​Life advice via an Interesting story

bykshrivas

254 followers

Updated 10 years ago

Since past few weeks I'd been feeling a bit off, and whenever I have this "depressing" nagging feeling going on in the back of my head, I tend to read a lot of inspirational stories, mostly off the web!

I don't know if it is ok, but sometimes I do feel overwhelmed with the technologies around. It feels good to take a break from all the mobile phones, laptops and high-tech stuff, and simply take a book or magazine, spend time in the nature, breathe deeply and feel refreshed.

Last weekend we went for a picnic at a nearby park and my friends began playing cards there. As I wasn't much interested in doing so, I began flipping through the magazines they'd brought in the trip.

There was one story that actually caught me, and so I thought of sharing it here with you guys.

Here it goes from the author (I can't remember the name!):

I have read many books on life such as Robin Sharma’s Monk says this and the monk says that, and they all seem to say that money is not necessary. But it is. Can you do without cash and a lot of it? I know I can’t.

So, I went to the neighbourhood Rabbi and asked for advice that will help me find my true way in life.

The rabbi nodded and took me to the window. “What do you see?” he asked me.

Promptly, I answered, “I can see people walking to and fro and a blind man is begging for alms at the left corner.”

The Rabbi nodded and guided me to a big mirror. “Now look and tell me what you see?”

“I can see myself,” I man answered.

The Rabbi smiled. “Now you can’t see anyone else. The mirror and the window are both created from the same raw material: glass, but because on one of them they have applied a thin layer of silver, when you look at it all you can see is your own reflection.”

The Rabbi placed his arm on my shoulders. “Compare yourself to those two pieces of glass. Without the silver layer, you saw the other people and felt compassion for them. When you are covered with silver, you see only yourself.”

I looked at the Rabbi and stared. “I don’t understand.”

The Rabbi continued. “You will become someone only if have the courage to remove the silver covering over your eyes in order to again see and love others.” He patted me on my back and sent me on my way.

I have thought of what he said and come to the conclusion that he had a point. Yes. We need money and we should not aim to lead a moneyless existence; its pointless and will only cause us and our families many heartbreaks in the future.

Instead, I suggest that we should follow the advice the Rabbi gave me. When we approach life through a silver covering, all we are able to see is ourselves. But discard that covering, and you will be able to see and feel everyone else.

In life, we are allowed to and should be able to look at both kinds of mirrors, but we should remember that a mirror reflects only us; a window is the door to compassion, health and true wealth. In other words, seek wealth by all means, but also try to help as many as you can through your path. True wealth isn't just about money, but also how you feel about it and relate to others.