The Man’s Decision
There was once a man who was tired from life. He had 3-4 children and he couldn’t work very hard to maintain them. He thought it would be better to leave home and go to the forest to become a sannyasi and guru.
He went to the forest and eventually found a peaceful place in the Himalayas to meditate. People started noticing the new guru with his long hair and beard. They began to visit him, and seeing his appearance, they believed he must have great wisdom. People started coming to him, asking to become his disciples.
Gaining Disciples
The man told them to return the next day to take vows. Eager to establish himself as a guru, he performed the necessary rituals and accepted a few disciples. They asked him if he needed anything or if he faced any troubles.
He replied, “No, I don’t need anything. But there is one trouble. My chapatti flour is constantly eaten by mice. They trouble me.”
The disciples promised to bring a solution the next day. They returned with a cat, saying, “This cat will eat the mice and solve your problem.”
The guru kept the cat, and indeed, it scared away the mice. However, in the evening, the cat started crying because she was hungry and needed milk.
Acquiring More Responsibilities
The man had to go to the village to beg for money to buy milk for the cat. This took up a lot of his time. The disciples returned and asked about the flour.
The man said, “The flour is safe, but I spend hours getting milk for the cat. It’s a horrible task.”
The disciples suggested bringing a cow so he wouldn’t have to go to the village for milk. They gifted him a cow, explaining that he could now milk the cow and feed the cat.
The man was initially pleased, but soon, the cow dung filled the compound, and the cow needed grass. He had to spend the entire day begging for grass and managing the cow. He had no time left for meditation.
The Final Solution
After eight days, the disciples returned and found the man extremely busy and frustrated. They suggested, “Maharaj, why don’t you get married? Your wife can manage the household chores, feed the cow, and you will be free for meditation.”
In desperation, the man called his old wife to come live with him in the forest to take care of the cow.
Moral of the Story
- True Detachment: The man left his home to escape family responsibilities and seek spiritual enlightenment, but without true detachment, he ended up creating new attachments and a similar lifestyle in the forest. Genuine detachment is essential for spiritual progress.
- Consequences of Deception: The man attempted to deceive others by pretending to be a guru. In the end, he was deceived by his own actions, leading to greater entanglement and suffering. Honest and sincere intentions are crucial on the spiritual path.
Reflection
The story illustrates the importance of genuine renunciation and the pitfalls of hypocrisy in spiritual practice. It serves as a reminder to seek true detachment and approach spiritual life with sincerity and honesty.
By understanding and integrating these lessons, we can avoid the mistakes of the man in the story and make meaningful progress on our spiritual journey.
