PERFECT MAN TRANSCENDS GOOD AND EVIL, BUT NEVER DOES EVIL

When a man is on the plains, he sees the lowly grass and the mighty pine tree and says, " How big is the tree and how small is the grass ! " But when he ascends the mountain and looks down from its high peak the grass and the tree blend into one indistinguishable mass of verdure. So, in the sight of worldly men, there are differences of rank and position—one is a king and another is a cobbler; one is a father and another is a son; and so on. But when the divine vision is opened, all appear equal; and there remains no distinction of good and bad, or of high and low.

Once a God-intoxicated Sadhu came to Rani Rasmani's Kali temple where the Master was living. One day he did not get any food; and even though feeling hungry, he did not ask anybody for it; but seeing a dog eating the remnants of food thrown away in a corner after a feast, he went there and embracing the dog, said, " Brother, how is it that you eat alone without giving me a share? So saying, he began to eat along with the dog. Having finished his meal in this strange company, the sage entered the temple of Mother Kali, and prayed with such earnestness of devotion as sent a thrill through the temple. When, after finishing his prayers, he was going away, the Master asked his cousin, Hriday, to follow that man, and talk with him. When Hriday followed him for some distance, the sage turned round and said, "Why do you follow me ? " Hriday replied, " Sir, give me some instruction." The sage said, ' When the water of this dirty ditch and the holy Ganges yonder will appear as one in your sight, and when the sound of the flageolet and the noise of the crowd will have no distinction to your ear, then you will reach the state of true Knowledge." When Hriday returned and told this to the Master, he said, " That man has reached the true state of ecstasy and of Knowledge. A Siddha roams about in various disguises—as a child, as an unclean spirit, or even as a mad man/

The state of a Paramahamsa (a perfect man) is just like that of a child. Like a child of five years, he feels no difference between man and woman. Yet, to set an example to the world, he should be on his guard against the other sex.

Once a Sannyasmi (a nun) came to the royal court of Janaka. To her the king bowed, without looking at her face. Seeing this, the Sannyasmi said: " How strange it is, O Janaka, that you have still so much fear of woman ! When one attains to full Jnana, one s nature becomes like that of a little child,—one sees no distinction between male and female.

But these slight spots that cling to the Jnani in this world do not matter much. The moon has spots but that never interferes with her giving light.

The steel sword turns into a gold one at the touch of the philosopher s stone ; and though it retains its former shape, it is incapable of causing injury like the steel sword. Similarly, the outward form of the man who succeeds in touching the feet of God is not changed, but he can no loger do any evil.

With the divine Knowledge of Advaita (non-duality) in you, do whatever you wish; for then no evil can ever come out of you.

Once a holy man, while passing through a crowded street, accidentally trod upon the toe of a wicked person. The latter, furious with rage, mercilessly beat the Sadhu until he fell down unconscious. At great pains to themselves, his disciples tried various measures to revive him When they saw that he was regaining consciousness a little, one of them asked, " Sir, do you recognise who is now serving you ? " The Sadhu replied, " Assuredly he who beat me!" A true Sadhu finds no distinction between a friend and a foe.