Worldly pleasures and Bhagavan Ramakrishna's small story

Wives of Fishermen

One day, wives of fishermen came to an evening shandy for selling the fish.  After finishing the work, the women were returning to their home.    Even as it was getting dark, suddenly heavy rain started.   The women without knowing what to do, ran towards a hut nearby.   They stood in the shelter in front of the hut.   It was the house of a flower vendor.  He is a very good man and he invited the women and asked them to stay there until the rain stops and if required to stay for the night.   It was an unexpected invitation and the women gladlly accepted the offer and stayed for the night.   The whole hut was spread by the smell of the flowers and the corner in which they had to sleep also had some flower baskets.  Due to the smell of the flowers, even after a long time after they went to bed, the women could not sleep.   Seeing this, the wife of the flower vendor asked the women whether there is any discomfort and why they are not able to sleep.  For that, one of the women answered that they do not know the reason but perhaps it may be due to the smell of the flowers.   She told she would bring the fish basket and keep it nearer to her.   All  of them brought their fish basket and sprinkled some water on it and kept it at their bedside and shortly they went to sound sleep.  They slept well until the next morning.     Longtime habits influence people to such an extent.   Those who are habituated for a particular life, to change that is difficult.  Worldly pleasures too control people like this only.   Once when people want to leave these attachments, it requires a lot of effort and mind has to accept such changes.