Swami Ramkrisna Paramhansa was a renowned saint of India. Though he never wrote a book, his preaching has enlightened and changed the lives of millions of men and women. The writings of his disciple, Swami Vivekananda continue to be a source of inspiration for mankind around the world.
Swami Ramkrishna Paramhansa was a person of very simple living habits. Because of his simple clothes and child-like innocence people often failed to recognize his greatness. Dr. Mahendra Nath Sarkar was a famous, rich physician of Calcutta. He had heard about the saintliness of Ramkrishna and was eager to meet him.
One day he paid a visit to his hermitage. Swami Ramkrishna was seated in meditation in a garden in front of his hutment. Seeing his simple clothes, Dr. Mahendra got the impression that he was a gardener employed by the saint. It is a tradition in India to carry some token of respect while paying a visit to a sage. Enlightened persons do not value material gifts. Hence, devotees offer them flowers. Dr.Mahendra thought that, on meeting Ramkrishna, he should offer him a flower.
Thinking that the simple looking man sitting in the garden before him was a gardener of Ramkrishna, he called him by a gesture. Pointing at a flower he asked him to pick the flower for him. Swami ji quietly got up and picked the flower, politely handed it over to Dr. Mahendra walked back into his hut. Later, Dr. Mahendra entered the hut to meet Swami ji, he was taken aback by seeing that the person whom he had asked to pick the flower himself was the saint. He felt very embarrassed and sincerely apologised for his mistake. However, Swami ji had taken the incident very casually. Saintly souls never feel offended by anyone. He did not speak a word about the incident.
Personal appearances of great men are often misleading. Simple living, absence of pride and humility in behaviour are signs of greatness.
Moral
Great personalities prefer simple living and high thinking. Praise or insults do not affect them. They are calm, happy and merciful in all circumstances.
Source: Pragya Tales Part 2
