Rabia & the Needle Story - Parable to Find God Within

Rabia & the Needle Story:

Once there was a Sufi saint called Rabia. She was very advanced in the matter of Philosophy & meditation. Rabia used to speak to people about God & lot many people used to come to listen to her. There was another Sufi mystic called Hasan who used to come to listen her philosophy on God.

Once Rabia was sitting inside her home & was giving the discourse to people about God. Hasan also came to listen her discourse & called forth from the outside of her home, 'Rabia, what are you doing inside? Come out! God has given birth to such a beautiful morning. What are you doing inside?'

Rabia laughed and said, 'Hasan, outside is only God's creation, inside is God himself (means God is there in your heart). Why don't you come in? Yes, the morning is beautiful, but it is nothing compared with the Creator who creates all the mornings. Yes, those birds are singing beautifully, but they are nothing compared with the song of God. That happens only when you are seeking God within your heart.

One evening Hasan saw Rabia searching for something on the street in front of her home. Hasan asked, 'What is the matter? What are you searching for?' And Rabia replied, 'I have lost my needle & I am searching for it.' Then Hasan asked, 'Rabia, the street is big and night is just descending and soon there will be no light and a needle is such a small thing -- unless you tell exactly where it has fallen it will be difficult to find.'

Rabia said, 'Don't ask that. Don't bring that question up at all. If you want to help me, help, otherwise don't help, but don't bring up that question.'

Hasan stopped and said. 'What is the matter? Why can't I ask this? If you don't tell where the needle has fallen, how can I be of any help to you?'

She said, 'The needle has fallen inside my house.'

Hasan said, 'Then have you gone mad? If the needle has fallen inside the house why are you searching here?'

And Rabia said, 'Because the light is here outside. Inside the house there is no light.'

Hasan said, 'Even if the light is here, how can she find the needle if it has not been lost here? The right way would be to bring light inside the house so you can find the needle.'

At this Rabia laughed, 'You are such clever person about small things like needle. When are you going to use your intelligence for your inner life about God who sits in your heart? I have seen you searching God outside in the world and I know perfectly well from my own experience that God sits well within the heart. The bliss that you are searching for outside in the world is there in your heart if you find God over there.
Rabia said, 'Hasan, If you are really intelligent then ask yourself. why are you searching for bliss in the outside world? Have you lost it there?'

Hasan after listening this, started thinking deeply about it and Rabia disappeared into her house.

As per Bhagwat Gita: 

"sarvasya chaham hridi sannivisto
mattah smritir jnanam apohanam cha
vedais cha sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva chaham" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 15)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas."

The Supreme Lord is situated as Paramatma in everyone's heart, and it is from Him that all activities are initiated. Lord is not only all-pervading; He is also localized in every individual being's heart.

It is said that God is present in all creation, He sits in every atom of the universe. He is seated within all the infinite space. All creation exists & lives within His Infinite body. He is seated in everyone's heart & also lives in mine & your hearts. This infinite God is only called "Brahmn".

Jai Shri Krishna