Once a student came to sit at the feet of his guru, and after a silence the guru said, “What do you wish to ask?”

The student said, “Guru-ji, you have always spoken of the Perfection of the Divine in a very inspiring way. But I have many faults and I feel unworthy to know this perfection.”

The guru thought for a moment, and then said, “Listen to this story.”

It happened once upon a time (the guru said) that a man had been in service to a certain lord for many years, and during that time he had developed a deep feeling of respect and affection for his master. Although the matter was never spoken of, he felt that in all the world the master was his best friend, and it seemed that the master had a similar feeling of warmth toward him.

Then one day, the master said to the servant, “I wish to offer you something. What would you like to ask me for?”

Overcome with emotion, the servant said, “There are no words sufficient to praise you generosity, Master. And although I can scarcely bring myself to say it, nothing would give me greater happiness than to invite you to my home.”

The master smiled. “Gladly will I come. Let us fix a date.”

And to the great delight of the servant they began to discuss when and how the lord would come to his home. But then a thought began to trouble him and he frowned. “Master,” he said, “it will take me some time to make my home fit for your visit. Perhaps we should wait.”

The master said, “Make it fit? What is lacking there?”

Very embarrassed, the servant said, “Well, the carpet is rather threadbare. I would be ashamed to ask a guest to sit upon it.”

The master waved his hand dismissively. “That is not a difficulty,” he said. “I shall lend you a carpet – and some cushions and bolsters as well.”

The servant expressed his profound gratitude for this sign of the master’s generosity. Then another thought struck him. Very humbly, he said, “And the food and refreshment I can serve is of the simplest kind. I should like to offer something better, but…”

“No matter,” said the master. “My cooks will prepare all that is required.”

Again the servant thanked the master for his kindness, but then once more he began to frown. “And then, in my home there are no servants. I shall have to serve you myself, rather than being at ease to sit with my guest.”

The master smiled. “No, I wish to sit with you in your home, and so I shall send servants to look after us during my visit.”

“And so it was,” the guru said to his student, “that the Master himself arranged his visit to the servant. Now, take the lesson of the servant who invited his master, and apply it in your own devotions.”