Guru Nanak and the Boulder

     Once Guru Nanak, Bala and Mardana were traveling and Mardana was feeling very thirsty. It was very hot out and they had been walking for such a long time. They just arrived at a place where a greedy man lived. He had a well and everyone in the area needed the water to wash themselves, the grow food, to drink. He would charge them money for using the well. 

     Guru Nanak sent Mardana to get some water from the well. When Mardana got to the top of the hill he asked the man, "Can I have some water? My friends and I are very thirsty." The man said, "You have to pay. If you don't pay you can't have any water." Mardana said, "We don't have any money sir, we just need water." The man said, "If you don't have money, than you can't have any."

     So Mardana came down and told the Guru what the man had said. Guru ji said, "Go again and tell him you are asking in the Name of God." So Mardana did and again the man refused. Mardana again came back and told Guru ji what happened. Guru ji said, "We must give a person three chances to do what is right. Go again and ask him in the Name of God to share some water with us." So Mardana asked him, "Please sir, share some water. I ask you again in the Name of God. I'm sure if you share God will bless you." The man said, "I don't care! If you don't have money, go away. Stop bothering me."

     Three chances had been up. They were thirsty and hot. Guru ji said, "Do not worry. God always takes care of us." He got a small stick and dug it in the ground. It was amazing! A spring of pure, clear, refreshing water came up. Everyone was really happy. They all drank what they needed to and other people also came to have some of this spring water. The man on top of the hill, saw this. He looked in his own well, it was drying up. The water was going from his well to the spring down there where all the people are. He became furious.

     Near by there was a huge rock, a boulder. He mustered all him might, and with great effort he managed to tip it over. He wanted to crush Guru Nanak. The boulder rolled down the hill gaining speed as it went. Everyone got out of the way... everyone except Guru Nanak. The huge boulder was going to run right over him and destroy him. Mardana cried, "Guru ji, please get out of the way, the boulder is coming right for you! Come, please!" But Guru Nanak just meditated where he was. He calmly reached his one hand out to stop the huge boulder. Mardana didn't want to see his beloved master killed, "Guru ji, I beg you, get out of the way!"

     Then the huge rock met with Guru Nanak's hand. It stopped right in it's place. Guru Nanak's hand left an imprint in the hard stone as if it was made out of soft clay. The man saw how Guru ji had stopped the boulder as if it was nothing. He realized that what he had done and ran down to ask forgiveness. He bowed to the Guru and begged to be taught how to live in a more spiritual way. Everyone was amazed of the power of God. The people had fresh water they didn't have to pay for. The boulder had stopped in it's tracks and the man had changed his ways. From then on he was a generous, sharing and kind man. Whatever God made is for all of us. It's always best to share what we have and take care of each other.