Work Is Worship

One-day Lord Krishna were busy in his work in front of his laptop. Suddenly, he heard some noises outside his cabin. He dialled his PA’s intercom number.  

"Why such chaos? What's going on out-there?", Lord Krishna asked

“My Lord, a few humans have come to discuss some issues with you. They have some questions for which they wanted clarification”, the PA sitting outside Lord Krishna’s cabin replied. He further added “My Lord, I’ve told them that you are busy at moment and couldn't meet. But, they are desperate and not ready to listen”

“Where are they from?”, Lord Krishna asked

“They are from heaven...”, the PA updated

“They are already in heaven, despite they have issues?”, Lord Krishna surprisingly asked and laughed

“Yes, My Lord. Humans have always issues...” the PA too laughed and replied

Lord Krishna remained silent for a while

“Lord, would you please come out here for a moment?”, the PA requested

“Sure”, Lord Krishna said and hung up the phone.

No sooner did Lord Krishna come out of his cabin to find three people arguing with his PA, they rushed to him and started talking in unison which created further chaos. The PA kept them at reasonable distance from Lord Krishna who apparently couldn't comprehend the words of either of them.

“Calm down”, Lord Krishna raised his hand, “Please be easy-going”

He smiled at them and added, “Everyone's concern would be heard.  Please meet me tomorrow morning in my cabin at sharp 10.30”

Then Lord Krishna instructed his PA to postpone all his morning meetings for two hours.

All were requested to go then, and suggested to come next day morning.

All obeyed and went off.

Lord Krishna settled down in his cabin and again dialled his PA's intercom

“What was the matter? Why did they come?”, Lord Krishna asked, eyes in front of his laptop screen where he were reviewing profile of all three appellant.  

“My Lord, I don't have any idea, neither they mentioned anything special. They wanted to talk to you only”, the clueless PA replied.

“Okay. Do one thing. Get the projector set up in my cabin for tomorrow before 10.30”, Lord Krishna replied and cut the phone

Next day, all three gathered outside Lord Krishna’s cabin by 10.30 AM. At sharp 10.30, Lord Krishna arrived and all entered his cabin where Lord Krishna’s PA was testing projector.

All settled.

Lord Krishna chaired the meeting behind his huge desk. On the other side of table, there were three chairs. The man settled in middle, a woman on his right and a boy in his left. Lord Krishna’s PA stood by his side to minutes the meeting

“Yes...please let me know your issue one after another...”, Lord Krishna said as all settled down, projector set up and Lord Krishna logged in his laptop.

Out of three, one was Pandit who raised his hand to get his question heard first. Lord Krishna smiled and nodded.

“My Lord Shri Krishna. I am Pandit Ramprasad. I am in one tier heaven. When I was alive, I spent my whole life chanting and serving God. I spread awareness about religion, I encouraged respecting every religion and belief in brotherhood. I dedicated my life for betterment of people by being religious and believing in God. I never did any malpractice or never misguided any devotee. Neither I cheated any devotee in the name of God nor played with emotions of poor devotees. I remained the true believer of God and spent my whole life in the feet of God”, the Pandit said and paused.

There were three categories in heaven – one tier, two tier and three tier. In one tier heaven, after death, human was given a separate giant room with all amenities and facilities. In two tier, facilities remained the same, only difference was, in two tier two persons occupied the room and three in three tier heaven. By and large, all the facilities and rooms remained the same. The Pandit was in one tier heaven

“So, what is your problem?”, Lord Krishna asked little curious

“My Lord, there is one farmer in one tier heaven besides me. I know him very personally. He is from my village. He never visited temple, even never remained present in God's any of festival celebrations, never participated in any spiritual activity...” the Pandit said and again paused to take the breath

“So? What’s the point?', Lord Krishna asked

“My Lord, with due respect, I think you have mistaken to place him in heaven. I mean, why was he in heaven? Never ever he stepped up temple to bow down his head to God’s feet. He didn’t deserve to be in heaven. Again, with due respect, My Lord, you should revisit the criteria of placement in heaven. You have put any random guy in one tier heaven”, the Pandit ended after saying, “My point should be attended, that’s all my lord”  

Lord Krishna heard Pandit’s concern very sincerely. All looked at Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna surfed in his laptop to review that farmer's profile and went through.

