(P) The Sadhu’s Blessings (karma)
A sadhu (saintly person) and his disciple were passing through a city. “Let us see whether we can make our journey a learning experience,” the teacher said to his disciple. By chance, just as they were walking by the prince of the kingdom was mounting his fine white stallion
“Greetings holy man,” the prince called out. “Please give me your blessings.”
Raising his palm, the sadhu replied, “May you live forever.”
The prince happily galloped off, and the sadhu’s disciple enquired, “Why did you bless
him to live forever, master?”
The sadhu answered, ”He is now enjoying his life of sense pleasure. However, he hunts animals for sport, so when he dies he’ll suffer for his sin. So it’s best for him to live forever and stay as he is now.”
Later they saw a young student of spiritual science, a brahmachari, dressed in saffron cloth, collecting alms for his teacher. When he saw that the sadhu he touched his palms together, offering him respect.
In reply, the sadhu said, “May you die immediately.”
Again the disciple queried, “Master, why did you curse him to die?”
The sadhu laughed. “That was not a curse, but a blessing. At present he is pure and sinless. However, if he continues to live his future is uncertain.”
Why is that?” the disciple asked.
“Because there is always the danger of falling into worldly ways. But if he dies right now, he will certainly be promoted to the higher worlds.”
As they approached the market place, the disciple had to hold his nose. The air was filled with the sickly smell of death wafting from the corpses of skinned animals, cut into pieces and hung on hooks in front of the butcher’s shop.
A red-faced man, the shop owner, called out to the sadhu, “Hello! Any blessings for me today?”
Once again the sadhu raised his palm. “Yes, I bless you that you neither live nor die.”
The butcher scratched his head and muttered, “What a strange blessing.”
After they left the market place the disciple enquired, “What did you mean by that greeting?”
“Don’t you think the butcher is in a hellish condition right now?” the sadhu asked. His disciple nodded.
“He has killed so many innocent animals that he will surely go to hell for many thousands of years,” the sadhu explained. “So he will suffer if he lives or if he dies.”
Next, they passed a temple entrance where a devotee was offering her heartfelt prayers to the Supreme Lord. She did not even notice the sadhu approaching, but he called out, “May you live or may you die.”
“Let me guess why you said that,” ventured the disciple. “Constantly remembering God, a devotee is always happy. Therefore, it makes no difference to her whether she lives or dies. She will go on remembering God in this life and in the next.” Smiling, the sadhu replied, “My disciple, you are learning well.”