CHINNA KATHA FROM BHAGAVAN’S DISCOURSE. No. 28.

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28 - A lesson

 

One day, when Ubhaya Bharati was going to the river for a bath with her

women disciples, she saw an ascetic, who had renounced everything in

life, sleeping on the wayside, resting his head on a hollow water jug,

using it as a pillow and at the same time ensuring that nobody took it

away. As long as you have attachment and ego, you can never understand

the Atma or experience atmic bliss.

 

In order to convey a lesson to the ascetic, Ubhaya Bharati spoke within

his hearing the following words to one of her disciples: " Look at that

ascetic, who has ostensibly renounced every kind of attachment, but he

has not given up his attachment to his water jug! " On hearing these

words, the ascetic got enraged. He thought: " Is a mere woman entitled to

teach me as to how I should behave. " While Ubhaya Bharati was returning

from the river, the ascetic threw the jug at her feet and said: " Now,

see what my renunciation is? " Ubhaya Bharati remarked: " Alas! You are

not only filled with attachment (abhimana) but you are also filled with

ego (ahamkara). " On hearing these words, the ascetic ran up to her, fell

at her feet and pleaded for forgiveness of his faults.