Once a woman lost her only son due to some illness. Unable to bear her suffering, she approached a saint and begged him to bring her son back to life. The saint tried to console her but she could not accept the death of her son. The saint told her,
“Mother, bring some mustard seeds from a house which has not been touched by death or suffering. Then I will revive your son.”
With great hope she went to a house nearby and was acutely disappointed to learn that some one dear to the family had died recently. She consoled the family and left the place
The woman continued visiting houses in her town hoping to find a happy home. But every hvisited had its own story of death, pain and suffering. In the process of comforting them she forgot her own unhappiness. The truth dawned on her that there is no house without death or suffering.
The essence of this story is that when we try to wipe away others misery our unhappiness vanishes.
Translated by : Dr. Sharada Jayagovind
