Andhenaiva niyamana……

Sri Ramakrishna had a simple way of teaching. Through many parables he has handed down very profound messages of Vedanta and other scriptures to his devotees and disciples. Himself uneducated in the traditional sense, he nevertheless derived this source of knowledge from direct realization. The supreme mother of the universe, according to him, passed on the required knowledge whenever a need arose for teaching others, just as a peasant woman moves forward the paddy for the removal of the husk. One of his famous parables was that of a physician to whom one day a father and a son duo appeared from a different, far away village for the treatment of the latter. The physician did a general check up but did not suggest any remedy. Instead he told them to come back next week. The next week the duo turned up and the remedy suggested was simple – “don’t eat any of those molasses”. The father was astonished – “why didn’t you tell us this last week?” he asked the physician in private. The latter replied, “Because, I myself had molasses in large containers in my house last week. Only after I removed them that I asked you guys to come down. Otherwise your boy would not have taken me seriously. He would have said that the fellow himself is addicted to molasses, what can he prescribe me?”

Of course Sri Ramakrishna told this in the context of renunciation and God realization. Only a man of renunciation who has developed the love of God and who has realized God can preach about God to others, not anybody who is still enjoying the sensual pleasures, who has not been able to overcome the twin worldly passions of lust and greed.

When one hears the political leaders of today condemning corruption, one can’t help but remember this parable. Those who themselves are sunk neck deep in the mud of corruption, nepotism and other malpractices cannot prescribe a way out of this mess. Nobody will take them seriously, despite all the stringent laws that they advocate. Therefore Janalokpal or any other pal is not going to save India as long as we are under the clutches of a gang of mercenaries and thugs who consider themselves as leaders and who are idealized by the self serving media and supporters. Remember that famous shloka from Kathopanishad? –

Avidyayam antare vartamana svayam dhirah panditam manyamana

dandranyamanah pariyanti mudhah andhenaiva niyamana yathaandhah

Deluded by ignorance, yet considering themselves as wise and intelligent, fools roam around (baptizing people), like a blind leading a blind.

If we continue to be led by these blind the whole country runs the risk of falling in a very deep ditch, but is anybody realizing the grave danger that lies ahead of us?