Parables of Rama
by Swami Rama Tirtha | 102,836 words
Stories in English used by Swami Rama to illustrate the highest teaching of Vedanta. The most difficult and intricate problems of philosophy and abstract truths, which may very well tax the brains of the most intellectual, are thus made not only simple and easy to understand but also brought home to us in a concrete form in such an interesting and ...
To a man who had reached the state of perfect freedom, there came a disciple who sat at his feet for a year or so. When the disciple was going to leave the master, he began to bow down at his feet, to kneel down before him, to prostrate himself before him, as the custom in India is. The master smiling raised him and said: "Dear, you have not yet learnt all that you could learn. You lack a great many things yet; stay for some while more." A few days more he stayed in the holy presence of the master and got more of inspiration. His heart was converted into God-consciousness. He was full of Holy Ghost. He left the presence of the master knowing not whether disciple or master himself. He went away he was looking upon the whole universe, the wide world, as his real self, and the whole universe being his real self where could he, the Self, go? When the Self fills and permeates every atom, every molecule, where can It go? The idea of going and coming becomes meaningless to him.
You can go from one place to another, if you are not already at the place where you want to go. Here he found himself, he found his true Self, the God within; God everywhere, and how could he think of going and coming? The idea of going and coming became absent for him. He was in the state of self-realization. The going of the body was a sort of reflex action. He was in himself; no going or coming for him. Then was the master satisfied. Thus, did the master test him and prove him of sterling worth. The disciple paid no respects or thanks to the master and rested in unity to such a degree that he rose above all idea of gratitude. Then did the master know that he had really understood his teachings.
Here is the master-state, where, if you honour the man, he says you are belittling him. "I am not confined in this body; I am not this little body only—I am the wide world, I am you, and honour me in you." Here is the state of a man who sells not anything to you. Here is the state of a man to whom honour and disgrace for the body have become meaningless, both shame and fame are nothing.
MORAL: A man of God-consciousness realises his omnipresence and oneness with all.