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 ...
Birbal asked the king if the blind or men with sight were in majority. There was argument, and it was decided to put it to the proof. The king thought" the minority to be blind. So he came as a proof with a piece of cloth, winding it round his head, he asked, "What is this? "A turban," was the answer. He put it on his shoulder and asked people, "What is this? "Shawl," was the reply. The third time he wore it as loin cloth, and they called it as such. "Blind, blind, all! It is none of these, but cloth,—by names and forms is cloth concealed."
Realize what Atman is. To see gold you need not break it. When you think of man, woman, eddies, breakers, cloth and gold, you do not think of the reality behind.
MORAL: Reality or Atman is concealed behind names and forms. Hence realize It, think out the basis of every name and form.