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ASPIRANT'S GUIDE
Monks replied, "No Sir ! It will not."
Bhagavan "Now, if there is a hole in the boat ?" Monks "Surely Sir, it will sink then."
Bhagavan "At what place should the hole be, so that the boat will sink ?"
Monks "Holy Sir, it will sink with a hole anywhere in its basement."
Bhagavan: "Similar is the reality of Atman, O Shramanas! any where in the Atma - be it lust, anger, greed, delusion or pride, these lead to bondage of Karma and the Atma bound by Karma is sure to be drowned in the ocean of life. Therefore, let the Sadhaka ever try to be free from these adverse feelings, that are blemishes. Let him thus propitiate God by true faith, true knowledge, and true conduct and progress on the path of liberation."
(2) There was a sudden shout in the peaceful atmosphere of the Gurukula (residential college). Someone shouted, "A scorpion has bitten Guruji (religion-teacher) !"
All students ran to find out as to what had happened and how. Some students were rubbing gently to Guruji, one student captured the scorpion under a stick. Guruji told all pupils, "I am fine. Go back and get back to your work again."
However, one student tied the scorpion with a string and hung it on the wall. The scorpion was released after three hours following a pressing appeal from Guruji. Still, the anger of that student towards the scorpion had not disappeared.
After a few months, on the festival day known as Guru-Poornima, there were preparations for a festival. At that time, Guruji declared, "This year, I shall seek an individual gift from every student." All students were delighted at this declaration. They were willing to give anything that will please Guruji.
At the end of the festival, it was the time for Guruji to demand some gift from the students (Guru-Dakhsina). However, Guruji demanded a type of the gift which was totally unexpected. Guruji asked every student to remove the major faults from his life, for example greed, anger, a critical outlook and so on.
Ultimately, there came the turn of a student who had punished the scorpion. Guruji told him, "You have to take a vow not to get angry. This will be the gift (Guru Dakhshina) from
SADHAK-SATHI
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