Sri Sathya Sai Baba Stories and Parables 28 - A lesson

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Source: Chinna Katha

http://www.saibaba.ws/stories/storiesparables.htm

 

28 - A lesson

 

One day, when Ubhaya Bharati was going to the river for a bath with

her women disciples, she saw an ascetic, who had renounced

everything in life, sleeping on the wayside, resting his head on a

hollow water jug, using it as a pillow and at the same time ensuring

that nobody took it away. As long as you have attachment and ego,

you can never understand the Atma or experience atmic bliss.

 

In order to convey a lesson to the ascetic, Ubhaya Bharati spoke

within his hearing the following words to one of her

disciples: " Look at that ascetic, who has ostensibly renounced every

kind of attachment, but he has not given up his attachment to his

water jug! " On hearing these words, the ascetic got enraged. He

thought: " Is a mere woman entitled to teach me as to how I should

behave. " While Ubhaya Bharati was returning from the river, the

ascetic threw the jug at her feet and said: " Now, see what my

renunciation is? " Ubhaya Bharati remarked: " Alas! You are not only

filled with attachment (abhimana) but you are also filled with ego

(ahamkara). " On hearing these words, the ascetic ran up to her, fell

at her feet and pleaded for forgiveness of his faults.