"Faith in the Guru, practice, and patience are three very important ingredients for our life
It was the last day of learning for the disciples in the ashram. A final exam was to be taken that day. If successful in this, they would go back to their home. If they failed, they would have to stay back and get further education in the ashram. Acharya ji (the head master) gave bamboo baskets to all the disciples. He then asked them to fill the baskets with water from the nearby river, and bring to the ashram to water the plants.
Some disciples thought that what kind of test is Master taking, water cannot stay in the bamboo basket! Nevertheless, following the orders of Acharya ji, all the pupils took their baskets and went to the river and started filling water. As soon as the basket was pulled out of the river, all the water would flow out from the holes of the basket.
Some of the disciples gave up in a couple of attempts, saying it was impossible, and came back to the ashram. Some kept trying for a while. Some tried bringing the basket to the ashram, but the water would drain out on the way, and they would throw the baskets there itself.
There were three disciples who trusted the Master’s words. All three kept filling the bamboo basket again and again. After about an hour, they saw that the water from the bamboo basket was not dripping down anymore. Because in all this time, the basket had completely drenched in water and the bamboo had swollen and stuck to each other due to which the holes were closed. The three disciples thus, came to the ashram with bamboo baskets filled with water and watered the plants.
Acharyaji declared the result of the examination in which only these three disciples were successful. The rest of the disciples had to stay back in the ashram for further education.
Acharyaji then addressed everyone, "Faith in the Guru, practice, and patience are three very important ingredients for our life. That's why I gave this test to you all. You see, these three had faith in my statement. They continued to fill water in the basket without getting tired - they did not leave the practice. And they waited patiently till the end. They have succeeded today due to their faith, practice and patience."
All the disciples had understood the reason for their failure.
Meditation is the only way to self realization.
Self realization is realizing who you ‘Truly’ are
Self realization liberates us from triple suffering
Physical suffering of body,the mental misery of mind
Realization gives us The bliss,Joy & Peace that comes from being conscious of who we are
