Setting: One beautiful spring day, a red rose blossomed in a forest.
Characters and Initial Reactions: As the rose looked around, a pine tree nearby said, “What a beautiful flower. I wish I were that lovely.”
Another tree replied, “Dear pine, do not be sad, we can’t have everything.”
The rose turned its head and remarked, “It seems that I am the most beautiful plant in this forest.”
A sunflower raised its yellow head and asked, “Why do you say that? In this forest, there are many beautiful plants. You are just one of them.”
The rose replied, “I see everyone looking at me and admiring me.”
Encounter with the Cactus: Then the rose looked at a cactus and said, “Look at that ugly plant full of thorns!”
The pine tree said, “Red rose, what kind of talk is this? Who can say what beauty is? You have thorns too.”
The rose tried to move its roots away from the cactus but could not.
As the days passed, the rose would look at the cactus and say insulting things, like, “This plant is useless. How sorry I am to be his neighbor.”
“What a proud flower,” thought the trees.
The cactus never got upset and said, “God did not create any form of life without a purpose.”
The Turning Point: Spring passed, and the weather became very warm. Life became difficult in the forest as there was no rain. The rose began to wilt.
One day, the rose saw sparrows stick their beaks into the cactus and then fly away, refreshed.
The rose asked the pine tree what the birds were doing.
The pine explained that the birds got water from the cactus. “Does it not hurt when they make holes?” asked the rose.
“Yes, but the cactus does not like to see any birds suffer,” replied the pine.
The rose opened its eyes in wonder and said, “The cactus has water?”
“Yes, you can also drink from it. The sparrow can bring water to you if you ask the cactus for help.”
The Resolution: The rose felt too ashamed of its past words and behavior but finally asked the cactus for help.
The cactus kindly agreed, and the birds filled their beaks with water and watered the rose’s roots.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Humility: We should not be proud of our qualities or achievements. Humility helps us appreciate others and maintain harmonious relationships.
- Respect for All Beings: Every living entity has a purpose and special qualities given by God. We should respect and value everyone.
- Compassion: Like the cactus, we should be willing to help others in need, even if they have wronged us in the past.
- Gratitude: We should be thankful for the help we receive from others and not take it for granted.
- Self-Reflection: Recognizing our faults and seeking forgiveness can lead to personal growth and better relationships.
Prayer:
“O Lord Krishna, please bless us with the vision to see the beauty and purpose in all of Your creations. Grant us humility, compassion, and the ability to respect and serve others selflessly. Help us to overcome our pride and to seek unity and harmony in our relationships.”
Teachings from Srila Prabhupada’s Books:
From the Bhagavad Gita: In the Bhagavad Gita (5.18), Lord Krishna says: “Vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini suni caiva sva-pake ca panditah sama-darsinah”
“The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater [outcaste].”
This verse teaches us to see beyond external appearances and recognize the soul within every living entity.
From the Srimad Bhagavatam: In the Srimad Bhagavatam (4.11.13), it is said: “yasya asti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna manorathenasati dhavato bahih”
“All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge, and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord’s external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man?”
This verse emphasizes that true qualities and virtues are developed through devotion to God.
From the Caitanya Caritamrita: In the Caitanya Caritamrita (Madhya 22.62), Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: “trinad api sunicena taror iva sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih”
“One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind, one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”
This teaching underscores the importance of humility and respect in our spiritual practice.