Upon listening such accusation, the PA standing beside Lord Krishan felt little uncomfortable.

“Okay. I have an explanation to your apprehension. Let me explain you. The farmer you are talking about is Gangaram, right?' Lord Krishna asked to Pandit

The Pandit nodded.

“Gangaram was a very poor farmer. Have you ever observed his routine?”, Lord Krishna asked

The Pandit looked at Lord Krishna poker face.

“Okay let me show you one video. A video of daily routine of the poor farmer Gangaram. It’s five-minute video. Please watch it”, Lord Krishna said and connected his laptop with projector. He played the video on projector.

“I want all of you to watch this video”, Lord Krishna said as video began on big screen.

Video played and everyone watched. They looked at each other unable to link the relation of Pandit’s question with the video. None could find any unusual thing in the video. In fact, farmer Gangaram couldn’t be spotted visiting temple in video too. It was apparent that he never remembered God in his life. So, what Lord Krishna wanted to prove by this five-minute video?

Lord Krishna smiled at them.

“My Lord, can you please explain?', the Pandit hesitantly asked

“Sure”, Lord Krishna said and started, “As you know that he was a poor farmer. I hope you must have seen his routine very carefully in the video. Without fail, every day he would wake up early morning at five. He works hard in his farm till 12 noon. At 12, he would eat his tiffin which his family member arranged to send. Now, without fail, before eating first bite of his food, he would remember God. Do you know what did he used to pray?  He would pray that ‘Dear God, I am happy in my life. You have given me a field where I grow food grains, you have given me the strength for farming my field, you have given me a wisdom and kind heart. But, I am not earning much enough to donate in temple, I hardly manage to meet my two ends meet. After a hard day at work, I don’t save time to go temple and bow down my head in your feet. Forgive me for that. I believe in you and trust you. I know for the fact that I have a bedridden wife who is struggling between her life and death. I have two daughters to get them married. I have to work hard to give good medical treatment to my wife and for bright future of my daughters. Please give me strength to work hard, give me the strength that I never break down’. Then, he would eat his tiffin. After his meal, he would work till sun set. He would leave for his home, spend some time with his family. Then he would take dinner after remembering God and due to whole day hard work and waking up early morning...he falls sleep at nine. He was very poor yet very kind and honest. He had to surrender his animal assets to his lender to be on his words. His field was mortgaged in medical treatments for his wife. When his wife died, his half of the field was already given up. In rest half, he carried out his farming. Finally, to get her daughters married, he sold his half field and turned field less. He was alone. His wife died and daughters married. He worked as labour in his own farm and one day he left his last breath on his farm only”, Lord Krishna paused for a moment.

“He did his job very gracefully. And I must say, his work was his worship. He performed his duty, he accepted his role and performed wholeheartedly. So, he didn't need to come to temple and bow down his head down. He didn't need to put currency on God's feet. Any God never say his devotee to spoil his work, and visit him. In between your work, if you remember God once...it is enough. Just do your work wholeheartedly...perform your duties with faith, and you are eligible for heaven....” Lord Krishna said in a single breath

“The Great Pandit, you are in one tier heaven because you too performed your duties wholeheartedly. You were doing your job perfectly.... you chanted and served God, because you were given that role to perform. You worked hard to spread religious awareness, guided people in the right direction...you deserved to be in first tier heaven. But that doesn't restrict that poor farmer to be eligible for heaven...”

“Please, you must understand...Your Work Is Your Worship...Your duties are your worship…you do your work with a full heart and soul..........” Lord Krishna ended his speech

The Pandit  remained quiet. Never did he try to peek into that poor farmer's life. He never knew that poor farmer was passing through a severe financial crisis during his whole life. He slipped into deep thoughts. Lord Krishna smiled at him and he felt little relaxed.

