Ravidas and the Philosophers Stone

Dadi: "Guddu, if someone offered you a magic stone that could turn any metal into gold, would you take it?"

Guddu: "Of course! I'd be so rich! I could buy anything I wanted!"

Dadi: "That's what most people would say. But let me tell you about a saint who refused exactly this offer - not once, but repeatedly."

Guddu: "Who would refuse gold?!"

Dadi: "Guru Ravidas. He was a humble cobbler, a maker of shoes, who spent his days working with leather and his evenings singing devotional songs. He lived in poverty his whole life, even though he had many wealthy followers - even kings and queens!"

Guddu: "If kings followed him, why was he poor?"

Dadi: "Because he never asked for anything. He believed in earning his living through honest work, nothing more. Then one day, a holy man appeared at his door."

Guddu: "What did the holy man want?"

Dadi: "He came with a gift - a paras, a philosopher's stone. Do you know what it does?"

Guddu: "Turns things into gold!"

Dadi: "Exactly. The visitor demonstrated - he touched an ordinary needle to the stone, and it transformed into pure gold before Ravidas's eyes!"

Guddu: "That's amazing!"

Dadi: "The holy man said, "Take this, Guru Ravidas. End your poverty. You could build a beautiful ashram, make comfortable arrangements for visiting saints, live without struggle.""

Guddu: "That sounds reasonable!"

Dadi: "Ravidas listened respectfully. Then he politely refused."

Guddu: "But why?!"

Dadi: "He asked a beautiful question: "If gold could bring happiness, why did so many kings renounce their kingdoms and become wandering monks?""

Guddu: "Oh... I never thought of that."

Dadi: "He explained further: "I have no liking for this stone. It causes entanglement in the world. I have given up all craving. My mind is fixed on the holy feet of the Lord alone.""

Guddu: "So he didn't even want it?"

Dadi: "Not even a little. The holy man tried again and again to convince him, but Ravidas's answer never changed. Finally, the visitor said, "At least let me leave it here. Keep it for now, and I'll come back later to collect it.""

Guddu: "Did Ravidas agree?"

Dadi: "He allowed the man to hang the stone under the ceiling of his hut. Then he went back to his work - making shoes, singing bhajans, living his simple life."

Guddu: "Did he use it secretly sometimes?"

Dadi: "Not once! Do you know how long it was before the holy man returned?"

Guddu: "How long?"

Dadi: "Thirteen years, beta. Thirteen whole years!"

Guddu: "And Ravidas never touched the stone?"

Dadi: "When the holy man came back, he found the philosopher's stone hanging in exactly the same spot where he had left it, completely untouched. Ravidas still lived in his humble cottage. He was still poor. He was still making shoes."

Guddu: "That's incredible self-control!"

Dadi: "The holy man was amazed. He said, "In thirteen years, you never once used it? Not even a small piece of metal, just to try?""

Guddu: "What did Ravidas say?"

Dadi: "He smiled and said, "Why would I? I have everything I need. I have my work, my devotion, and my Lord. What would gold add to that?""

Guddu: "Dadi, I don't think I could have resisted for thirteen DAYS, let alone thirteen years!"

Dadi: "That's honest, beta. Most of us couldn't. But Ravidas teaches us something important - happiness doesn't come from wealth. If it did, all rich people would be happy, and all poor people would be sad. Is that true?"

Guddu: "No... I know some rich kids who are always grumpy, and some not-rich people who are really cheerful."

Dadi: "Exactly! Guru Ravidas found joy in simple work and devotion to God. No amount of gold could make him happier than he already was."

Guddu: "So he was actually richer than rich people?"

Dadi: "In a way, yes! He was rich in contentment, which is the one thing money can't buy. Do you know what he taught through this story?"

Guddu: "Not to be greedy?"

Dadi: "Yes, and more - to work hard for an honest living rather than seeking shortcuts. Gold from a magic stone would have been easy money. But Ravidas preferred the satisfaction of earning his bread through his own labor."

Guddu: "Dadi, I think I understand. It's like... the stone was a test?"

Dadi: "Many believe the holy man was God himself, testing Ravidas's detachment. And Ravidas passed beautifully - not by fighting temptation, but by simply not being tempted. When you truly don't want something, refusing it is easy."

Guddu: "I want to be like that someday. Content with what I have."

Dadi: "Start practicing now, beta. Next time you see something shiny that you want, ask yourself - will this really make me happier? Or is happiness already inside me, waiting to be discovered?"