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is your devotee. Ask the King to give him ten million asharfis, then let's see if he still remains a pauper." Junaid agreed. On the day fixed for the experiment the asharfis were placed in a pot which was placed in the middle of the bridge that the pauper crossed every afternoon. All traffic on the bridge was closed for that day. Junaid and his followers and the king stood on the other side and watched from their hiding place.
Now the man came along. The bridge was empty. There was not a soul to be seen and there was the open pot with the golden coins shimmering in the sun. But wonder of wonders, the man passed the vessel without so much as looking at it and crossed the bridge. Junaid and his followers ran up to him and asked, "Couldn't you see the pot filled with coins?"
"Which pot?" he asked. "For such a long time I wanted to cross the bridge with my eyes closed, but as there was always such heavy traffic I couldn't do so. Today when I saw the bridge empty the thought came to me that I should take this opportunity to try my skill. I succeeded in crossing the bridge with closed eyes. I am sorry. I didn't see the pot you are speaking about."
Junaid told his disciples, "Do you see this? He who is going to miss will fail by some means. He will create a thought that will make him fail. He who is bent on missing the opportunity cannot be helped under any circumstances."
Even God cannot give you what you are not ready to take. If you are ready for suffering you get suffering, if you are ready for happiness you get happiness -- you get only that for which you are prepared. And you receive it only through His grace, whereas you attain through your own effort. His grace is forever showering on all but you are filled only when you are ready and eager to be filled.
O LORD, THESE TOO ARE YOUR GIFTS.
YOUR ORDER ALONE GIVES FREEDOM OR BONDAGE.
NOBODY CAN DEBATE THIS FACT.
HE WHO INDULGES IN USELESS BABBLE
REALIZES HIS FOLLY WHEN STRUCK IN THE FACE.
HE ALONE CAN KNOW HIMSELF,
AND ONLY THE RAREST CAN DESCRIBE HIM;
HE BEQUEATHS THE QUALITY OF HIS STATE TO WHOMEVER HE CHOOSES.
NANAK SAYS,
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