A MAN went
to a sadhu and said with a great
show of
humility: "Sir, I am a very low person. Tell
me, O
Master, how I am to be saved." The sadhu,
reading
the heart of the man, told him, "Well, go
and bring
me that which is meaner than yourself."
The man
went out and looked all round but found
nothing
whatsoever meaner than himself. At last
he saw his
own excrement and said, "Well, here is
something
which is certainly worse than myself."
He
stretched forth his hand to take it up and carry
it to the
sadhu when suddenly he heard a voice say
from
within the ordure: "Touch me not, O sinner.
I was a
sweet and delicious cake, fit to be offered
to the
gods and in appearance so pleasing to all the
spectators.
But my ill-fortune brought me to you,
and by
your evil contact I have been reduced to
such a
detestable condition that men run away
from me
with faces turned and with handkerchiefs
covering
their noses. Once only did I come in
contact
with you and this has been my fate. What
deeper
degradation may I not be thrown into if you
touch me
again?"
The man
was thus taught true humility and became
the
humblest of the humble. As a result he attained
the
highest perfection.
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