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56
KARMA-YOGA
between parents and children becomes the same as that between birds and their offspring which, as soon as they are fledged, do not recognise any parents. Blessed, indeed, is the man who is able to look upon woman as the representative of the motherhood of God. Blessed, indeed, is the woman to whom man represents the fatherhood of God. Blessed are the children who look upon their parents as Divinity manifested on earth.
The only way to rise is to do the duty next to us, and thus go on gathering strength until we reach the highest state. A young Sannyasin went to a forest; there he meditated, worshipped and practised Yoga for a long time. After years of hard work and practice, he was one day sitting under a tree, when some dry leaves fell upon his head. He looked up and saw a crow and a crane fighting on the top of the tree, which made him very angry. He said, “What! Dare you throw these dry leaves upon my head !" As with these words he angrily glanced at them a flash of fire went out of his head—such was the Yogin's power—and burnt the birds to ashes. He was very glad, almost overjoyed at this development of power,-he could burn the crow and the crane by a look. After a time he had to go to the town to beg his bread. He went, stood at a door and said :“Mother, give me food.” A voice came from inside the house :—“Wait a little, my son.” The young man thought :-_“You wretched woman, how dare you make me wait! You do not know my power
