Page 297 - Basic Writings of Sriramchandra

Reality at Dawn - Realization
cases our attention is naturally diverted towards some nobler ideal and we feel a bit awakened to Godly thought. Secondly, when we have been deeply pricked by the treachery and faithlessness of the world we feel disgusted and inwardly averse to worldly things. Feeling of dissatisfaction and detachment also develops when we are in a state of bereavement on account of the death of some of our dear ones. But Vairagya created under such circumstances is seldom genuine or lasting. It soon disappears with the change of adverse circumstances. There is a story, which relates that a certain man wanted to see Kabirdas. When he reached his house he was informed that Kabirdas had gone with a funeral party to the cremation ground to burn the dead body of one of his deceased relations. The man proceeded to the cremation ground to see him there. But as he had never seen him before he thought it might be difficult for him to recognise Kabirdas among the party. For this purpose, he was told that he should look to the halo round everybody’s face. The halo round the face of each one of the party would be found glowing as he proceeded towards the cremation ground, but would grow dimmer and dimmer and finally disappear as they returned. Only the halo round Kabir’s face would remain glowing all through with equal lustre. Thus, the feeling of Vairagya actuated by such sudden causes is generally short-lived and changes with the change of circumstances. For, though the sudden shock temporarily creates a feeling of Vairagya, the seed of
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