Based on The Faith Book by Kadamba Kanana Swami
A Longing to Cross
In a remote village divided by a wide river, lived a blind man. On the far bank stood a sacred temple, where devotees sang the names of Kṛṣṇa day and night. Though he had never seen the Deity, the man’s heart yearned to be there—just once, to offer his tears before the Lord.
“Tell me,” he would ask passersby, “how can I reach that holy temple?” But the river had no bridge, and the current was strong. Everyone warned him, “It’s dangerous even for those who can see. You are blind. Don’t try.”
The Decision to Trust
But one morning, as the first rays of sun touched the riverbank, he stepped forward. “O Lord,” he whispered, “I have no eyes, no guide, no strength. But I have faith in You. If You want me to come, carry me through.”
With a stick in hand and prayers on his lips, he began to wade into the water.
The Invisible Hand
The current pulled and tugged. The stones beneath were slippery. But something unseen held him steady. Each step seemed guided. The river that had terrified others became a pathway of grace for him. Villagers watched in awe as the blind man reached the other side, untouched by fear or fall.
The Welcoming of the Lord
When he reached the temple, the pūjārī heard his story and welcomed him. “You are not blind,” he said. “You have seen with the inner eye. Yours is the vision of the heart.”
The blind man sat before the Deity. Though his eyes were closed, his soul beheld a beauty that even the sun could not reveal. Tears streamed down his face, and he whispered, “Thank You, my Lord. I have arrived.”
Faith is the Real Vision
This story shows us that those who see with faith can cross rivers that the proud and sighted dare not. Material eyes see the obstacle; spiritual eyes see the Lord beyond it. The blind man had no map, no plan, no guide—but he had surrender. And in surrender, the Divine becomes the guide.
A Verse to Remember
tameva śaraṇaṁ gaccha
sarva-bhāvena bhārata
tat-prasādāt parāṁ śāntiṁ
sthānaṁ prāpsyasi śāśvatam“O Bhārata, surrender unto Him with all your being. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the eternal abode.”
— Bhagavad-gītā 18.62
