Once upon a time there lived a Brahmin who served in a home idol. One day he left on business, leaving the idol in the care of his son. The Brahmin told the boy to place food before God every day and watch him eat it.
The boy, following his father's instructions, placed the offerings in front of the image of God and waited silently. But God did not speak or eat anything. The boy waited for a long time. He firmly believed that God would come down from his pedestal, sit in front of the offerings and eat them. And he prayed, saying:
“Oh, Lord, come down and eat this.” It's getting late and I can't wait any longer.
But God did not answer. Then the boy began to cry, saying:
“Lord, my father told me to watch how You eat the offerings.” Why don't you want to come down? You go to my father and eat his offerings. What have I done that You do not want to come down with me and eat my offerings?
The boy cried long and bitterly. And when he raised his eyes and looked at the offerings, he saw God, who, having taken the form of a man, was sitting and eating. When the service ended and the boy left the shrine, the owners of the house said to him:
“Now the service is over, bring the offerings here.”
“But God ate everything,” the boy answered.
- What are you saying? - they asked him in amazement.
And with absolute innocence the boy repeated:
“God ate everything I brought, there’s nothing else there.”
And when the people entered the idol, they were dumbfounded at the sight of the empty dishes.
Such is the power of true faith and true desire.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru