A Judgement

In a small town in India, a person decided to open a Bar and Restaurant right opposite to a temple.

The temple committee and its congregation started a campaign to prevent the opening of the Bar with petitions to the authorities and prayed daily to God to see the work on the Bar building did not progress.

However, when it was almost complete and was about to be opened, a strong lightning struck the Bar building and it was burnt down.

The temple folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, till the Bar owner sued the temple authorities on the ground that the temple committee, through its congregation and prayers, was ultimately responsible for the destruction of the Bar building, either directly or indirectly.

In its reply to the court, the temple vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection between the prayers and the destruction of the building.

As the case made its way, the judge looked over the written statements at the hearing and commented:

"I don't know how I'm going to decide this case. But it appears from the records that we have a Bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and we have an entire temple committee and its devotees who do not believe in the power of prayer."

Now let me add: There was in India a Sanyasi living in his hermitage in the outskirts of a small town. He would go out for alms after performing his morning ablution and puja and return in the evening. His hermitage was right opposite to a brothel where the single woman would dress up in her best finery and receive her customers.

After many years, the Sanyasi died certain in his heart that angels would receive him in the heavens. Sadly, he was taken to hell. After a few years he heard that the prostitute who lived in the opposite house had died and thought she was sure to be in the Hell too.

To his surprise even after many days he could not find her in hell. He decided to ask Yama, the Lord of hell, the whereabouts of the prostitute.

Yama told the Sanyasi that he had left her in heaven as per Lord Indra's command. Unable to believe this perfidy, the Sanyasi approached Indra for throwing a man of God like him to hell while a sinner like the prostitute welcomed to heaven.

Lord Indra threw his benign smile at the Sanyasi and explained: "You Sanyasi, you were always indulging in voyeur with that prostitute after your prayers while that prostitute after her sinful act would offer prayers to God seeking forgiveness of her sins. Now go back to where you really belong and the prostitute will be here in heaven where she rightfully belongs. Though your lips prayed, your mind was always full of that prostitute and sex. In contrast, though that prostitute was indulging in sinful sexual act, her mind was always full of God and repentance."

Well, well, now I know why the other Sanyasis living on earth wish to go to heaven !