God's Birthday

Awakening of the great saint - 'Baba Farid ji'
Hazrat Khwaja Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar (1173 - 1266)

One night Baba Farid ji dreamt that by the grace of God, he has reached paradise. The whole of Paradise was beautifully decorated, millions of lights and flowers everywhere.
Obviously, a great celebration was going on, and beautiful music filled the air. 
He inquired of a passerby  "What is going on?"

The stranger said, "It is God's birthday, we are celebrating it. You are blessed for you have come at the  right time."

So Farid ji stood beneath a tree to see what was happening.  
Soon a great procession starts moving on the road. A man is sitting on a horse; Farid ji enquired, "Who is this man?" and they say, "Don't you know him? He is Hazrat Mohammed"

Millions upon millions of people walked behind the Prophet. Farid ji asked, "Who are these people?" and he is replied, "They are Mohammedans, followers of Mohammed."

Then came Jesus, and millions were following him. 
Soon Lord Krishna appeared in a splendid golden chariot, and millions were following him. 
Then there was Gautam Buddha and countless people followed him too.

On and on went the procession and baba Farid ji grew weary of the magnitude of the procession and the followers.

Finally, in the end, Baba ji noticed an old man riding a donkey and he is all by himself and no one walks behind him.
Farid ji began to  laugh looking at this man. It was a ridiculous sight compared to the magnificent processions that preceded the old man and nobody followed him. And why he should be going on his donkey? 

Baba ji could not contain himself and he asked the old man  "Who are you, sir? I have seen Mohammad, Christ, Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha -- who are you? Is this some sort of joke, for nobody follows you!"

The old man with sadness in his eyes  says, " I am God and it is my birthday. People have become Mohammedans, some Christians, others Jews, many have become Hindus or Buddhists, unfortunately no one is left to follow me me so I walk alone

Farid ji woke up with a shock. 
He told his disciples the next day, "I had a revelation and I met God. From now on I am no more a Mohammedan nor do I belong to any other organised religion.  I will follow the One and only true Master and Creator of the universe.  I shall simply be me, myself. I would like to be with God, at least one person following him."

This awakening transformed Baba Farid ji and he was able to enlighten the world with his message of love and universal brotherhood.

Men of God belong to no one religion, yet the universe belongs to them. 

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My thanks to Jagpreet Ghai who was kind enough to share this piece of spiritual wisdom with us.