The Bread Thief

There is a small story to illustrate the kind of powerful energy that can see God in any creature. That kind of intensity is missing in today’s world.

There once was a High Being, who lived in the forest, tending a little shrine.  Every day it was his custom to cook delicious food, which he ritually offered to God in the little shrine where God was supposed to dwell. Allowing some time for God to have “finished the meal”, the food is distributed between the devotees as prasad, blessed food.  

One day the Master was intent on arranging the food with the utmost care, having prepared the vegetables and the roti. It is custom to add a little clarified butter, ghee to the roti for taste as well as to make the bread nice and soft and to add a touch of “purity”.  Everything was ready but as the Master went to get the ghee, a large dog came by, and, snatching the entire stack of bread, ran off with it. 

Well, the Master, in hot pursuit, ran after the dog, calling out:  “My Lord, please wait, please wait and let me put the ghee on the roti…” and thus continued running after the dog.  It was a long chase until, at the point of complete exhaustion, the Master finally collapsed.  And legend relates that God appeared to him in the form of the dog, telling him: “I am pleased with your dedication and devotion – no one has ever done that.”

It is at the height of devotion, that you may be able to truly “see”.  No matter what culture you live in, or what your concept of God may be, humans create a concept of some power greater than themselves.  If you have to create a concept of that power, which you might call God, why not create a concept which is beautiful and fulfilling, a concept whereby you can uplift yourself?