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There was a monastery (Ãshram) founded by a great saint in Hoshiarpur in Punjab. Even after his attaning Samãdhi, the Ãshram was running very well with sixty Sannyãsis (monks) and hundreds of dedicated Brahmachãris. In due course the Ãshram began to deteriorate. There were parties(divisions) among the inmates. Mutual hatred, jealousy and power politics resulting in quarrels and indiscipline became rampant and finally all the Brahmachãris and the most of the Sanyãsis left the fold and went away. The visiting devotees also were on the decrease. Now only about thirteen monks were left, who began to be anxious about the future of the Ãshram.

The Head-monk approached a reputed saint at Haridwar and requested him, "Holy Swamiji, please tell me as to what sins we have committed to have come down to this pass and what we should do to expiate the sin so that our Ãshram could be rejuvenated and brought to its original status."

The Saint meditated for some time and said, " Luckily Lord Vishnu himself is born and is in disguise as one of the present inmates of your Ãshram. He will see to it that your Ãshram comes up again. He does not want to reveal Himself to anybody. Go back in peace and may God be with you." The Head-monk was considering all possibilities as to who among the thirteen was the likely incarnation of the Lord and he discarded everybody as none could fit the bill. Then he thought that as the Lord was in disguise, He would be posing as ordinary man with all weaknesses. He called for a meeting of all the inmates and told them what all transpired with the saint of Haridwar. Now each one of them was the Supreme Lord in disguise. From that day, each one began to treat every other inmate with love and deference as God Himself as anyone of them could easily be Lord Vishnu in disguise and nobody wanted to lose the opportunity of being in the good books of the Lord. They began to see God in each other. They never insulted, offended or quarrelled among themselves as they feared that the other one might be the incarnation of God. Harmony, love and peace was re-established, the number of inmates began to grow and the Ashram began to flourish once again.

-Courtesy
Stories For Meditation by
Sri Shãntãnanda Puri Maharãj

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