Parable of The Man and His Mud-Horse

Parable of The Man and His Mud-Horse

A highly intellectual young man had his bicycle converted into a beautiful looking horse. The horse was made of mud. When he rode the bicycle, it appeared that he was riding the mud-horse. He went on pretending it was a horse with mysterious powers and could do as well as any horse could. He went on joy-rides along with his comrades who rode real horses. One day, they were about to cross a stream. The man with the mud-horse thought within himself: "When pots are immersed in water, they remain intact. Even so, my horse will remain intact even in water. I can cross this stream." He got into the stream. When he was in mid-stream, the mud-horse collapsed, drowning the rider and burying him in the river-bed. The others understood that the horse was made of unbaked mud and went their way.

With a little intelligence, a Sadhaka gets by heart some texts . and their commentaries. He pretends that he has mysterious powers and more mysterious Jnana. He always rides abreast with Brahma-Jnanis and talks on equal terms with them. The path is beset with many dangers and trials. The pretender cannot stand even a single trial. At the crucial moment, his intelligence vanishes, his knowledge deserts him and his Vairagya gives way. His Vairagya has not been baked properly in the fire of Viveka and Mumukshutva. He perishes miserably, while the real Jnanis and Yogis fearlessly and joyously surmount all obstacles and overcome all dangers.