SECRETS OF LIFE
12-14-23
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"CASE OF THE BIRD WITH THE GOLDEN PLUMAGE
From the religious philosophy of Vedanta comes a fascinating parable
revealing the majesty of man.
Two birds perch in the same tree, one on a top branch, the other on a low
one. The bird on the upper branch sits in quiet and peaceful contemplation
of all that goes on around him. Reflecting his golden plumage, he rests in
majestic splendor.
The lower bird hops nervously from one branch to another, sampling the
fruit. Coming across sweet fruit, he chirps excitedly; chancing upon sour
fruit, he falls into disgusted depression. Glancing up from time to time,
the lower bird is vaguely impressed by the magnificent manner of the upper
bird. The nervous bird longs to know the secret serenity of the other, but
soon forgets his yearning when sight of new fruit attracts his attention.
So back and forth, up and down, hops the lower bird, switching every few
minutes from sweet fruit to sour, from elation to disappointment, from
smiles to tears. Seeking sweet fruit only, he despairingly realizes that
the sweet is always followed by the bitter. No matter what he does, sour
follows sweet. He glances hopefully upward at the peaceful bird, but
compulsively returns to his frantic searchings.
The time comes, however, when the lower bird gets a mouthful of fruit so
bitter that he can no longer take it. The crisis is here. He must choose
something entirely different or lose his sanity. So he hesitantly hops
upward toward the peaceful bird, coming closer and closer.
At a certain point in his timid approach, a miracle occurs. The lower bird
realizes that he was the upper bird all along! He simply did not see it. In
his illusion, he thought there were two separate birds, but now knows that
only one exists - his unified self.
Now perceiving that his frantic hoppings were done in hypnotic illusion,
now knowing that he himself is the majestic bird, he is above both
excitement and grief. He no longer seeks happiness outside himself; his
true self is happiness itself!"
THE COSMIC WONDERS WITHIN YOURSELF
The Power of your Supermind, Chap. 7, p. 85 (Original version)
Chap. 7, p. 113 (Current version)
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