Interested vs. Committed – A Story of a Sadhu and a Thief

One night, a wandering sadhu reached a village. It was late, and he needed a place to stay. He went door to door, but no one was willing to offer him shelter. Finally, a man agreed. Surprisingly, that man was a thief.

The sadhu was hesitant. “How can I stay at a thief’s house? Is it safe?”
But he had no other option and stayed.

That night, the thief returned home empty‑handed. He smiled and said,
“Today also I couldn’t get anything… but tomorrow, I will try again.”
Then he lay down and slept peacefully.

The sadhu observed this every night. For a whole month, he stayed there. Every night, the thief would return without success, yet he never lost hope. He never said, “This is not for me.” He never blamed anyone. He simply tried again the next day—with commitment.

The sadhu began to think deeply. “I am afraid to even stay here, but this thief has no fear to keep me in his home. I call myself a seeker, but I give up so easily. Look at him—his life may be wrong, but his commitment is unshakable.”

That was a turning point. The sadhu started practicing his sadhana (spiritual discipline) with the same commitment he saw in the thief.

The Lesson Behind the Story

Most of us want good things in life:
✔️ Daily exercise
✔️ Healthy food habits
✔️ Quality time with family
✔️ Meditation and peace of mind

We all want to be free from anger, lies, criticism, and bad habits—because anger burns us from inside, lies hurt us, criticism pollutes our mind, and immorality destroys our health.

But wanting alone is not enough.
We are interested in good habits, but we are not committed to them. And that is why there are no results.

Interest vs. Commitment

✅ Interest says: “I want it if it’s easy.”
✅ Commitment says: “I will do whatever it takes.”

The thief was committed. Even after failing every day, he said, “I will try again tomorrow.”
When we bring that same commitment to our good habits, to our dreams, to our relationships—we achieve what we truly want.

Final Thought

The sadhu learned from an unexpected teacher—a thief. Commitment matters more than circumstances.

💡 If you really want a change in life, don’t just be interested. Be committed.
Because commitment is what transforms desire into reality.