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 ...
An inspector came to a school in India. One of the school-masters, pointing to a student, said that he was so bright as to have learned by heart such and such a piece of literature, say, Milton's Paradise Lost; be could recite any part of it. The student was presented to the inspector, but he had no Vedanta in him. He assumed bashfulness and modesty, and when asked, "Do you know that piece by heart?", he said, “No sir; I am nothing, I know nothing." Those words he thought to be an indication of modesty, a sign of bashfulness. No sir, I know nothing; I did not learn it." The inspector asked again, but the boy still said, "No sir j no, sir; I do not know it." The master was put out of countenance. There was another boy who did not know the whole book by heart, but he said, "I know it; I think I shall be able to recite any passage you may desire." The inspector put to him a few questions. All the questions were readily answered by the boy; this second boy declaimed passage after passage and secured the prize. No one can even estimate you at a higher value than you set upon yourselves. Do not please make yourselves cringing, sneaking, miserable creatures. As you think, so will you become. Think yourselves to be God and God you are. Think yourself to be free and free you are this moment.
MORAL: Modesty carried to the extreme is unbecoming and will launch you into misery and slavery for as you think, so will you become.