Noble heart of a Sanyasi – Story
This real incident happened in the Kanchi Kamakodi Mutt in Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu.
Sri Chandrasekarendra Swami Sankaracharya was a revered Sanyasi who followed the Sanyasa rules strictly and stood as an example for how a Sanyasi should live the simplest life of purity even in this advancing world.
This incident happened in front of Swami:
It was an evening around 6 pm. Swami was seated peacefully in a corner of the Mutt at Kanchi and four or five people were standing beside Him.
An old lady, who must have been above sixty, came there. Her head was shaved, and a portion of her white saree covered it.
The then Government of Tamil Nadu had announced a scheme of granting financial assistance to senior citizens and it had just begun to be implemented.
Swami was conversing with the devotees who had come there for darshan.
It was clear that the old lady was anxious to say something.
She was an old resident of the Mutt.
“A petition to Swami” … the old lady began.
“Do you also have problems?” asked Swami.
Feeling encouraged, the lady said:
“Well… It‘s nothing., really. The Government is giving twenty rupees a month as pension to the aged. Also to those that have no one to support them…”
‘Yes… So what about that?”
“It is like this…. If the Mutt recommends my case, I will also get money.”
“Of course you will. But alright, what do you lack here? You get your meals at the right time. You are also given sarees to wear. You have a place to stay… why then do you need money?”
“No…It is just that it is given… ex gratia…for free…that’s why…”
The old lady replied in a discouraged tone.
“Look here! I am also one without anyone to support me. I stay in a corner of this Mutt. Shall we both apply for that pension?”
Swami asked mischievously and laughed.
As soon as she heard these words, the old lay hung her head in shame.
It was Swami’s opinion that it was a great sin to misuse the aid given by the Government. He explained this not only to the old lady, but also to every one present there.
Swami continued to speak:
“At least we get food to sustain our life. We have a place to take shelter from rain and sun. We have clothes to wear and preserve our dignity. The Government has introduced the scheme for the really poor who struggle to get even these bare necessities. If I get you this pension, it will be denied to an unsupported old man or woman truly deserving it, will it not?”
The old lady and everyone gathered there saw Swami’s noble heart.
(KRISHNA’s LOVE FOR RADHARANI -STORY! READ HERE!)