Disabled But Not Disheartened...

Savitri was a very active woman till she was struck by paralysis.  Her movements were confined to her home.  She felt she was a burden to her daughter-in-law Rani, who was a widow.  Rani was working as a housemaid in a nearby house.  She had a pretty daughter - Vidya who was born dumb.  She was admitted in a special school where training was given to deaf and dumb children.

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Savithri was able to get a wheelchair by the generosity of a Lions Club.  After deep thinking, she decided to buy flowers, make pretty garlands and sell.

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Savithri had a pet dog.  She named it 'Leader'.  Leader was so much attached to Savithri that she followed her like a shadow.  Leader was trained to pick up a basket containing a note and money, go to a flower merchant and bring flowers.  Leader's help was a great relief to the disabled Savithri.

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Nearby Savithri's house there was a park.  A small Ganesh Temple was located just opposite to the entrance of the part.  She used to sit at the entrance of the park and prepare flower garlands while having the darshan of Lord Ganesh. She used to spend few hours to sell the flower garlands.  Before she left the place in the night, she handedover the remaining garlands to the priest to adom Lord Ganesh.

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Savithri was able to earn about Rs. 100/- per day after meeting the cost of the flowers.  She was contented and grateful to God for keeping her active and useful inspite of her disability.

./././././././././././././././././././././MORAL... Contentment is a continuous feast.

Old King Who Wanted To Becom Young

There was once an intelligent but greedy King. Though he had done much for the betterment of the people, he was selfish in his desires.

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As years passed, the King grew old and lost his physical strength. He had a strong desire that he should become young once again. He was prepared to offer half the kingdom to any person who can make him young by any means. He called the minister and said, "Go in search of someone who can give formula or medicine to make me young once again".
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The minister was amused. He knew that birth, groth, decay and death are natural. But he had to carry out the order of the king. The minister, with a group of soldiers, went in search of a person who could make the king young. He went through villages, towns and even forests. Some people laughed at the idea, some kept quiet out of fear and some felt that the king might have become mentally unsound.
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As the minister was going through a forest, he came across a sait doing penance under a banyan tree. His face was radiating divine light and grace. After some time the saint opened his eyes and observed the minister standing in front of him. With a smiling gesture, he questioned him the purpose of his visit.
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The minister with all humility touched the feet of the holyman and explained, "Respected holyman, our king is keen to regain his lost youth. I request you to make him young with your powers".
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The saint softly laughed. After thinking for a minute he said in a very pleasant voice, "With the grace of God and with the power I have acquired through long penance I can make your king young once again. But on one condition".
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The minister was surprised at the unexpected assurance given by the holyman. With all earnestness he bowed and said prayerfully, "King holyman, I am happy to know that my king's desire would be fulfilled. He will cooperate in every respect. He is even prepared to offer half the kingdom to anyone who can make him young. Kindly tell me what is to be done by my king".
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The saint smiled once again and replied, "What can I do with the kingdom? I am a saint living in that small hut spending time in prayers. I have no expectation. But I will give you a medicine. Every day your king should stand before a mirror and apply the medicine on his face. While applying the medicine, he should not think of a monkey. If this condition is fulfilled, within a week's time young king will become young once again".
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The minister was over joyed and said, "Swamiji, this is a very simple condition. My king will definately follow your instructions and receive your blessings".
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With the belssings of the saint, the minister carried the medicine to the king. To the great delight of the king he narrated how the saint was kind enough to give the medicine ona simple condition.
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The king very much pleased. He ordered the minister to announce a week's festivities throughout the kingdom hoping that he would become young once again.
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The king started using the medicine. The moment he took the medicine to apply on his face, he thought of a monkey. He tried his best not to think of a monkey. But he was unable to drive away the image of monkey from his mind.
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At last he became desparate and threw away the medicine. He realised that it was impossible for him to use the medicine without thinking of a monkey. He understood that the saint made him wise that youth once lost cannot be regained. He also learnt that the age is to the mind but not to the body... Moral...:-- The most difficult thing in life is to control one's mind...
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