In the heart of a bustling village, there lived a poor man whose days were filled with toil and hardship. Each morning, he would make his way to the ashram of his revered Guru, where he humbly served by cleaning and tending to the needs of the ashram.
One day, the Guru, with his keen insight, questioned the poor man about his unwavering dedication to serving at the ashram. The poor man, with sincerity in his voice, confessed that his sole purpose for visiting the ashram was to seek the Guru's blessings for wealth and prosperity.
Undeterred by the man's material aspirations, the Guru gently reminded him that true opportunities would present themselves when the time was ripe. With these words of wisdom, the poor man continued on his journey, driven by the desire for financial success.
As time passed, the poor man's fortunes changed, and he found himself blessed with wealth beyond his dreams. His children were married into respectable families, and his material needs were abundantly met. Yet, despite his newfound prosperity, an emptiness lingered within his heart.
Years later, on a quiet morning, the poor man returned to the ashram of his Guru after a long absence. Tears welled up in his eyes as he poured out his heart to the Guru, confessing the inner turmoil that plagued him despite his material success.
In response, the Guru, with his characteristic wisdom, questioned the poor man's intentions for returning to the ashram. The poor man, overcome with emotion, vowed to serve the Guru selflessly, seeking only the elusive peace of heart and mind that had eluded him for so long.
With a gentle smile, the Guru accepted the poor man's pledge, knowing that true fulfillment lay not in the accumulation of wealth but in the selfless service and the pursuit of inner peace. And so, the poor man found solace in the simple act of serving his Guru, recognizing that the true wealth of life resides in the tranquility of the heart and mind.