Two Kind of Food
-Unknown Author
One day while travelling with a companion, Nanak took shelter in the
house of a poor, low-caste Hindu carpenter named Lalo. He took a liking
to Lalo and stayed with him for two weeks. Then he heard that people
were gossiping. They said, "Nanak is a high-caste Hindu; why should he
be staying with a low-caste man? It is not proper."
One day a wealthy landlord of the neighborhood decided to give a big
feast and to invite all the four castes of Hindus -- brahmins,
military, merchants and manual laborers. A brahmin friend of Guru Nanak
came to him and told him about the feast. "You really must go," he
said. But Nanak did not believe in castes, and considered all men
equal. He did not like the idea, and said, "I do not belong to any of
the four castes, so why invite me?" "Ah," said the brahmin, "now I see
why people call you a 'heretic'. Malik, the landlord, will be very
displeased with you if you refuse his invitation." And he walked away.
Nanak did not go to the feast, and, sure enough, afterwards Malik came
and confronted him. "Why did you dishonor me by staying away?" "Well,"
replied Nanak, "I do not crave fine food. But if this offends you, then
I will eat some of your food." But Malik was still not happy, and
accused Nanak of ignoring his own caste and eating and staying with
Lalo, a low-caste man.
"Then give me my share of elegant food from your banquet," said Nanak,"
and turning to Lalo he asked him to bring him something from his stock
of simple food. When both foods were set before Guru Nanak, he took
Lalo's coarse food in his right hand and Malik's fine food in his left,
and squeezed them both. Lo and behold, from Lalo's food milk flowed
out, and from Malik's, blood!