Sense of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’

A miserly rich old lady and was living alone. Her main desire was to go to Heaven and enjoy, after death. She would never willingly part with even a rotten apple for a beggar.

One day a hungry old monk entered her house, sat down outside her kitchen and refused to leave unless some food article was given to appease his hunger at least partly. She was helpless and finally got rid of him by donating a carrot half of which had rotted which she was planning throw out.

A few years passed and suddenly one day she saw Yama, the God of death standing before her and ready to take away her soul. Yama told her, “I have come to take you to hell as you have never done a single good deed in your life.”

She remonstrated “You are wrong. I am entitled to go to heaven. Check up your ledger. Five years back, on a particular day I have done a selfless service by donating a carrot to a monk.” Yama was able to trace the entry in her ledger account.

With an apology he told her: “You wait outside your house for a few minutes. In half an hour a golden carrot will descend till it is within the reach of your hands. If you catch hold of it, it will take you to the Heaven.”

The old lady quickly dressed herself upin a new saree and was waiting in the street when a golden carrot descended towards her. She caught hold of it which began moving upwards like a balloon, while she was hanging from it. A vendor of vegetables who was standing by her side immediately caught hold of her feet and the carrot was carrying both of them. Another lady who was seeing this scene caught hold of the vendor’s feet. Thus a number of people hung on to each other’s feet one below the other and the carrot was taking them all upwards. Lady, unaware of people hanging one below the other went on enjoying the scenery.

When she was almost nearing the gates of the Heaven, she had a last look on the earth she had left behind and beheld to her horror a number of people hanging one below the other under her support. She shrieked at them – “You fellows there get down and leave my feet. This carrot is mine and I alone am entitled to go to heaven.” In order to emphasise the words “mine” with a suitable gesture, she touched her heart with both the hands. As she had unwarily left hold of the carrot, she fell down carrying all the people hanging in that line.


SENSE OF ‘I’ AND ‘MINE’ ARE THE GREATEST OBSTACLES IN PATH OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH.