Who are the people you turn to when you need something? And what happens when they cannot—or will not—help?
Here is a story about a fakir and his guest that carries an important insight on seeking the fulfilment of our wants.
The Generous Fakir
There is a gatha about a fakir known for his generous heart. He had a simple rule for himself: he would never eat a meal without sharing it with someone. If a visitor came, he would gladly share his food. If no one was around, he would walk to the market, looking for a traveller, a newcomer, or a mendicant to join him.
One day, no visitors came. Even in the market, he could find no one — until he spotted a mendicant sitting quietly by the roadside.
“Would you like to join me for a meal today?” the fakir asked.
“Why do you want me to have a meal with you?” the mendicant replied.
The fakir explained, “I have a practice—I never eat alone. I only begin my meal after sharing it with someone.”
The mendicant agreed to join him.
The Prayer of Gratitude
When they arrived at the fakir’s home, he laid out the food and invited the mendicant to eat. As the man picked up the bread, the fakir said,
“Let us take a moment to thank God.”
The mendicant looked up. “Why should I thank God?”
“Because He has given us such wholesome food,” the fakir replied.
“You invited me for this meal, so I can thank you,” said the man. “But I will not thank God.”
The fakir explained gently, “I am only the medium. The Giver of everything is Him—that is why we must thank Him.”
The mendicant put the bread back on the plate. “I did not ask you for food — you chose to offer it. But if you insist that I must thank God before I eat, I am not interested. I have never prayed to God in my forty-seven years – I do not believe in God.”
The fakir felt shaken by such words. Disturbed, he pulled the plate away.
“If you cannot be grateful to God, you do not deserve this food.”
The mendicant got up and left.
Hours later
That night, the fakir sat to pray. But he could not concentrate. Hours passed — well past midnight — yet the presence of the Divine, which he usually felt, remained absent.
Finally, in anguish, he cried out,
“What have I done, Lord, that You have hidden Yourself from me today?”
A voice replied,
“That man has cursed Me every single day for the last forty-seven years, yet I have sent him food every day. Today I gave you the chance to feed him once… and you took his food away.”
Wisdom in Giving and Seeking
This story reminds us that our giving is often conditional — tied to our expectations, or shaped by our judgments of right and wrong. The only truly unconditional Giver is Him.
In his reflections on Ardas (Prayer), Jaswant Singh Neki describes the limitations of seeking from human beings:
- They may not have what we need.
- They may be unwilling or miserly.
- They may regret giving.
- They may give with expectations.
- Their help has limits— they eventually tire.
- They may put the receiver to shame.
It is better, then, to turn to the One who gives without measure or condition — to the virtuous and the vile, the deserving and undeserving, the mighty and the meek alike.
माँगउ राम ते सभि थोक ॥
I beg only from the Divine for all things.
मानुख कउ जाचत स्रमु पाईऐ प्रभ कै सिमरनि मोख ॥
Seeking from people only brings pain, remembering the One brings liberation.
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 682
Sources
- Discourse by Giani Pinderpal Singh
- Ardas of the Sikhs — Jaswant Singh Neki
- Image credit: Lord of the Night — Nicholas Roerich
Reflection question
Have you experienced a moment when seeking the Divine brought you deeper peace or a better resolution than relying on human support?
The Sabad Project - Wisdom stories 
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