God is Everywhere

Once, Sheikh Chilli’s mother took Sheikh to a Hindu saint who had come to their village, hoping that Sheikh would learn something from him and become wise. The saint said to Sheikh, “Have faith in God, son. He is everywhere, in everything. He is in you, in me, in each living being.” Sheikh came back home, repeating, “God is in me, in everyone, in everything.” Next day, on his way to the neighbouring village, he saw an elephant with his mahout. The elephant was coming in his direction, but Sheikh didn’t move away. He kept mumbling, “God is in me, God is in the elephant.” The mahout was frantically waving Sheikh away, but Sheikh didn’t pay any heed to his gestures. The elephant lifted Sheikh in his trunk and flung him far away. Sheikh got bones broken and bruises all over. Laid up in bed, Sheikh kept wondering, ‘God is in me, God is in the elephant. Then why did God hurt God?’ The saint came to visit the injured Sheikh and said to him, “Dear son, God was also in the mahout who was telling you to move away!”