Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji Mastuana was a renowned Sikh saint - he literally spent most of his youth in deep uninterrupted naam meditation.
Once he was sitting on a river edge meditating on naam when a gold merchant happened to pass by. The merchant was deeply moved when he saw the Saint (who wouldn't?)
And despite the Saint's reluctance, presented him with a gold bracelet. The Saint was a very gentle man and he too was moved by the love in the merchant's eyes, so he finally accepted the gift. When the merchant left, the Saint resumed his naam meditation. But after a few minutes, he opened his eyes and put the gold bracelet under the sheet he was meditating on - he was concerned that the gold would attract thieves.
He tried to resume his meditation, but found that his thoughts kept returning to the gold bracelet. He started thinking perhaps he should sell the bracelet or give it to charity. Perhaps he should open up a charity hospital himself...
After a few minutes, he suddenly got up and picked up the bracelet and threw it into the river as far as he could! He realized that he had wasted his precious and priceless consciousness on something that was utterly useless on the path to union with the formless One.
For a heart that loves God, even an ocean full of worldly treasures is worthless
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 23rd pauri
Once he was sitting on a river edge meditating on naam when a gold merchant happened to pass by. The merchant was deeply moved when he saw the Saint (who wouldn't?)
And despite the Saint's reluctance, presented him with a gold bracelet. The Saint was a very gentle man and he too was moved by the love in the merchant's eyes, so he finally accepted the gift. When the merchant left, the Saint resumed his naam meditation. But after a few minutes, he opened his eyes and put the gold bracelet under the sheet he was meditating on - he was concerned that the gold would attract thieves.
He tried to resume his meditation, but found that his thoughts kept returning to the gold bracelet. He started thinking perhaps he should sell the bracelet or give it to charity. Perhaps he should open up a charity hospital himself...
After a few minutes, he suddenly got up and picked up the bracelet and threw it into the river as far as he could! He realized that he had wasted his precious and priceless consciousness on something that was utterly useless on the path to union with the formless One.
For a heart that loves God, even an ocean full of worldly treasures is worthless
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 23rd pauri
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