A Wise Man And A Bowl Of Milk

A rich and wealthy man was once living in a village. He used to pray to God daily in the morning, at mealtime, and also at night. One day he thought that he prayed to God daily, but where does God actually reside and how could he get there.

This thought made him restless and he sent out a message to all the people in the village that whosoever could tell him that where God is, he would give that person a hundred gold coins!

Many persons came forward to try their luck. Some said that God is in the mountains, while some gave the opinion that God resides in the sky, while still others thought that God is in the sea or in a distant country.

The rich man agreed with none of them. However, one day a quiet and sober-looking man came up to him and said that he knew the residence of God

He asked for a bowl of milk. Then he said to the rich man to put his hand in it.

After the rich man did as told by the wise man, the latter asked the former that what was there in the milk.

The rich man said that there was nothing there, just a bowl of milk. The wise man asked the same question two more times only to get the same answer again and again.

Then the wise man said that he wanted to stir the milk. Saying so, he began to stir and after some time it became creamy. Then subsequently butter came out. Then there was ghee!

The rich man stared at the wise man and wanted an explanation. The latter answered that God is within everyone and the only thing required is to churn our mind, heart, and soul in order to realize Him!

Even if we chant his name, it is like churning and soon God would come out from us just as butter and ghee came out of milk!

The rich man was highly impressed with the answer of the wise man and asked him from whom did he learn all these.

The wise man replied that he follows Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and it is from Him that he learned all these things. Guru Ji says that God is not far away in the sky or in the Heavens, but resides within us. We all are like the bowl of milk and we do not have a stake or a ladle to churn the milk, but we have "Seva i.e. helping others in need and putting others before ourselves". And by doing 'Seva' and 'Simran i.e. reciting God's name' one can find God!