Page 236 - Kailaspati: Paramhans Hansdevji Avadhoot

safe to protect myself.” Thus thinking, the lion, in order to protect himself, stood up to leave for a denser part of the forest. at that time a washer-man, having lost his domestic donkey, came there with a load on his back in search of his donkey. The lion on the other hand decided to leave the sugar-cane jungle and as a result the cane-jungle began to rustle. The washerman thought that his lost donkey was trying to hide itself from its master. The lion then thought that as there was darkness all around, he must not leave that place. The washerman held the lion tight, beat him hard and laid a heavy load on its back. The lion got frightened and thought that since he was caught red-handed by darkness, he was left with no other option but to carry out his order. The washerman held tight the ear of the lion and pulled it homeward. On the way, another lion came across the first lion. it understood the plight of the other lion. it said to the other, “Why do you forget your own self? Why are you a puppet at the hands of one whom you eat? Think again about who you are.” “The first lion said, “Please be quiet. Better you leave the place or the darkness will have you in its chains.” The other lion said, “Cast your load down on earth and just roar.”
On listening to the words of advice of the other lion, the lion in bondage roared. On hearing such a thundering sound, the washerman realized his illusion and fainted.
On having told the tale of a lion, Baba said, “The lion who was free is Guru indeed. it was at his words of advice and exhortation that the other in bondage gets roused and roars.”
Once a Bengali disciple told Baba, “an astrologer has made a forecast, that i am fated to die soon.” On hearing it, Baba said, it is not worth believing the words of an astrologer. To make this point clear, Baba told a tale:
Once at a certain place there lived an astrologer. his wife was about to bear a child. The astrologer predicted that it was going to be a male child. he also added that as regards his fame and fortune, the father would have to wait till the child was born. as the wife of the astrologer had the first pangs of labour-pain, he left his wife in a room and sat at the door with his pen and
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