The Path To The Divine
Many of us would have heard this story. There was once an ascetic who burnt a stork by his very sight because it pooped on him after he had just bathed. This itself clearly illustrates two facts: 1. he was so short-tempered and 2. he was stupid to be angered by a bird that doesn't know any behavioural lessons to adhere to. Yet he was "an ascetic" having gained some mastery over life energies through some Sadhana whatsoever. This lowly state itself had the sage egoistic that the Divine intended to intervene. One day thereafter he went home-after-home seeking alms. At that time, a woman attended to the sage at her doorstep having finished her then responsibilities towards the family. The delay had agitated the sage that his annoyance was all over the face. Seeing this, the woman asked, "You want me burnt down like that stork?" The sage was awestruck. He pondered how come the lady knew of his encounter with the bird. Realising the truth in her insightful words, he knew he was nowhere before her despite being a renunciate.
And the moral of this story is: truthfully tending to one's own family can be the best Sadhana yielding oneself all the necessary spiritual capabilities. That is, loving deeds devoid of self-significance are worthy of being equivalent to any worship before the Lord.
Thus, ego or "baseless self-importance" stemming out of any identifications, must be shunned. Whether a householder or an ascetic, to always belong to the Divine, what must be renounced is indeed ego. And when such true surrender happens, there is spiritual awakening for sure. Voiding all self-centred emotions, the householder woman had been so sane and soulful that she could succeed the sage here.
