Yusuf and the Little Mouse
Once upon a time there was a Mahatma who was a great ascetic and a great pandit. He was honoured by all, full of years and wisdom. His name was Junun. Many young boys, many young men used to come …
Dharma through Literature
A Small Talk
Once upon a time there was a little girl, quite young, very nice, very pretty, living in her family with her parents, particularly in the company of her grandfather. This grandfather was rather old but extremely nice and kind and …
The Little Bird
Once, the great Yogi, Mahatapa, was meditating on Lord Shiva, absorbed in the inner rhythms of Om Namah Shivaya when a little bird flew overhead the great Yogi, dropping as it flew by. The Yogi felt the bird drop on …
Garuda’s Compassion
Author’s Note: There are parables which are of immense significance but which carry the danger of being misunderstood if emphasis is put at the wrong place. Such a story is the one that follows. This is not meant to illustrate …
A Sapphire Tale
Once upon a time, far away in the East, there was a small country that lived in order and harmony, where each one in his own place played the part for which he was made, for the greatest good of …
Maya
“O lord, I feel like laughing when sages and philosophers speak of Maya with some awe. There must be some truth in their fear, but Maya surely cannot put everybody under its spell!” One day Narada observed while walking with …
Sitting Still, Doing Nothing
The ruler of a certain kingdom, during one of his city tours, happened to see a young man sitting silently under a tree. Something about the young man caught his attention. He stopped by and waited for him to move, …
For A Piece Of Loin-Cloth
A sadhu under the instruction of his Guru built for himself a small shed, thatched with leaves at a distance from the haunts of men. He began his devotional exercises in this hut.
Now, every morning after ablution he would hang …
A Dialogue between Krishna and Uddhava
Why Sri Krishna did not save the Pandavas when they played dice with Duryadhana & Shakuni
Since childhood, Uddhava had been close to Krishna, charioting him and serving him in several ways. He never asked for any wish or boon from …
A Dream
A poor man was sitting in a dark hut thinking of his miseries and of the injustice and wrongs that could be found in this world of God’s making. Out of abhimana, he began to mutter to himself, “As …
The Ideal of Forgiveness
In the sky, the moon drifted slowly through the clouds. Far below, the river mingled its murmur with the winds, as it danced along on its course; and the earth looked bathed in beauty in the half-light of the moon. …
A Borrowed Light
There is a very famous zen story about a disciple who had come to see his master. The master lives on a hilltop in a dense forest. It is evening, the sun is setting, and the disciple thinks many times …
A Hundred Flowers
Spiritual vanity and pride are the subtlest and the most dangerous of psychological defects for they are well concealed behind high and noble intentions, thoughts and actions. Even the best of us are vulnerable to these failings. There are many …
Yayati And God Of Death
There is a beautiful story, a great parable, in the Upanishads:
One of the great kings, Yayati, was dying. He was a hundred years old, ripe enough to die — one should be ready by that time — but not grown-up …
Temple In a Brothel
The great mystic, Rabia of Basra, was immensely beautiful. And a beauty not of this world. Once a rich young man from Iran comes to Basra. He asks people, “Is there anything that is out of the way, something special …
The Light of lights
King Janak and Rishi Yajnavalkya were both very illustrious and learned sages, and were the best of friends too. Both loved a discussion or debate on subjects related to Truth and Self. Neither would let an opportunity go to engage in such discussions. …
Footsteps Of The Thoughts
I am reminded of one of the most beautiful stories that I have come across in my life. A king in Japan sends his son to a mystic, to a master, to learn awareness. The king was old. And he …
In the Wink of an Eye
Janak is widely known as the the King-philosopher of ancient India. He was a Rishi, a Seer, as well as a noble and accomplished king. His court was famous for patronizing philosophers, sages and poets. He used to hold debates …
Swamiji And The Mother
Swami Vivekananda visited Kashmir in the year 1898. While visiting the ‘Mother Kshira Bhavani’ temple he saw all the destruction the Islamic invaders had done to the statues and the temple.
Swami Vivekananda was hurt and was angry at the foolish invaders.
He prayed to Mother …
Yajnavalkya & Janaka
King Janaka was one of the favorite students of sage Yajnvalkya. Yajnavalkya would always keep an empty front seat in his classes, so that if Janaka came, he could sit there and listen to his teachings.
Yajnavalkya had many bright students, …
A Man On The Hilltop
There is a very famous Zen story: A man was standing on a hilltop. Three persons saw him; they started arguing about him, about what he was doing there. One said, ‘He must have lost his cow — I know …
The Parable Of The Milkmaid
A milkmaid used to supply milk to a Brahmin priest living on the other side of a river.
Owing to the irregularities of the boat service, the milkmaid could not supply him milk punctually every day.
Once, being rebuked for her going …
That Thou Art
The Upanishads are profound meditations on the truth of the Supreme Self, and constitute the principal source of Vedantic mystical knowledge. The word Upanishad (उपनिषद्) is derived from the roots upa (by) and niṣad (sitting down). Literally, Upanishad means the student or …
Commissioned by Ramji
The immutable calm of the Sannyasi irritated the fellow passenger, a petty trader. He looked upon the hordes of Sadhus as parasites and saw an opportunity to give a piece of his mind to this young man in ochre who, …
To Marry A Beautiful Woman
There is a beautiful Buddhist story in China. In a certain town a very beautiful young lady suddenly arrived out of the blue.
Nobody knew from where she came; her whereabouts were completely unknown. But she was so beautiful, so enchantingly …
The Miser
I had gone a-begging from door to door in the village path, when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream and I wondered who was this King of all kings!
My hopes rose high and methought my …