________________ Vol. II/No. 3. Eternal Wisdom . HONEY DROPS (Hefar ) A Parable There is a big banyan tree; on one of its branches there is a large honey comb, and from it some globules of honey are falling below. A man, having held on to one of the many falling branch-roots (7698) of this great tree, is hanging on the same. Every now and then, while so hanging, he catches the honey drops in his mouth; and while relishing the taste thereof, he is saying "Oh! how sweet is this honey.". At that very time, a Dewa (qq- a denizen of heaven) descends in his celestial aeroplane and tells the man, "O Man! what are you doing?" The man answers, "Sir, I am enjoying the delicious taste of this honey!" But the Dewa says to him, "Look, your condition is very precarious. The branch-root on which you are hanging is being gnawed at by two big rats. Below you is a great well. In the well, there are four big snakes who are staring at you with their red eyes, their mouths open and their tongues swishing in and out ! As soon as you fall, they will swallow you. And look O Man! at the main stem of the tree. There is an elephant in rage and he is violently shaking the whole tree by his pulling and pushing of the . main stem which he has wrapped in his long trunk. Because of this the honey bees are coming out f this the honey bees are coming out and circling and stinging your body. Are you not in pain? Are you not afraid? So, why don't you, without delay, come with me and fly away. I have only come to save you, having seen your pitiable condition as I was passing above you." The man replies, "O Lord! what you say is true, but let a few more droplets of honey fall; let me once more enjoy the taste of it. Then, I shall come and sit in your beautiful aeroplane."
