Sage Balanand from Deoghar (1827-1936) always emphasied on the purity of thought. Thought is realization. Whatever tought one holds on to, one gains that. In this connection he narrated the story of the wish fulfilling tree. 'One day a man was traveling on a road. It was a hot day and after walking for sometime the man was utterly spent. He saw a tree in front and went and sat under it. What the traveler did not know was that the tree was a wish fulfilling tree. As he sat the thought came to him that it would be refreshing to get some cool water to quench his thirst. Looking around he espied a pitcher full of cold clear water. His thirst was satisfied but now he began to think about food. Water would not help fill his stomach! Soon he found out a basket of comestibles. He helped himself to some very tasty food. The thought that came next was that he would rest a awhile before commencing his arduous journey. In the trice he found a soft bed had been laid out and he law down on it. He now began to think that when he had come there was no water, no food and no bed. Where had all these things come from? Surely there was a ghost living in the tree! No sooner had this thought occurred when a huge ghost materialized before him. The terrified traveler now thought that there was now no escape and the ghost would eat him up. The ghost then ate him up!' Every person, the sage explained, was seated under a wish fulfillment tree. Whatever one thought under this tree would happen. If one thinks about God then one would get God. The saying 'Jasya bhavana jadrishee siddhirbhavatu tadrishee' illustraqtes this spiritual principle. Only the thought has to be pure and come from the heart.
