Wednesday, July 07, 2010

What to do with your Diamond

Spirituality and Health magazine printed an Indian parable that I wished I'd put into my book, Money As Sacrament. (Ten Speed Press) It's a profound tale on the meaning of true wealth. It first appeared in his newest book, The Jesus Guide to (Almost) Everything by Rev. James Martin, S.J.


The sannyasi (wise man) had reached the outskirts of the village and had settled down under a tree for the night when a villager came running up to him and said: "The stone! The stone! Give me the precious stone!"

"What stone?" asked the
sannyasi

"Last night the Lord Shiva appeared to me in a dream" said the villager "and told me that if I went to the outskirts of the village at dusk,I should find a sannyasi who would give me a precious stone that would make me rich forever."

The sannyasi rummaged in his bag and pulled out a stone.

"He probably meant this one," he said as he handed the stone over to the villager. " found it on the forest path some days ago. You can certainly have it."

The man gazed at the stone in wonder. It was a diamond, probably the largest diamond in the whole world, for it was as large as a person's head.

He took the diamond and walked away. All night he tossed about in bed, unable to sleep
Next day at the crack of dawn he woke the
sannyasi and said, "Give me the wealth that makes it possible for you to give this diamond away so easily."

Dear readers, pass this story on. It's meaning is meant for all of us.

2 comments:

Georgenac said...

It's been awhile since I gave my diamond away. It keeps coming back to me in so many different ways. When I recognize the return, my heart smiles.
It has also been awhile since you posted here...are you and Jim okay? Prayers go your way. ghc

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