THERE ARE MEN AND MEN

MEN may be divided into four classes: those
bound by the fetters of the world, the seekers after
liberation, the liberated and the ever-free.
Among the ever-free we may count sages like
Narada. They live in the world for the good of
others, to teach men spiritual truths.
Those in bondage are sunk in worldliness and are
forgetful of God. Not even by mistake do they
think of God.
The seekers after liberation want to free themselves
from attachment to the world. Some of them
succeed and others do not.
The liberated souls, such as the Sadhus and
Mahatmas, are not entangled in the world, in
'woman and gold.' Their minds are free from
worldliness. Besides they always meditate on the
Lotus Feet of God.
Suppose a net has been cast into a lake to catch
fish. Some fish are so clever that they are never
caught in the net. They are like the ever-free. But
most of the fish are entangled in the net. Some of
them try to free themselves from it, and they are
like those who seek liberation. But not all the fish
that straggle succeed.
A very few do jump out of the net, making a big
splash in the water. Then the fishermen shout,
'Look! There goes a big one!' But most of the fish
caught in the net cannot escape, nor do they make
any effort to get out.
On the contrary, they burrow into the mud with
the net in their mouths and lie there quietly,
thinking, 'We need not fear any more; we are quite
safe here.' But the poor things do not know that
the fishermen will drag them out with the net.
These are like the men bound to the world.