. Ask for desirelessness, otherwise nothing is worthwhile. Whatsoever you ask for the very next moment you will want something else, amazingly it could be just the opposite of the first.”