The Blind Prisoner

It was a long time ago. In a kingdom, there lived a man who had been blind since birth. He was hardworking and honest, but on a false accusation, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was thrown into a prison surrounded by massive stone walls.

Being blind, he couldn't distinguish between day and night. He simply lived in his own world, wondering when this dark prison of life would end.

One day, the state's minister came to inspect the prison. He observed the condition of every prisoner, but when he saw the blind prisoner, compassion welled up in his heart. He thought, "This poor fellow can't even see, so why should he be imprisoned for life?" He said to the prison officer, "If this blind man ever tries to leave the prison gates, don't stop him. He should be given the opportunity to be free."

When the blind prisoner received this news, his joy knew no bounds. He thought, "Now all I have to do is reach the gate, and I'll be free!"

But the problem was that he didn't know which direction the gate was in. He thought of a solution: "I'll walk holding onto the wall, taking each step carefully. When I reach the gate, I'll recognize it by the cool breeze and the opening, and I'll get out."

He began doing this every day. He walked slowly, holding onto the wall, counting his steps, and identifying the corners. He also knew that there were fountains near the gate, producing cool air. This cool air signaled to him that the door to freedom was now in sight.

But there was one problem: he had a chronic head itch, which worsened every time he encountered the cool breeze. As soon as he approached the gate and felt the cool breeze, he would start scratching his head. He would scratch his head with both hands and leave the wall. Meanwhile, he would cross the gate and then have to circle the prison again.

This cycle continued several times. Each time he reached the gate, but, consumed by his itching, he would let go of the wall, losing the opportunity.  He felt he was trying, but luck was not on his side.

Days passed, years passed. His body began to age, but his hope for liberation remained. He held on to the wall each time he walked, only to succumb to his weakness as he approached the gate.

One day he thought to himself, "Am I like that man who gets so entangled in his weaknesses and desires that he cannot recognize the door to liberation even when it is right there?"

His heart trembled. He realized that the real prison is not of the body, but of the mind. The walls are external, but the walls built by the mind—of greed, attachment, lust, and desire—are the strongest prison.

He began to think, "This prison is only a symbol. True liberation will come when I am able to dispel the darkness within me."

That day, he held on to the wall and vowed that no matter what, he would not leave it. He slowly moved toward the gate.  A cool breeze blew, and an itch burned his head, but he remained patient. He thought, "This itch is my test. If I overcome it, this will be my salvation, Navneet."

Treading step by step, he finally crossed the gate. The guards did not stop him, because the royal minister had given orders. He was under the open sky for the first time. The sun's rays fell on his face—he could not see, but his heart felt light.

He was free—not just physically, but mentally as well.

Lesson : - This story is not just about that blind prisoner—it is the story of every human being.

All of us "living souls" are like that blind man, locked in the prison of this body. The gate to liberation lies before us—in the form of knowledge, devotion, love, and self-control. But when the opportunity for liberation arises, we become entangled in the "itch" of worldly desires, lust, and greed.

"The sage strives for life after life,

but in the end, Rama never comes."

Even the penance of many lives is wasted if we are unable to renounce our inner desires even at the last moment. Therefore, when the gates of life open—hold on to the walls of the mind, and proceed with meditation and restraint.

Only then can true liberation be attained—both external and internal.

Read more : - The Witch and the Scholar