Buddha used to keep with him always a rattle-drum. His disciples once asked him, "Master, why are you always keeping this rattle-drum by your side?" Buddha replied, "I shall play on this drum the day a person who has made the greatest sacrifice approaches me."
Everyone was eager to know who this person would be. Wishing to attain this distinction, a Maharaja loaded his elephants with considerable treasure and went to Buddha. He hoped to offer the treasure to Buddha and earn his praise.
On the way, an old woman greeted the Maharaja and pleaded: "I am hungry. Will you give me some food?" The Maharaja took out a pomegranate fruit from his palanquin and gave it to the old woman. The old woman came to Buddha with the fruit.
By then, the Maharaja had also come to Buddha and was eagerly waiting to see when Buddha would sound the rattle-drum. For a long time Buddha did not use it. The Maharaja stayed on.
The old woman approached Buddha staggering on her legs, and offered him the pomegranate fruit. Buddha took it immediately and sounded the little drum.
The Maharaja asked Buddha, "I offered so much wealth to you and you did not sound the drum. But you rattled it after receiving a small fruit. Is this a great sacrifice?” Buddha replied: "Maharaja! In sacrifice, it is not quantity that counts. It is the quality of sacrifice that matters. It is natural for a Maharaja to offer gold. But what great sacrifice is made when a hungry old women offers the pomegranate fruit to the Guru despite her hunger. She did not care even for her life and gave the fruit. What greater sacrifice can there be? It is not sacrifice to offer what is superfluous for you. True sacrifice means giving up that which is most dear to you, that which you value most."
From Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 21. "True Sacrifice," Chapter 16
What is most dear to your heart? Are you willing to offer it on the altar of sacrifice to God? The Integrated Ascended Master gladly offers in sacrifice that which he values most in life. Ponder on this!
Dr Joshua David Stone was one of the most influential Spiritual teachers, leaders and forerunners of our time. He had a Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology and was a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Counselor in California, USA.
He served as Official Spokesperson for the Planetary Ascension Movement and made his mark in the Consciousness Community as a prolific writer, authoring the 15-volume Easy to Read Encyclopedia of the Spiritual Path, published in several languages, as well as eight major Ascended Master Training Courses and several comprehensive Training Programs ranging from channeling, the psychology of astrology, the Book of Life of God, to his legendary 2,000 page Counseling Manual, and much, much more.
Today, the I AM University is the one and only Integrated Ascended Master Training Facility in this world. It stands firmly on the foundation of a comprehensive and ever-expanding curriculum which Dr Stone dedicated his life creating.
In 2005, Dr Joshua David Stone passed over to the Spirit world where he continues to Spiritually support the expansion of the I AM University the continuation of which he entrusted into the hands of Gloria Excelsias, his long-term personal assistant and protégé.
Dr Stone is one of the most widely read authors in the New Age Movement and known as the world’s most trusted source for integrated Spiritual development. http://www.iamuniversity.org
Gloria Excelsias is the President of the I AM University, an educational institution with focus on Spiritual and psychological development that was founded by the late Dr Joshua David Stone in 2004 and handed over to her care and leadership in 2005, at Dr Stone’s passing. As Dr Stone’s personal assistant, close friend and protégé, she received ongoing personal training in applied transpersonal psychology and integrated ascension which would prepare her consciousness for her later service work as the University’s President. Having moved the I AM University from California to Salzburg, Austria, her native country, she is now passionately dedicated to running and evolving the I AM University as an inspired writer and speaker, placing thematic priority on Spiritual psychology, the re-integration and updating of ancient occult teachings and the overall unfoldment of human consciousness.
Some of her service projects include:
Planetary World Service: www.PlanetaryWorldService.org
I AM Tunes – Spiritual Audio Download Library: www.IAM-Tunes.org
I AM YOU Foundation - Charity Project: www.IAMYou-Foundation.org
Ascension for Beginners – 365 free articles, 25 mini-courses and 25 meditations for newcomers on the Spiritual path: www.AscensionForBeginners.org