The Old Saree
There once was a lady who lived in a small village. She bought a white saree.
Transformation of the Saree
She wore it for a long time, and when it was no longer wearable, she cut it up into pieces and used it as a dust cloth.
The Abandoned Cloth
This dust cloth became so dirty that she threw it away.
The Cloth on the Street
There the dust cloth lay in the street, getting trampled by everyone and getting even dirtier.
Saint Ramdas’ Discovery
One day, a saint named Ramdas walked by and saw this piece of cloth.
The Cleansing Process
He picked it up and washed it in the river near his home. He used some soap and beat it with a stick to get all the dirt out.
The Frail Cloth
The cloth was now clean but wasn’t much of a cloth. All the threads were loose, and it was very frail.
Making a New Strand
The saint took all the strands, lined them up, and then twisted them. This formed a nice thick strand.
Offering to the Lord
He put this strand in an arati and lit it to offer it to the Lord.
Moral of the Story
The dirt on the cloth represents our sins. The saints clean them in the water of Bhakti, apply a soap of knowledge, and beat them with the stick of detachment. When the dirt is removed, it is fit only for the Lord’s worship. It burns away gracefully. When one meets saints, it can change one’s life; a sinner can become a sage.
Cleansing the Heart
Cleaning of our hearts is done by chanting the holy name:
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam
Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
