AMMA SAYS - STORIES & JOKES

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OM AMRITESWARYAI NAMAH

 

AMMA SAYS - STORY

 

Sculpting a Real Image

 

A Master once gave His disciple a rock and asked him to sculpt an

image. The obedient disciple gave up food and sleep and set to work,

carving an image. When it was completed he brought the image to the

Master and offered it at His Feet. He stood aside humbly with joined

palms and bowed head. The Master glanced at the sculpure, picked it

up, and flung it away. It broke into several pieces. 'Is this the

way to make an image?' He asked angrily.

 

The disciple looked at the broken pieces and thought, 'He didn't

utter one kind word, even though I have worked so hard for days

without food or sleep!' Knowing his thoughts, the Master gave him

another stone and asked him to start again and sculpt another image.

 

The disciple went away with the stone and made a new image more

beautiful than the first one. Again, he approached the Master,

thinking that this time the Master would surely be pleased. But as

soon as the Master saw the image, His face reddened. 'Are you making

fun of me? This one is worse than the last one!' And He broke that

image as well.

 

He looked at the disciple, who was standing there with his head

bowed humbly. This time the disciple didn't feel any resentment

towards the Master, but he did feel a little sad.

 

The Master gave him another stone and asked him to make a new piece.

The disciple sculped the new image with much care. It was a great

work of art. He submitted it at the Master's Feet. But the Master

picked it up and shattered it in an instant, severely scolding the

disciple. This time the disciple felt neither angry nor sad. He

thought, 'If this is my Master's wish, let it be so. Everything He

does is for my own good.' Such was his attitude of surrender at that

point.

 

The Master gave him yet another stone. The disciple accepted it with

joy and came back with another exceptionally beautiful image. The

Master broke that one as well. But there was not the slightest

change in the disciple's mood The Master was very pleased. He placed

His hands on the disciple's head and blessed him.

 

An observer looking at the Master's actions would probably think the

Master was being cruel or even crazy. Only the Master and the

disciple who had completely surrendered to Him could know what was

really taking place. The Master makes the disciple go through

numerous tests to mould him or her properly. Each time the Mater

smashed an image the disciple brought to Him, He was sculpting a

real image in the heart of the disciple. It was the disciple's ego

that was being broken. Only a Satguru can do this, and only a true

disciple can taste the bliss that comes from it.

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AMMA SHARANAM