Our True Value

An auction was being held and one lot was an old violin. The wood was stained, the strings were slack and the bow was un-tensioned. It looked pretty worthless. The auctioneer had to drop the suggested first bid price to £25 to get anyone to take an interest. A few dealers made some desultory bids and the violin was about to be sold for a knock down price of £45 when a man got up, walked to the front and took the violin from the auctioneer. This was unusual and the crowd stirred. The man spent a few moments to re-tension the strings and then started to play. He produced the most beautiful and captivating music from the violin for about a minute, then gave the instrument back to the auctioneer and sat down. The bidding re-commenced and finally closed at £2,000.

The dealers were amazed and later asked the purchaser why he paid so much for it. He replied simply that he realized its true worth in the hands of the musician.

From a spiritual standpoint we may view ourselves as shabby and grubby, however the Master can see our true essence. He sees our inner spark, the Shabd. For our part if, like the old violin, we are fortunate enough to be in the hands of a Master, we will be re-tuned and hear the most beautiful music. This re-tuning is attending to our meditation with all the love and devotion we can muster. Once we are able to still our minds through meditation, we will experience the Shabd within us and appreciate our true value.

Come faqirs, let us go to the fairground,
and hear the Music of the mystics;
Listen there to the unstruck Word of many colours,
and cast away the saffron robes of the ascetic.
The unstruck Music brings only oneness,
and knows no enmity.
It comes from the opening in the head….
You must still your mind in that Music.
_{Bulleh Shah, as quoted in A Treasury of Mystic Terms}

He who closes his nine doors and restrains his wandering mind,
  Obtains an abode in the Lord’s own tenth home.
There, the unstruck Music plays day and night:
Through the Guru’s instruction, this celestial Strain is heard.
_{Guru Amardas, as quoted in A Treasury of Mystic Terms}

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
_{Bible, Matthew 6:19-21}