fruits of our good deeds

When will we get the fruits of our good deeds?

Nobody knows when we get the fruits of our deeds. Once upon a time, there lived a boy in a village. The boy's name was Uttam. Uttam's father was handicapped. His mother was the primary teacher of the village children. She used to manage her house and also teach the village children. Uttam was growing up now. He had started understanding that the entire burden of the house was on his mother. He wanted to share his mother's burden. He used to help his mother in her household chores. Now that he had grown up, he used to go to a nearby Gurukul to study. One day in his class, his teacher told the children that, "Good deeds yield good results and bad deeds yield bad results". This thing stuck in Uttam's mind.

Uttam asked his mother questions

He asked his mother, "Mother! Do good deeds really yield good results and bad deeds yield bad results?" Mother replied, "Yes son!" Then Uttam asked, "Mother! So we always do good deeds. When will we get the fruits? How much time does it take to get the fruits of good deeds, mother?” The mother laughed after listening to her son's questions and said, “Son! I do not know this. You tell me!” Then the confused Uttam said, “I also do not know mother.” Seeing her son's confusion, the mother said, leave all this. Look! Today I have brought corn from the field. Come! I will cook it and feed you.” The mother took Uttam by the hand and took him to the kitchen. She started cooking corn there. Uttam also sat there. But, the same question was going on in his mind.

Uttam waited for Guru Ji

The next day Uttam goes to Gurukul early. After going there, he waits for Guru Ji outside his ashram. Guru Ji comes out of his hut after seeing Uttam outside. Then he asks Uttam, “What is the matter son? What are you doing here so early in the morning? It is not time for your class yet!” On this Uttam says to Guru Ji, “Guru Ji! My questions are disturbing me. I have come to you to get answers to your questions.” Guruji said to Uttam, “Son! Ask your questions.” Uttam asked, “Guruji! Is it true that we get good results of good deeds and bad results of bad deeds?” Guruji agreed and said “Yes”.

When do we get the fruits of our deeds?

After hearing “Yes”, Uttam asked another question, “Guruji! In how many days do we get the fruits of our good deeds?” Guruji replied, “Son! When the time comes for the fruits of that deed, only then do we get good or bad results.” Anxious Uttam asked, “But, Guruji! What if I do good deeds with double the enthusiasm?” Guruji had understood Uttam’s words and mood. He replied, “Then it will take double the time, son.” The worried Uttam asked again, “Guruji! What if I do good deeds with more hard work and attention?” Then Guruji said smilingly, “Then it will take three times the time, son!” Uttam got worried. He said to Guruji, “Guruji! The more I work hard to get good results, the more does this good result go away?”

Guruji’s Lesson

Guruji said smilingly, “Son! Because your focus is on the result and not on the work.” Uttam says, “I could not understand Guruji! Guruji said, “Listen to me carefully son! No matter how good seeds you have sown and how good farming you have done. Only when the time comes for the harvest, will it be known whether the crop will be good or bad. No matter how good farming you do, the crop does not come before time. No matter how bad farming you do, the bad crop also does not come before time. Similarly, son, the fruit of the work is received only when the time comes for the work to bear fruit. But yes! If you work with only the desire for good results and focus on the result, then the possibility of getting good results will go away.”

Why is this so Gurudev?

After listening to Guruji, Uttam asked again, “But, why is this so Gurudev?” Guruji explained to Uttam, “Son! Because your focus is not on good deeds. Then how will you do good deeds properly? Your focus is on good results. Due to this you will miss doing good deeds. I will tell you for example. If you sit down to study thinking that I will come first in my class and will always keep thinking about this. You will keep thinking about your results. Then how to come first in the class? Your focus will be diverted from that path. You will start weaving dreams and the deeds will remain incomplete. In this way good results will go away from you. This is what happens with most people. They want to do good deeds for good results. But, they do not do good deeds properly.”

How to get good results?

Guru ji further says, “Knowledge of good deeds is more important than thinking about good results. If you have knowledge of good deeds and you continuously walk on the path of good deeds, then you will definitely get good results. There is no doubt about this. But, if you keep thinking about good results, then good deeds will not be done. Keeping focus on good results also diverts the focus. There will be errors in your deeds and the good fruit will be lost, son!” Uttam had understood that now he has to determine the right path for his good deeds and follow it continuously. This is the path to good fruit. Thinking about good fruit is foolishness, it deviates us from our path.”