Pleasant Stories & Anecdotes — Page 20
20 Counting While Remembering a Loved One A person who remembers the Almighty God with love and true devotion does not count [how many times he remembers God]. He remembers Him without counting. The story of a woman is well known. She loved someone. She saw a mendicant carrying a rosary passing it over his hand. The woman asked him, ‘What are you doing?’ He said, ‘I am remem- bering my Friend’. The woman exclaimed, ‘Remembering a friend, and that too while counting it?’ In fact, it is very true. Why count when remembering a Friend? In reality, unless the remembrance of God is abundant, the pleasure and devotion that results from remembrance cannot be achieved. (Malf ūzā t, vol. 7, p. 19) Natural Disposition Can be Changed It is said that Plato was known for his knowledge of intellect. He posted a doorkeeper at his gate who was ordered to describe any individual who wished to see him. Plato would then judge the morals of the individual based on the description provided to him and decide whether or not to grant an audience based on his judgment of the individual’s description. A person arrived for an audience with Plato, and the door- keeper provided the man’s description to him. Plato refused to meet him after reviewing the visitor’s description. The man asked