Talk:Tattvadarshī: The Bhakta Yogī follows the Practices of Bhakti in their True Spirit
The true essence of Bhakti is to see the Divinity in everyone, everywhere, every time and serve and love the Lord within everyone, everywhere and all time. The perfected Bhakti Yogī doesn’t restrict his practice to ceremonies alone. He discerns what will truly express his love for the Lord, how he can truly serve the Divine through service and love for His creation, as the following story illustrates-
The Brightest Home on Diwali
On the Diwali night, we light lamps in our home to welcome Devi Lakshmi. All homes are cleaned to look very bright and beautiful.
One year, King Krishna Deva Raya announced a competition for Diwali. He said that he will award a bag full of gold coins to the person whose home is the brightest of all on the night of Diwali. Everyone on his city started buying thousands of lamps. They all wanted their home to be the brightest, so that they could win the prize.
On the Diwali night, the King and Tenali Raman went around their capital to find out the brightest home. They were pleased to see how hard everyone had worked to light up their homes. People had placed thousands of lamps everywhere to make their homes bright. They made different designs with the lamps which made them look even more beautiful.
One of the homes had ten thousand lamps. Its owner had also decorated it with flowers kept between the lamps. King Krishna Deva Raya was very happy to see this home. He said to Tenali Raman, “I think that this home should get the prize for winning the contest. Look, how bright it is! And he has used many colorful flowers around the lamps too!”
But Tenali replied, “Not so soon, dear King! I will take you to a home which is even more brightly lit. Please follow me.” The King walked behind Tenali Raman. After 30 minutes of walking, they arrived at a small home. But it did not even have a single lamp lighting it from outside. Instead, they could see a faint light coming from inside.
They knocked the door and entered the home. Inside, they saw an old teacher teaching several students. The study room was lit only with a single lamp. All these kids seemed to be from very poor families.” The King looked at Tenali Raman in anger, and said, “Is this a joke? It looks like this man is not even celebrating Diwali. He has no decorations or lighting outside his home!”
As soon as the teacher heard the King, he got up and bowed, “Welcome to my home your majesty. I am honored to have you here.” Tenali Raman asked the teacher, “Can you tell the King what you do? And who are these children?”
The teacher replied, “Dear King, all these children are from very poor families. Their parents cannot afford to buy books for them or send them to school. Therefore, I teach these kids for free whenever I have time. Today was a holiday for me because of Diwali. Therefore I asked all these kids to come and study at my home.”
Tenali Raman said to the King, “Sir, the brightest light is the light of knowledge and kindness. This man is not very wealthy. But he is giving the greatest gift to those who cannot afford to get it – the light of knowledge. Therefore, I think that his is the brightest home in the town.”
The King smiled and said, “You are absolutely correct my friend! There is no light that is brighter than knowledge and kindness. And it is this brightest light that is in this home.”
The King then announced that the prize money should be awarded to the teacher.