Krishna Katha - Story for meditation 04/11/2011 - THE LOGIC OF THE BLIND MAN HOLDING THE COW'S TAIL

THE LOGIC OF THE BLIND MAN HOLDING THE COW'S TAIL

Chapter 58 of Upākhyāne Upadesa
Upākhyāne Upadesa is a collection of short stories with explanations gathered from the spoken lectures and other teachings of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and compiled by his disciple Sri Sundarananda Vidyavinode Prabhu.

Once upon a time a blind person was going to his father-in-law's house, finding his way with the help of his walking stick. While passing through a field he came across a cowherd boy and asked, "O brother, would you please do me a favor by leading me to my father-in-law's house?"

The cowherd replied, "I am busy tending so many cows. If I take you to your fatherin-law's house, all of the cows will run away.

I can do one thing for you. I can lend you a very docile and faithful cow of mine, you can safely catch hold of her tail and she can smoothly lead you to your in-law's house."

Thus advised by the cowherd, the blind traveler firmly caught hold of the cow's tail. The cow began walking with the blind man trailing behind. After a short time, however, the blind man's strong pulling on her tail frightened the cow. She became frantic and started running, dragging the blind person very roughly down the road and through thorny bushes all the while giving him frequent hard kicks with her hind legs. As a result, the blind man's body was severely injured and his garments were all torn apart.

He finally arrived at his in-law's house in the dead of night. He was in a very wretched condition with cuts and bruises all over and he was totally naked. His in-law's servants mistook him to be a cattle thief and punched and slapped him in order to get him to let go of the cow's tail. Thus the blind man suffered unlimitedly.

PURPORT
Those who have ulterior motives take shelter of so-called gurus instead of a truly bona-fide spiritual master (sad-guru), and ultimately suffer very badly like the blind man in this story.Any and every person cannot lead one to the supreme abode of godhead, and no unauthorized representative can guide us to our true welfare. It is, therefore, obligatory that without any hesitation one should take shelter of a k a-tattvavitsad-guru - a bona-fide Krishna-conscious guru.

Thanks to Chetan Prabhu for sharing this story and moral reflection.
 
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted