Kalpataru Tree.

The Bane of Worldliness

God is like the wish-yielding tree of the celestial world (Kalpataru), which gives whatever one asks of it. So one should be careful to give up all worldly desires when , one’s mind has been purified by religious exercise.

Just hear a story.

A certain traveler came to a large plain in the course of his travels.
As he had been walking in the sun for many hours, he was thoroughly exhausted and heavily perspiring; so he sat down in the shade of a tree to rest a little. Presently he began to think what a comfort it would
be if he could but get a soft bed there to sleep on. He was not aware that he was sitting under the celestial tree. As soon as the above thought rose in his mind, he found a nice bed by his side. He felt much astonished, but all the same stretched himself on it. Now he thought to himself how pleasant it would be were a young damsel to come there and gently stroke his legs. No sooner did the thought arise in his mind than he found a young damsel sitting at his feet and stroking his legs. The traveler felt supremely happy.
Presently he felt hungry and thought: .. “I have got whatever I have wished for; could I not then get some food?”
Instantly he found various kinds of delicious food before him. He at once fell to eating, and having helped himself to his heart’s content, stretched himself again on his bed. He now began to revolve in his mind the events of the day. While thus occupied, he thought, “If a tiger should attack me all of a sudden!”
In an instant a large tiger jumped upon him and broke his neck and began to drink his blood. In this way the traveler lost his life.

Such is the fate of men in general. If during your meditation you pray for women, money, or worldly honors, your desires will no doubt be satisfied to some extent; but mind you, there is the dread of the tiger behind the gifts you get. Those tigers―disease, bereavements, loss of honor and wealth, etc.,-are a thousand times more terrible than the live tiger.

🕉 Wise Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna. 1059.