Monday, October 3, 2016

Thought for the Day - 2nd October 2016 (Sunday)

Gandhi, who was an ordinary person, was able to achieve greatness and world renown, because of the lessons in good behavior he learnt from his mother. The mother observed a vow: she would take her food only after the cuckoo sang in the morning. Once when Gandhi was a boy, the mother was waiting for a long time to hear the call of the cuckoo. Observing this, Gandhi went out of the house, imitated the call of the cuckoo and came in and told his mother that the cuckoo had sung and that she could take her food. The mother, who saw through her son's trickery, slapped him on the cheek and said, "You wicked fellow! What sin must I have committed to bear a son like you?" She felt very sad. Her grief touched the heart of Gandhi. From that moment Gandhi took a firm resolve never to utter a lie again.


Gandhi, yang merupakan orang biasa telah mampu meraih kebesaran dan  kemashyuran dunia karena pelajaran tentang tingkah laku yang baik yang ia pelajari dari ibunya. Ibunya melakukan tirakat: ia akan membuka puasa hanya setelah burung tekukur bernyanyi di pagi hari. Saat Gandhi masih kecil, sang ibu sedang menunggu lama untuk mendengar suara nyanyian burung tersebut. Melihat hal ini, Gandhi pergi keluar rumah dan menirukan suara burung tersebut dan kembali masuk ke rumah dan mengatakan kepada ibunya bahwa burung tekukur telah berbunyi dan ibu boleh menikmati makanan. Sang ibu yang mengetahui tipu daya putranya menampar pipinya dan berkata, "engkau adalah orang yang jahat! Apa dosa yang telah ibu lakukan dengan memiliki anak sepertimu ini?” sang ibu merasa sangat sedih. Kesedihan ibunya telah menyentuh hati Gandhi. Mulai dari saat itu Gandhi mengambil sumpah untuk tidak pernah berbicara bohong lagi. (Divine Discourse, 6 May 1992)

-BABA

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