"Next question", Lord Krishna asked

A lady sitting on chair right of the Pandit started, "My Lord, I am Madhu. I am in two tier heaven. When I was alive, I was a social worker. I worked for homeless children. I provided them food, shelter and clothing. When I started movement for children welfare, I was alone. Then, people joined me and I set up an NGO which worked for upliftment of children. I worked for women empowerment too. I set up women empowerment centre which worked to support helpless women to survive, they could stand up on their own feet, they could earn and lived their lives to achieve their dreams..." Madhu said and stopped

“Yes..”, Lord Krishna smiled, “Please…without hesitation put your point”

“My Lord, I’ve two issues”, Madhu said and continued, “First, one middle class lady is in second tier heaven alongside me. I know her. She hasn't done anything great in her life...why is she in heaven?”

“And second?”, Lord Krishna politely asked

“My second issue is that my son is in three tier heaven. He doesn't deserve the place. When he was alive, he was a real bastard, a drug addict, a pervert, a spolt brat and outspoken kid. Why was he in third tier heaven?" Madhu completed in single breath “With due respect, but I am really scared seeing the quality of people being placed in heaven”

Lord Krishna did where he were good at – giving a gracious smile

Lord Krishna took a deep breath. He reviewed both profiles in his laptop. He turned to Madhu and said, "Well, those who deserve only get entry in heaven. Let me clarify your concerns. First, the lady you have mentioned is Smita, right?"

Madhu nodded.

"Okay...listen I know her more than anybody. When Smita was eight, she lost her father. She had five years old younger brother. Both were brought up by a single parent.  When she was in her teen, she had to start earning to support her mother. She had two goals in her life – One, she wanted her mother to stop working and her brother to be an officer. She did day and night working door to door salesmanship to give a shape to her brother’s future. She worked too hard so that her mother could rest and brother study. She married only after her brother got the job. After marriage, she served her in-laws wholeheartedly as like her real parents. She was the ideal wife any man on the world would expect to get. Later, she became mother and turned an ideal mother any child would expect to get. Her priority and responsibilities changed at various phases of her life and she accepted as they came on her way. She neither tired nor named to rest. She played her every role perfectly- a daughter, a sister, a wife, a daughter- in- law, and a mother. She shaped in every mould she was poured in. Amid all this, she remembered God every day. She deserved to be in heaven. Time and again, I have been telling that your work is your worship, your duty is your worship. She did her work and performed her duty. She didn’t need to do great things to be in heaven. She did small things in a great way”, Lord Krishna said and waited for a moment to check the reactions of Madhu

 

“Now that I have cleared your doubt about Smita, let me throw some lights on your son, Harshil. You introduced him as a pervert, a drug addict, a bastard and a spoilt brat, an outspoken kid. But do you know the reason of him being so? The reason was YOU. You never paid any attention to your son. You were so much involved in social activities that you never peeked into your own son's life. You helped homeless children but your own son felt homeless despite having a home. Your husband was busy in his business and rendezvous while you were occupied with your social activities. This is the harsh fact and naked reality that you were responsible for his destruction, Madhu. He was alone. He was longing for motherly love, care and affection throughout his life, but unfortunately, he didn’t get. He slipped into depression, and then hyper depression which led him to drug. His drug led him to do every nonchalant activity. Then, one day he suddenly disappeared, right?”, Lord Krishna asked

 

Madhu was hearing patiently.

 

“He put behind everything and turned to spirituality. Something kicked him from inside and he ended up towards spirituality. He went to Nepal and became a Buddhist monk. He lived his life as a monk, and during his journey as monk he did great jobs. He spread good words about God, he worked for animal welfare, he worked for environment welfare, he ran the movement which grew thousands of trees in Nepal. As a monk, he encouraged to organise blood donation camps and human organs donation after death. In fact, your son had donated his own eyes. Your son died at very young age at 32, but he received buckets of blessings and good wishes. He was a bastard and outspoken kid for you, but for others he was an utter Buddhist monk dedicated his life for the betterment of society. There are thousands of followers of your son in Nepal. What he did not get was motherly love.” Lord Krishna said disappointingly, “Apart from your social activities, your duty was to look after your son, he wanted you. You worked good but you failed to perform your priorities and duties”

 

“He is in heaven because of his deeds”, Lord Krishna ended

 

 

Madhu couldn’t bring the time back. She realised that she had ignored her son completely. She spent her entire life for children but her own child was longing for her love, care and affection. She wanted to hug her son and beg for forgiveness but it was too late. They were not alive to hug each other. Only one thing left, and that was regret...regret…and regret.

