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 ...
Story 253 - A patient's desires
A patient was lying on the cot in a room. Come! Let us enquire after his health. Two attendants were standing towards his head. Similarly two or three persons were towards his feet. Besides, a few others were also present in the room. A gentleman came to see him. He sent his visiting card, but was refused entry to the room. On his insistence, he was, however, allowed to see the ailing patient. Instead of wishing him, the patient did not even care to look at him. When the gentleman drew his attention two or three times, the patient acknowledged it in a rather indifferent way. There were thick cushions around him. The soft pillows were also there. Persons were continuously coming to enquire after his health. The apparent concern and deference had been manipulated by the patient by falling ill. Fie on such affection, earned with illness. So, too, your worldly desires are a sort of illness and their fulfillment approximates to show respect and regard, causing demoralization of the soul.