You remember many things - you can become the Encyclopedia Britannica; your mind is capable of remembering all the libraries of the world - but this is wrong remembering. There is only one correct recollection - the moment you remember yourself.
Gautama Buddha illustrated this with the ancient story of a lioness who jumped from one hill to another. She was pregnant and gave birth while jumping. Her lion cub fell into the herd, and the herd raised him. Naturally, he began to consider himself a sheep. It was a little strange that he was so big, so unlike anyone else. But maybe he was a freak. He was raised a vegetarian.
He grew up, and one day the old lion approached the sheep flock in search of food. He couldn't believe his eyes. A young lion walked among the sheep in all his splendor, and the sheep were not afraid of him. The old lion forgot about food and chased the herd. But the young lion also ran with the herd. Eventually he caught the young lion. He cried and sobbed.
“Please let me return to my kindred!”
But the old lion dragged him to the nearest lake, quiet, without any ripples, which was like a clean mirror, and made him see his reflection in the lake, and next to it the reflection of the old lion. It was a sudden transformation. The moment the young lion saw who he was, he let out a great roar. The entire valley echoed this roar. He had never growled before because he always considered himself a sheep and never doubted it.
The old lion said:
- My work is done. Now it's all up to you. Do you want to return back to the herd?
The young lion laughed and said:
- Forgive me, I completely forgot who I am. And I am immensely grateful to you for helping me remember.
Gautama used to say:
“The function of a master is to help you remember who you are.”
You are not part of the ordinary world; your home is the home of the divine. You are lost in oblivion. You have forgotten that God is hidden within you. You never look inward - only outward.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru