A small story:🔗

A pundit (scholar) used to live on the backs of the river Yamuna.

He was very proud of his learning and intelligence! Every day, a young girl from a village across the river used to supply milk to the pundit.

One day, there was a heavy storm and the girl was late. When the pundit asked her why, the girl said: 'Punditji, the river is in flood. Till now, I could not find any boatman

willing to bring me across!'

When he heard this, the pundit started laughing. He wanted to show off his learning to the poor girl.

He said, 'What? People easily cross even the samsara sagara (ocean of life), just by chanting the name of Lord Krishna. You cannot even cross this small river without a boat?!'

The girl just listened to the pundit's words and left silently. After that, she used to supply milk on time everyday.

A few days later, there was another heavy storm and the river was flooded again.

But the girl appeared with the milk at the usual time! The pundit was surprised.

He asked her, 'How did you manage to find a boat in this storm?'

The girl smiled and said, 'Why do I need a boat, Punditji? I just chant the mantra 'Krishna, Krishna' as you taught me, and walk across the river, that's all.'

The pundit was shocked!

Naturally he could not believe the girl. He demanded a demonstration.

The girl took him to the river, bowed down and chanted the mantra, and simply walked across the river!

Then the pundit thought, 'If the mantra I have given is so powerful, why should I not use it myself? He bowed down and chanted 'Krishna, Krishna', just as the girl

had done.

But before entering the river, he carefully folded his silk dhoti (long waistcloth) up to his knees, so that it wouldn't get wet! Naturally, what do you think happened?

The moment he stepped into the water, he was caught in the current and swept away.

So understand, it is not what you do, but how you do it, the sincerity and the attitude with which you do it, that determines the results of any spiritual practice!