Opening Thy Palm
by Rabindranath Tagore

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I had gone a-begging from door to door in the village path when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream and I wondered who was this King of all kings!

My hopes rose high and methought my evil [hungry] days were at an end, and I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust.

The chariot stopped where I stood.  Thy glance fell on me and thou camest down with a smile.  I felt that the luck of my life had come at last.  Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand and say “What hast thou to give to me?”

Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg!  I was confused and stood undecided and then from my wallet I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to thee.

But how great my surprise when at the day’s end I emptied my bag on the floor to find a least little grain of gold among the poor heap.  I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give thee my all.

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Opening Thy Palm What is the gold that you grow in when you gift? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to shift from scarcity to abundance? What helps you deepen in abundance?

Jagdish P Dave wrote: RabindranathTagore is my most beloved poet. His poems and songs have enriched my inner world. I am very grateful to Tagore for offering such gifts to me and to many people in the world. By giving we r...

Kristin Pedemonti wrote: The gold that grows in my experience is layered: trust, friendship, light, love. I am in the midst once again of a shift from scarcity to abundance. I sometimes get caught up in society's or cultu...

David Doane wrote: It is in giving that we receive. What we receive in giving is personal satisfaction, peace, happiness. I had a nicely made copy of the Serenity Prayer on wood. A woman struggling painfully with co-dep...

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