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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
difficult to be controlled.” of mind as described here.
We should properly digest the frivolity
.
Thus many other forms of religion are possible but anyway they can be included in the forms mentioned here and so we refrain from stating them all.
You need not be baffled on learning all this multiplicity of the forms of religion. The great men have laid down these forms for the guidance of the devotees and they aim at spiritual bliss.
Some times great men prescribe some thing very strange befitting the propriety of a particular soul. We might be surprised at such prescription but it is aimed at the welfare of the soul. This will be clear to you on learning one or two illustrations.
vOW OF SEEING BALD HEAD OF A PORTER
There was a religious minded merchant. He had a son impudent and mischievous by nature. He hardly knew what is religion. He never visited temples normonasteries nor listened to the words of wisdom preached by parents.
One saintly person visited his town. Many people assembled round the saint to listen to his sermons. The merchant also went there along with his son. When all left the place the merchant said, "Oh great one, preach my son, so that we would secure his welfare. He doesn't try to follow any of my advices."
The saint preached the boy and insisted upon the boy to take up any vow. The impudent boy said, "I cannot take any vow but a potter is staying nearby. I can take the vow of taking my food only after I see his bald head."
The saint said, “Well, this is very good. But maintain your vow properly.”
Man who takes a vow to break it is degraded.
Potter sat regularly at some usual place to make clay-pots. His head could be seen from the merchant's house only by raising his head little. The vow was easy to be maintained and so the Saint left the place.
