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58
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
The Mayor knew that the Parasa Jewel when touched with iron turns the iron into gold. So he grew suspicious that the monk desired to give any other thing except the Parasa Jewel. He served the monk for twelve years. He grew very nervous and still respecting the command of the monk he brought the bag and handed it over to the monk.
The monk took out an iron casket from the bag, opened it and there was something light kept in the bag. From the bag the bristling Parasa Jewel was taken out. The Jewel was placed in the iron casket and the same turned into a golden one. Now the Mayor was satisfied and was fortunate to receive it from the monk.
The moral is, there was a layer of cotton cloth in between the iron casket and the Parasa Jewel and that is why the former did not turn into gold. Similarly there is a veil of attachment and ignorance in between your preceptor and yourself. Knowledge therefore does not dawn upon you. If that veil is set aside, you can realise knowledge at this very moment; and thereby attain highest bliss with progress in your righteousness. Therefore, discard attachments for worldly objects and grow anxious to contact the right kind of preceptor.
