Cosmic Story - Two Brothers

Two brothers were driving across the country together. Their first stop was in the city of San Francisco. One brother said "Let us go to the Temple - tonight they are doing Bhajans all night!" The other brother said - "What, are you crazy? This is San Francisco! I want to enjoy the night life!" So they went their separate ways. One brother went to the Temple and sang Bhajans all night. The other went to a discotheque, and enjoyed a night of strong drink and amorous encounters. The next day, they met up again and continued with their cross country drive. Shortly after starting on the road, they met with an accident and both brothers died.

After death they were brought before Yama, the Judge. Yama is given a video of everything one does in life, and decides where the person's next destination is. One brother was thinking "Oh, I am so glad the last thing I did on Earth was go to the Temple!" The other brother was very fearful. "Oh no!" he thought. "The last thing I did was engage in sinful activities!" Yama looked at the first brother, and said "You must endure some time in hell for your sins." This brother was shocked! He had always acted in a good way! Why was he being punished? He made a protest saying "Lord Yama, I spent all of last night practicing Bhajans. How is it that I am punished?" Yama looked at him in amusement. "My dear sir, last night your mouth and body were engaged in Bhajans. But the whole night, you were dreaming of what it would be like to be with your brother in his amorous adventures." The brother held his head low in shame.

Now it was the turn of the other brother. He was fearful. If Yama sentenced his brother to hell, surely he must deserve even worse punishment! His brother was always going to the Temple, but he hardly ever went. Yama looked at him. "You will go to heaven." Now both brothers were confused. "How is it that I, who engaged in sinful activity, am going to heaven?" said the second brother. "The answer is easy" said Yama. "While you were out on the town, you were always thinking that the thing you should have done is gone to the Temple and worshipped God. The whole evening you were thinking of God. Your brother was thinking of sin the whole evening. You both get the fruit of your thought."

God looks at what is in our heart, not at our outward actions. Most people judge us only by our actions. But if there is not good in our heart, what good does it do if we make all the outward show?