Remember the beautiful story of Narada who was going to Heaven to meet the Lord, and on the way he met a madman dancing under a tree.
The madman said, "Lord, where are you going?"
Narada said, "I am going to the Lord in Heaven."
He said, "Please, find out how many lives more I have to lead before I get liberated?"
Narada said, "So shall it be, my son. I will come back and give you the answer."

A few miles further on, he sees a rishi meditating under the tree, and the rishi says, "Narada, you are going to Heaven to meet the Lord. Please find out when I am going be liberated."
He says, "Okay."

In course of time he returns. The rishi is first.
He says, "When I will be liberated?"
Narada says, "The Lord said, 'Two more lives'," and the rishi beats his breast and weeps and wails.
"What a cruel God. What a cruel destiny. Two more lives! What is all my tapasya worth?"
And he is groveling in the dust in despair, in misery.

Narada smiles and walks on. He comes to the madman still dancing under the tree.
He says, "Hey, Narada ! Did you find out the answer to my question?"
Narada says, "Yes, my son. You have to live as many lives as are leave on this tree."
He says, "That is all? That is all for me? What a wonderful destiny I have. What a wonderful God? What love!"
And a voice comes from above, "You are liberated this instant."

Look at this - the tragedy. The rishi has to live two more lives. He thinks it's too much, and therefore condemns himself perhaps to twenty more lives, two hundred more lives, we don't know. And this madman, who cannot even count five on his fingers says, "That is all?" and in that moment he is transformed. It is a question of acceptance.

Source:The Heart of the Lion, pp. 167-168, P. Rajagopalachari, 1993, Shri Ram Chandra Mission USA

Q: The madman had the humility to accept his destiny with joy and gratitude, whereas the rishi thought he was elevated and thus could not. In everyday life, there are similar situations, where people who believe they are superior cannot accept what is offered because they believe they are better.. Can you think of any that affect you?

Q: Do you accept what comes with gratitude, or do you get upset if you do not get what you want in life?

Q: In Sahaj Marg, Maxim Five says: "Be truthful. Take miseries as Divine blessings for your own good and be thankful." The madman was able to do so, but the rishi was not. What do you think about this maxim?

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.