Ribhu taught his disciple Nidagha the Supreme Truth of the One Brahman, but Nidagha, despite his erudition and rational understanding, did not achieve sufficient conviction to accept and follow the Path of Jnana. He settled in his hometown and devoted his life to observing religious rites and rituals. But the Sage loved his student as deeply as he loved his Teacher. Despite his age, Ribhu himself was going to go to the student to see how far the latter had gone from ritualism. At the same time, the Sage disguised himself in order to observe Nidagha's actions without being recognized.
One day, disguised as a villager, Ribhu eventually found Nidagha as he closely watched the royal procession. He asked about the reason for the commotion and learned that the king himself was present in the procession.
- ABOUT! The king himself! He is participating in the procession! But where is he? - asked the sage, dressed as a peasant.
“Here, on this elephant,” answered Nidagha.
- You say that the king is on this elephant. Yes, I see two,” said the peasant. - But which one is the king and which one is the elephant?
- What! - exclaimed Nidagha. “You see two, but don’t know that the man on top is the king, and the animal below is the elephant?” What should I talk to you about?
“I beg you, don’t be so irritable with such an ignoramus like me,” the villager asked. - But you said “above” and “below”. What do these words mean?
Nidagha couldn't bear it anymore.
- You see a king and an elephant, the first is above, the second is below. However, do you want to know what “above” and “below” mean? - Nidagha exploded. “If the things you see and the words you hear tell you so little, then only action can teach you.” Lean forward and you will recognize everything very well.
The peasant did as he was asked. Nidagha sat on his shoulders and said:
- Now you will understand. I am on top, like a king, and you are below, like an elephant. Is it clear now?
“No, however, it’s unclear,” the Teacher answered calmly. “You say that you are above, like a king, and I am below, like an elephant.” “Tsar”, “elephant”, “top” and “bottom” - everything is still clear. But I beg you to tell me what you mean by “I” and “you”?
When Nidagha was brought face to face with the most difficult problem of defining “you” separately from “I,” he was illuminated from above, immediately jumped to the ground and fell at the feet of the Teacher, saying:
“Who else, besides my venerable Teacher Ribhu, could so turn my mind from these superficial ideas of physical existence to the true Being of the Self, the True Self!” O gracious Teacher, I ask for your blessing.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru