In India they tell a fable about this: There was once a great devotee of Vishnu who prayed night and day to see his God. One night his wish was granted and Vishnu appeared to him. Falling on his knees, the devotee cried out, "I will do anything for you, my Lord, just ask."" How about a drink of water?" Vishnu replied. Although surprised by the request, the devotee immediately ran to the river as fast as his legs could carry him. When he got there and knelt to dip up some water, he saw a beautiful woman standing on an island in the middle of the river. The devotee fell madly in love on the spot. He grabbed a boat and rowed over to her. She responded to him, and the two were married. They had children in a house on the island; the devotee grew rich and old plying his trade as a merchant. Many years later, a typhoon came along and devastated the island. The merchant was swept away in the storm. He nearly drowned but regained consciousness on the very spot where he had once begged to see God. His whole life, including his house, wife, and children, seemed never to have happened. Suddenly he looked over his shoulder, only to see Vishnu standing there in all his radiance." Well, " Vishnu said, "did you find me a glass of water? .Deepak Chopra
About This Quote
The story of the merchant and the glass of water is a parable about the preciousness of time. The merchant spent his life searching for water in an endless desert. But, when he finally found it, he was so excited that he dropped the glass—which shattered into pieces. This, however, did not break his spirit.
He continued to search for water in another desert; in this one, too, he found it. He was in ecstasy at the moment when he drank in this water. He took only one sip before becoming rapt in contemplation of his beloved deity.
Time passed, and he finally died in peace.
Source: How To Know God: The Souls Journey Into The Mystery Of Mysteries
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