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EPILOGUE-I
Four things of supreme value are difficult to get in this life : 1) human birth, 2) instruction in the Dharma (Law), 3) belief in the Dharma and 4) the energy in self-control.1 We, as human beings, should not lose this opportunity, because we should realise that human beings alone can make efforts and succeed in the attainment of self-realisation, Even the gods as heavenely beings have to be reborn as human beings to attain perfection. In this Karma-bhūmi (place of efforts) alone efforts for spiritual perfection are possible. We must, therefore, make the most of what we have, not because tomorrow we die, but because we become immortal and perfect. Knowing this, we should avoid the pursuit of sense pleasures which are fleeting and short-lived. We should aim high at the attainment of pure and serenity here and hereafter.
But the tragic irony is man very often forgets his goal and gets involved in the pursuit of the transient, knowing them to be harmful for the higher end of self-realisation. He forgets the predominent misery that he suffers in this life; and he forgets that life of pleasures is not the end, but only an illusion. This noble truth has been piognantly presented in the Parable of the Well, given in the Samaraiccakaha.2
A certain man, overcome by dire poverty, was depressed and frustrated. He left his home and wandered about in search of happiness and peace. He went through the forest, and one day he lost his way in the midst of the frightful thick forest. A fierce mad elephant started chasing him with upraised trunk. In front of him was the most evil demoness holding a sharp sword and rushing towards him. He saw them. He trembled with fright. He began to run for life. In the eastern direction, he saw a banyan tree. He reached the mighty tree, but he could not climb it. He looked around and saw an old well whose borders were covered with marshy grass. Afraid of death, craving to live if only a moment longer, he flung himself into the well at the foot of the banyan tree and caught a clump of reeds, held them fast. He hung himself precariously at the edge of the well. Below him in the well he saw terrible snakes enraged at the sound of his falling. At the very bottom of the well there was a black mighty python with terrible red eyes and with its mouth agape. Then he thought,
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