“My Lord, how uncaring mother I was! Why I am in heaven then?”, Madhu asked

“You did injustice to your son. But, you have done great job as a social worker. You were meant to that and you did. So, there is no doubt that you deserve to be in heaven”, Lord Krishan said and Madhu turned silent.

 Lord Krishna turned to the third person who was a student.

“Yes, please.”, Lord Krishna asked to a very young student. It was not at all his age to die but he met with an unnatural death.

“My Lord, I am Poranju. When I was alive, I was a science student. I am in three tier heaven. I committed suicide because I had a lot of faith in God and he didn’t pass me in my Medical Entrance Exams. I miserly failed as many times I applied. My poor father spent a lot of money for my education, and I couldn’t meet the expectation. I lost the faith in God. I was depressed and I committed suicide, why did God do this to me? And importantly, why I was in heaven? I must have been somewhere in third degree hell. I left my parents in tears, I took the decision only coward would take, I couldn’t handle the pressure. I don’t deserve to be in heaven”, the student completed.

“Okay..first pacify yourself. I will clarify your concerns”, Lord Krishna said and smiled

Lord Krishna took a glass of water lying on his table and sipped. He put the glass back, cleared his throat and started, “My kid, you had no faith in God, but you had blind faith in God. Son, you stood up on a single foot during the whole puja carried out in temple near your house, right? You attended every puja, thrice in a day, right? You walked to every temple everyday barefoot in your town just because you wanted to clear the exam. You were full of superstitions. You believed that standing on single foot during the puja, walking to temple barefoot, and other activities would help you to clear the exam. You were mistaken. Time and again, I have been telling, your work is your worship. Don’t spoil your work to praise the God. You should better have spent your time in studies, it was the work at hand. It was your duty to perform. Instead, you studied less and wasted your time praising the lord as if lord would be happy and pass you in exam, though technically you didn’t deserve. My son, you were running behind God for success instead of putting those efforts in your study. If you would have studied wholeheartedly and remembered me once or not at all, there is no doubt that you will not pass, but you didn’t. I sent many people like your friends, your relatives to make you understand the real essentials of your success in the exams, but you ignored them and continued your belief. Eventually, it took the sad end. You failed, and you committed the suicide…that is again you shouldn’t have done”,

“Now you want to know why you are in heaven? Very good question. You are in heaven because you were honest. You had found a bag in which there was a bundle of currency notes, you needed money still you found the real owner of money and returned. On every Thursday, you fed at least one poor person though your pocket would become empty after that. Before committing suicide, to lessen the burden on your father, you had sold your kidney and repaid your father’s debt. When you died you had one kidney only, right? You wanted to do medical science to become a doctor. You wanted to do free treatment of poors, you confessed that in front of God. You nurtured noble thoughts. So, you are in heaven….”

“My son, you rushed to suicide. Your time was going to change.  You were going to focus on study but suddenly negative thoughts dominated your mind and you took the step to end your life…” Lord Krishna said and ended after saying, “I hope this will satisfy your question”

The student was speechless. He never imagined that by praying God, he will not help us. God helps whom who helps themselves.

Before signing off the meeting Lord Krishna said in general, “Humans on Earth, I have a message for you. Believe in God but don’t be dependent on God. Keep the faith, not blind faith in God. Go and do your work. Perform the duties you are assigned. Your work and your duties are your real worships. Amid all your work, remember God. He will be by your side. We help those who help themselves.

Moral of the story: Pray to God, believe in God, keep the faith in God, but never spoil your work, your duties to find, to impress, to praise the God. Your work is your worship and this is the lesson from this story.

***THE END***

Thank you for reading…Jai Hind…Jai Shri Krishna

My other stories

Shambhu : My Friend

The Great Grandpa

Habit To Forget Too Fast

You get whatever is written in your fortune