Open Feast
One day, Upai held an open feast. As the feast was about to end, an old man suffering from leprosy came along. The leper had a frightening appearance. He had only one eye; blood and pus were oozing from his disfigured lips, nose and eyes; he had open ulcers all over his body. As if this were not enough, an awful stench also emanated from his body. Everyone was aghast at the sight. Imagine the holy soul's bewilderment when he was told to: "Feed the old man with your own hands. He is not able to eat by himself." The holy man pulled himself together as best as he could and started feeding the repulsive leper. He, however, took great care to see that his hand did not touch the bleeding lips of the leper. As a result, some of the food kept dropping down.
After the leper had eaten and walked away, Upai was asked by the holy man: "Pick up the food from the plate and eat it". For the onlookers, to eat the food that had been contaminated by the bleeding lips of the leper seemed impossible. But, a realized soul he was, he took the plate and ate up all the remnants without the least hesitation. As everyone looked on in amazement, Upai explained to the onlookers: "Did you see how swiftly the old man walked away? Is it possible for one so terribly afflicted by open sores and leprosy to walk like that? Do you know who came to you in the garb of a repulsive leper? It was none other than Lord himself."
We should be taught not to attach importance to the external superficialities of existence but to realise that God and God alone pervades everything and every being.
divinely sent
