The kite as my guru

A kite with a fish in its beak was being chased by a flock of crows and screaming kites, pecking and trying to snatch away the fish. The flock of birds followed it everywhere. The tired kite finally dropped the fish that was instantly caught by another kite. The flock turned to the new possessor of the fish. Left alone, the first kite calmly perched upon a tree's branch. Seeing it in this quiet and tranquil state, the Avadhuta saluted it and said, 'You are my Guru, O kite; you have taught me that so long as man does not throw off the burden of worldly desires, he cannot escape from worldly distractions and be at peace with himself.'

A shy horse does not move straight till its eyes are covered with eye flaps. Similarly, the mind of a worldly man, restrained from looking around by the eye flaps of discrimination and aversion for worldly objects, will not stumble or stray into evil paths.

A paper wet with oil cannot be written upon. So, the soul stained by the oil of vices and luxury is unfit for spiritual devotion. But when the paper wet with oil is overlaid with chalk, it can be written upon. So, when such a soul is chalked over with renunciation, it's fit again for spiritual progress.


A purifying agent, say, a piece of alum, in a vessel of muddy water makes the impurities settle down, and the water clear. Discrimination and dispassion for worldly objects are purifying agents through which the worldly man ceases to be worldly and becomes pure.