There were a couple of good stories I heard, read or was reminded of this week related to yoga or more specifically understanding Self. I would like to share one that Ramana Maharshi (I want to , for some reason, spell Maharshi with an "i") shared with many.
Ten Foolish Men
Ten foolish men had just crossed a rough and dangerous stream of white rapids. Upon reaching shore they wanted to make sure that all had reached the other side safely. So one of the men was elected to count to ensure that ten men were now on this side of the stream.
Drenching wet, he stood tall and began to count starting with the foolish man to his right and moving down the line of men who stood before him. "One...two...three...four...five...six...seven...eight...and nine." After he said nine, he frantically looked up and down and behind the last man he had counted and began to panic, "Oh my goodness, there is only nine! We lost one!"
"Are you sure?", asked the last man counted. "There doesn't appear to be anyone missing. You must have counted wrong. Let me do a recount." Without waiting for permission to do so, he turned to his left and began making his way back to the first man who had counted. "One ...two...three...four...five...six...seven...eight...and nine! Oh my, there is only nine!"
All the men then began to look at one another with panic in their eyes. They struggled to understand who it was exactly they had lost, but for some reason, could not come up with a name.
"Let me count," said another of the men and turning to the right he began to count the men in a circle that brought the count to the man standing closest to his left. "One...two...three...four...five...six...seven..eight...and and nine!" he said with great emotions. "There is only nine of us left. We did indeed lose one. Oh. the horror and we cannot even think of his name!"
With that, they all fell to their knees at the river bank and began to cry hysterically.
Just then, a kindly and compassionate traveller passed near and heard them wailing. Wanting to help, he approached them and asked what was wrong.
They shared what had happened and said that even after several counts they could count no more than nine of the ten men on this side of the shore. They had lost a man! They also expressed how terrible they felt that they could not even remember the poor chap's name and therefore would not be able to relay the news back to the surviving family. They began to wail some more.
Understanding right away, upon looking at all ten men before him, what had happened , the traveller held back a laugh and proceeded to help them see for themselves that all ten were alive and could be counted for. He said, " Okay lets count again starting with you," he pointed to the man on the farthest right who was the first to make the discovery that someone was missing."Each of you count yourselves in order, out loud,one after the other until the tenth man is found."
Rejoicing in the possibility of saving and being reconnected to the man they we missing, they all shouted "Yes! Wonderful"
The traveller lined them all up in a neat little row and told them when to start. The first counter said "one". The fellow next to him said, "two"...next, "three" until they made it all the way down the line and "Ten!" was heard coming from the last man.
"We found him! We are ten, again! We are all here!" said the relieved men in unison. Grateful that the traveller had relieved them of their grief, they thanked him profusely before sending him on his way
Morale of the story:
We are seeking and grieving for that which we never lost: our wholeness, our completeness, our "Self." We just assume it is lost because self can't see Self in itself.
Maharshi says, The only way to get rid of your grief is to know and be the Self. How can that be unattainable?
All is well!
Ramana Maharshi ( Edited by David Goldman) Be as You Are. Kindle Edition
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