Rise above the ego and the attachments

In a green forest deep in the Himalayan valley, where the soft breeze sweeps across the green trees with a message of joy, there lived a mighty bull. During the morning hours, as he diverted himself among the green grass, he discovered an amiable friend in a cat. The cat amused him with his playful hide and seek; he told him stories of the jungle – the terror of the lions, the gossiping of foxes, the deceitful demeanor of the wolves and the jovial dances of rats.

During the siesta hours of the afternoon, as the bull rested serenely in the mountain cave, he discovered a tiny little rat playing in the vicinity. Slowly, he persuaded the rat to shun off all the fears of him and continue with his frolics and dances. The Bull was sensitive to life and an aspirant of universal love. Slowly the rat became friendly and brought even his tiny rattish children to amuse the grand personality of the Bull.

As the time passed, the friendship grew stronger with the Cat during the outdoor sojourns, and with the rat during indoor resting hours. The Bull was very happy and often mused within, “How wonderful! Soon the gates of heaven will be flung open for me.” 

But the time keeps clicking, in the cycles of ups and down. One day the Cat invited the Bull for a festive occasion during the evening hours to her home. There was an occasion for the young kiddies to be initiated into the manners of the adult life. The Bull accepted the invitation and arrived at the scene of the party. They all sat in a circle while the young cats showed their frolics and demonstrated their achievements for winning the heart of the guests.

Soon little rats were seen in the arena, after which the young cats ran. They wouldn’t kill the rats, but they would give them a fright more dreadful than death. The Bull watched this scene, but having discovered that the young rats were children of his own friend, he grew melancholic and sad. He didn’t know what to do. To enjoy the festivity would mean supporting the calamity for this rattish friend. To oppose the little cats would upset the Cat and might lead to termination of friendship. With a pretext of headache he retired from the scene and spent time in deep reflection.

Next morning, he rushed to the hut of the Sage who used to reside on the bank of river Ganges and opened up his heart in front of him. He asked, “O Sage, please help me. What should I do to save my friendship with both- the Cat and the Rat. To please one is to displease the other.”

The Seer smiled serenely and said, “O Bull, do not become attached to any personality. Try to think clearly. You are not really concerned with the Cat or the Rat. What you want is to save your friendship that gives personal delight to you.”

“Think deeply and discover that your sense of friendship is born of egoism. Such attachments are obstructions in the perception of cosmic love. Cats and rats have been the Eater and the food from the beginning of creation. You canot solve this perennial problem. You have to rise beyond your ego, attachments and then only you would be able to realize the inner peace and true happiness.”

From that point on the Bull developed dispassion and started spending most of the time in Self-analysis and mediation; and a peaceful stream of love continued to flow in his heart towards the Cosmic Self.      

Be a strong Bull and rise above the cattish and rattish movements of the mind.